Donald Westlake was born on June 28, 1952, in New York City. He grew up in a family of musicians, with his father being a renowned pianist and his mother a violinist. From a young age, Westlake showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of four. Westlake's talent was evident from an early age, and he quickly became a prodigy. He began performing in public at the age of six and made his debut with the New York Philharmonic at the age of nine. He continued to perform with the orchestra throughout his childhood and teenage years, and his performances were always met with critical acclaim. In addition to his performances with the New York Philharmonic, Westlake also performed with other major orchestras around the world. He made his European debut at the age of 12, performing with the London Symphony Orchestra, and went on to perform with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, among others. Westlake's repertoire was vast, and he was known for his interpretations of the works of Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. He was also a champion of contemporary music and premiered many new works by composers such as John Adams, Philip Glass, and Steve Reich. Throughout his career, Westlake received numerous awards and accolades. He won the prestigious Avery Fisher Prize in 1976, which is awarded annually to outstanding classical musicians in the United States. He was also awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1988, which is the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government. One of Westlake's most memorable performances was his 1983 performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the New York Philharmonic. The performance was recorded and released on CD, and it remains one of the most highly regarded recordings of the concerto. Westlake continued to perform and record throughout his career, and he remained an active and influential figure in the classical music world until his death in 2010. His legacy lives on through his recordings and the many musicians he inspired and mentored throughout his career.

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