When you started in your career, did you set goals for yourself? Have you achieved them? What more do you want to do?
You can say I started dreaming of a career in music when I was 15. That’s when I got really serious with my piano playing skills. Then, I was content with the goal of playing better every day. I didn’t really know what a career in music looked like.
Later, in my undergrad years, I was very much concerned with my “sound.” My goal was to befriend the instrument I’ve chosen. I was really serious about learning more about musical styles and how I might present interpretations of music. When I left for the States, I had no expectations except that I was going to absorb as much knowledge as possible. I met my piano teacher- superhero, Harvey Weeden. We were so inspired by his life, I just wanted to be the best music professional I could ever be.
I learned that what we do is never enough though. Ideally speaking, the goal is to do more music, and keep at it, basically. Personally speaking, I would love to spend more time with solo piano literature. I guess it is never-ending, this game.
Do you think luck played a role in what you are today, or do you think it is all God’s plan for you?
Yes, I do think it is all God’s plan for me. I pray that He’d always give me work, no matter whichever city I’m in at the moment. I don’t ask for a successful career per se, I just want to have meaningful work, to keep myself going, in the service of my fellow citizens of the world, most especially my community. I’d like to believe God finds my request to be reasonable, and yes, I have been busy, so I always thank him for giving my life a real sense of purpose.
I do believe my purpose in life is to bring music to people and hopefully present it in the best possible light, so that they might discover its beauty and importance in this world. Sounds ideal, but that statement requires much rigor and grit in the process. He has been very generous to provide me with opportunities to become ready and equipped for this challenge.
How does one become an excellent artist?
In my perspective, becoming an artist is a very deliberate thing. For example, I drink coffee black because I would like to spend an artistic time trying to discern the true taste of the coffee: is it full-bodied, is it acidic/or oaky? When an opportunity of a situation presents itself, I invest my energy in trying to make it into a little “ artistic moment,” if you will, activities that stimulate the senses, little things that are good for one’s “artistic health.”
Practicing is, of course, very important. Intuitive knowledge is irreplaceable especially when combined with a solid theoretical grounding.
To become an artist for me, also means I must be very well capable of articulating the artistic process, of curating historical music, and finally presenting it to an audience in a way that allows them to be insiders too.
Nowadays, musicians need not only illustrate his or her point via a performance. There is insight, reflection, commentary, and all sorts of shareable details that are now a must in every concert. A true artist lobbies for his art to as many people as possible. Your presentations must always be accessible to many.
Looking beyond this pandemic, what advice can you share with people who aspire to become world-class artists someday?
From my point of view, a world class artist is an artist who stands by his/her artistic truths; basically, a “true artist.” Becoming a true artist is a never-ending process of striving for excellence. Lofty as it sounds, this truly is the artist’s “struggle,” as they call it; from my point of view, this is also what makes the artist “poor” because we suffer just a little bit when creating art.
My humble advice to my fellow artists is to keep a balance between this struggle and the pleasures of being a real practicing artist. Yes, it is also a lot of fun being an artist. It is truly important to foster positive experiences for yourself. Becoming a world-class artist does not have to be defined by the usual accolades and important gigs in big venues, performing with community is what truly counts. If your fellow citizens are affected positively by you, then you have rest assured contributed to making the world a better place.