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Sara Lukinson

  • Writer
  • Producer
  • Additional Crew
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
In May 2009, 29 young contestants came from all over the world to compete in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth Texas, the most prestigious prize in the music world. This is the story of one of them, a 20 year old from Tokyo, Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind from birth. 'Nobu fever,' became a term in the world of Classical music after Nobuyuki Tsujii won the 13the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. 

Tsujii, who is clearly relishing the newfound notoriety, said: 'I donÂ’t think I myself have changed because of the 'fever.Â’ But it has come as a surprise. I did not know I had become so famous and now, with so many offers to perform, I have to say 'noÂ’ for the first time.'

 Though classical music is more popular in Japan than in many other countries, there has never been anything like the mania there over a homegrown concert musician before, his agents said.

 National newspapers reported his Cliburn win on the front page — the fact that ChinaÂ’s Haochen Zhang shared top honors was hardly mentioned. More than 30 TV crews covered TsujiiÂ’s airport arrival, according to reports from Japan.

 JapanÂ’s Chopin Piano magazine issued a glossy, 78-page special issue about TsujiiÂ’s victory, and a publisher announced that his achievement would be noted in a new public-school textbook.

 After Tsujii said at a news conference that it would be a relief to his parents when he married, a flood of mail came from female fans.
 A female TV journalist was roundly attacked for insensitivity after asking Tsujii what he would like to see if his sight was restored for a single day.

 The reply, however, won Tsujii kudos: 'IÂ’d like to see the faces of my parents. But I already see them every day with my heartÂ’s eye.'


Play clip1:41
A Surprise in Texas
Sara Lukinson is known for Great Performances (1971), The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2001) and We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009).
  • More at IMDbPro
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    • Agent info
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Add photos, demo reels
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 12 nominations total

    Known for

    Great Performances (1971)
    Great Performances
    7.9
    TV Series
    • Writer
    The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
    The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
    6.9
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 2001
    We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial (2009)
    We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial
    5.5
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 2009
    The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
    The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
    7.2
    TV Special
    • Writer
    • 2014

    Credits

    IMDbPro

    Writer

    • Mickey's 90th Spectacular (2018)
      Mickey's 90th Spectacular
      7.1
      TV Special
      • written by
      • 2018
    • Touching the Sound: The Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii (2015)
      Touching the Sound: The Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii
      8.9
      • writer
      • 2015
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      7.2
      TV Special
      • Writer
      • 2014
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      7.8
      TV Special
      • writer
      • 2013
    • Herblock: The Black & the White (2013)
      Herblock: The Black & the White
      7.5
      • Writer
      • 2013
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      8.0
      TV Special
      • written by
      • 2012
    • Kennedy Center Honors: Led Zeppelin Tribute Film
      TV Special
      • written by
      • 2012
    • The Cliburn: 50 Years of Gold
      TV Movie
      • storyline consultant
      • 2012
    • From Dust to Dreams: Opening Night at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts
      TV Special
      • Writer
      • 2012
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      5.5
      TV Special
      • Writer
      • 2011
    • DGA Moments in Time (2011)
      DGA Moments in Time
      9.0
      Short
      • Writer
      • 2011
    • God's Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz (2011)
      God's Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz
      7.2
      • Writer
      • 2011
    • Women, War & Peace (2011)
      Women, War & Peace
      5.5
      TV Series
      • Writer
      • 2011
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      6.9
      TV Special
      • writer
      • 2010
    • A Surprise in Texas (2010)
      A Surprise in Texas
      8.3
      • Writer
      • 2010

    Producer

    • Call Me Dancer (2023)
      Call Me Dancer
      7.9
      • co-producer
      • 2023
    • American Masters (1985)
      American Masters
      8.2
      TV Series
      • co-producer
      • 2015
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      7.2
      TV Special
      • co-executive producer
      • 2014
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 36th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      7.8
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2013
    • Herblock: The Black & the White (2013)
      Herblock: The Black & the White
      7.5
      • co-producer
      • 2013
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The 35th Annual Kennedy Center Honors
      8.0
      TV Special
      • co-producer: film sequences
      • 2012
    • Kennedy Center Honors: Led Zeppelin Tribute Film
      TV Special
      • producer
      • 2012
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      5.5
      TV Special
      • co-producer
      • 2011
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      6.9
      TV Special
      • co-producer
      • 2010
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (2009)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      7.0
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2009
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      8.0
      TV Special
      • co-producer
      • executive producer
      • 2008
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      6.4
      TV Special
      • co-producer
      • 2007
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      7.2
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2006
    • Who Gets to Call It Art? (2006)
      Who Gets to Call It Art?
      6.9
      • co-producer
      • 2006
    • The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts (1998)
      The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
      6.5
      TV Special
      • executive producer
      • 2003

    Additional Crew

    • Jim Henson in The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson (1990)
      The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson
      8.6
      TV Movie
      • clip segment
      • 1990
    • AFI Life Achievement Award (1973)
      AFI Life Achievement Award
      5.8
      TV Mini Series
      • researcher
      • 1979

    Videos1

    A Surprise in Texas
    Clip 1:41
    A Surprise in Texas

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