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Chinese pianist Lang Lang rehearses for his concert for the inauguration of year-long bicentenary celebrations of the birth of composer Frederic Chopin, on January 7, 2010 in Warsaw.JANEK SKARZYNSKI

Win or lose, the six finalists for the Scotiabank Giller Prize will get a treat at this year's gala: a performance from star Chinese pianist Lang Lang.

The 29-year-old musician was already set to be in the city for a two-week residency with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, running from Nov. 9-19.

The Giller gala will be held Nov. 8 at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel.

The six finalists in the running for the $50,000 prize include: David Bezmozgis for The Free World; Lynn Coady for The Antagonist; Patrick deWitt for The Sisters Brothers; Esi Edugyan for Half Blood Blues; Michael Ondaatje for The Cat's Table; and Zsuzsi Gartner for Better Living Through Plastic Explosives.

The gala will be broadcast live on CBC's Bold TV.

"I am thrilled to support this celebration of literature, and I look forward to uniting my passion for both music and cultural literacy at the Giller Prize," Lang Lang said in a release.

"It's a pleasure to be able to share the stage with these incredible authors and to join them in an evening of arts appreciation."

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