I'm reposting this entry. It was orginally posted on Monday, 1/21, but was deleted during site maintenance.
I'm back! Post-holidays, all of us at Rembrandt Chamber Players have been busy preparing for the rest of our season and visiting with colleagues at the Chamber Music America Conference held at the beginning of the month in New York City.
Today I am very happy to have members of the Cerberus Trio join me for a Q&A session about their involvement in music. The talented Cerberus Trio (sponsored by the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras) was a co-winning group of our 12th Annual High School Chamber Music Competition held last March. The trio is ending its yearlong participation in our new Rembrandt Young Artists Program, a program that provides performance opportunities and coaching sessions for the winners of our competition.
I encourage you to attend our 13th Annual High School Chamber Music Competition on Sunday, January 27th, 2008 from 10:30 AM- 2:00 PM at Northeastern Illinois University Recital Hall, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. Admission is FREE and parking is free in Lot F. I know you'll be amazed and inspired by the talented young ensembles competing for cash prizes, Chicago Federation of Musicians Union youth memberships and the chance to become Rembrandt Young Artists.
On to the Q&A. The Cerberus Trio is: Ophelia Hu, piano (O.H.), Kevin Hu, violin (K.H.) and Mira Luxion, cello (M.L.). Please feel free to leave any questions you may have for the trio in the comments section.
How old are you and at what age did you start learning your instrument? How did you choose your instrument?
O.H. I started learning piano at age six. From the beginning, learning the piano was not my choice; it was forced upon me! But as I grew older, continuing to learn the piano became my own choice. When Kevin [my brother] was first introduced to the violin, he liked the "stick" (bow) half, but he didn't like the violin half.
K.H. I am 14 years old and began studying the violin with Frank Lu at the age of 6. Before I was born, my parents had long fallen in love with the Symphony Orchestra. My sister, Ophelia, had chosen to play the piano (she had to play a percussion instrument, and my parents weren't terribly fond of the drums), so I opted to play the violin, one of the lead instruments in the Symphony Orchestra.
M.L. I'm 18 and started playing cello just before I turned 4. My older sister had been learning cello for several years and I had always wanted to play too. When I was about two, my father had made me a toy cello out of a sheet of plywood, complete with two strings and carved f-holes. This was his way of responding to my pleas without giving an annoying two-year-old a noisy instrument (the toy cello hardly made a sound.) Shortly before my fourth birthday, I started Suzuki lessons on a 'real' instrument.
What ensembles do you perform in currently?
O.H. I perform with Cerberus, my piano trio--it's a part of CYSO. On the side, I perform with friends in a hip-hop "ensemble".
K.H. I'm the violinist in Cerberus. I am also a co-concertmaster of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
M.L. The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra and Encore Chamber Orchestra and, of course, Cerberus.
About how many hours do you practice a week?
O.H. It varies a lot, depending on how much schoolwork I have. Anywhere between 0-14 hours!
K.H. Ohh, this is top-secret material. Depending on how busy I am with academics and other activities, I practice anywhere from 0 (shh! don't tell my private teacher ;D) to 14 hours a week, usually.
M.L. I try to practice 4 hours a day. Less or more depending on what else I have going on. Most of the time I really enjoy practicing, so I practice as much as I can.
What are some of your favorite experiences with music?
O.H. Some of my favorite experiences with music come from Edward Hospital, where Kevin and I are volunteers in the Healing Arts program. To me, this is where I can really put my music to the test.
K.H. Some of my favorite experiences with music? First place goes to our orchestra's tour of central/eastern Europe over the summer of 2007. It was a mindblowing experience on so many levels - musically, culturally, socially... It's a rare opportunity, to be able to hold the climax note of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings for 19 intense seconds in one of the greatest halls in Europe.
M.L. One of my favorite experiences with Cerberus was performing for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble last spring. We were told a few weeks before the masterclass that we had to prepare a new piece, and we rehearsed like mad until the performance at Orchestra Hall. We found out Mr. Ma is not only an amazing musician and an inspiring teacher, but also a warm and humble person. His attitude and that of the other musicians in the group showed me how I would like to be as a professional musician: open to other musicians, motivating to students, in touch with the audience.
What are some of your interests outside of music?
O.H. Outside of music, I do indeed have interests! I am also interested in environmental and human rights' issues. I also passionately pursue photography.
K.H. I'm also interested in the sciences, especially mathematics. I might be doing track and field this year as well. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends.
M.L. In academic fields: foreign languages, history, and reading. In other areas, Indian dance (as a member of Natya Dance Theatre) and yoga. I also love spending time with people. I am eager to discover new things, so my interests are quite wide and ever-changing.
Do you plan to continue music in college? Professionally? If not, what occupation interests you?
O.H. Undoubtedly, I'm going to continue music in college. I'm going to keep playing with ensembles, but I'm not sure if I'm going to pursue it professionally. I plan to go into environmental policy, instead.
K.H. I'm not sure if I will continue pursuing music professionally yet. Playing the violin is definitely something that I love and will continue to do throughout my life. I guess I'll see how things go in the next few years of high school.
M.L. Yes, I certainly do. I am currently in the process of applying to conservatories and universities. I would particularly like to focus my career in the areas of chamber music and contemporary music.
Do you have any advice for younger musicians?
O.H. Have patience; music is a life-long process. And don't forget to have fun!
K.H. "If a thing isn't worth saying, you sing it." - Pierre Beaumarchais (1732 - 1799).
M.L. Always to play from your heart and to have fun! I feel blessed to be able to spend so much time doing what I love and I wish for others to have the same possibility. But studying music certainly takes perseverance and the going is not always smooth. So I would advise any beginner to stick to it even when progress seems slow. Practicing really will pay off in the end!
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