How to surprise the parents? Book your Carnegie Hall debut, then….

The entreprenurial pianist Nicholas King, a man who has been running a non-profit while studying at Juilliard, is about to graduate.

To mark the achievement, he has booked Carnegie Hall for his debut and landed a job as V-P at the investment firm AllianceBernstein.

Since he won’t need to make his living at the keyboard, it’s a no-pressure debut. But Nicholas has upped the stakes. ‘The concert is a gift to my parents for their continued support throughout my performance career, and they have absolutely no idea that the concert is dedicated to them!’ he tells Slipped Disc. ‘Warning: There is a 200% percent chance that my mother will cry during the concert. It is recommended that all audience members emotionally prepare themselves before attending.’