Good harmony day, my friends!
MPO series:
-> Part 0 – Picture Diary
-> Part 1 – The School of Gorgeous People
-> Part 2 – Colourful People of MPO (p.s. you’re reading it right now!)
-> Part 3 – Musical Meditation
Now, I would like to share with y’all about a manager and a few members from MPO. They were really nice and down-to-earth, which further increased my admiration for them. (I have decided not to add portraits of them as I think it’s a bit creepy!)
It is fitting for me to begin the introduction with the manager of the resident conductor and visiting artists. Her name is Miss Sharon.
She was incredibly kind to me! We chatted for a couple of minutes as we were walking from the entrance of the hall to the outside. Miss Sharon shared that she played the piano and achieved Grade Eight in it. She studied at UCSI and holds a music degree, which was required for her job at MPO.
Next up, we have the resident conductor of the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra, Mr. Gerard!
I greeted Mr. Gerard with a few pieces of Patchi chocolates, hehe.
As Mr. Gerard was signing my book, I asked him why he became a conductor. He explained that he didn’t grow up saying, “I want to be a conductor when I grow up!” like how other kids aspire to be firefighters or doctors. Instead, he just happened to love music and working with people. Naturally, he became a conductor.
Mr. Gerard knows a lot; he is familiar with the different instruments in the orchestra. He happily told me that he has played the piano too, just like me!
I then proceeded to ask Mr. Gerard where he learnt conducting from. He mentioned learning a bit of it in school, and the rest he acquired from experience.
While Mr. Gerad was signing my Grade One theory book, I asked if he would be willing to sign my other theory books as I progress through higher grades, up to Grade Eight. He said he would happily sign my books! What a fabulous man in my eyes!
The last question that I asked was was whether Mr. Gerard conducts the same way for the same songs every time. His reply was “No, because I’m not a robot. Just like how you’d say hi to someone in the morning, every day it will be slightly different.” Intrigued, I asked him if the orchestra members understand what he’s conducting, given its variations. He replied, “Yes, it’s like a language, and they understand it, just like how you understand ‘good morning’ even if it’s delivered in different forms.”
Another colourful character is Mrs. Jun Hee. Mrs. Jun Hee told me to call her Jun as it’s much easier. Initially, I wanted to meet the MPO pianist (pianist left when I was talking to the conductor). I scanned my surroundings and that was when I saw Jun slowly descending at the stairway. I follower her to ask her if she knew the pianist.
She got really excited and told me that I can meet the pianist later. At the moment, she’s going to buy something for her friend (turns out that it was an orchestra member’s birthday that day). I can tell that she didn’t want to bring me along as she kept insisting me to stay there and wait. I was persistent and kept following her, so eventually she just let me tag along.
Jun is a Korean woman. I kept pestering her with questions of her age (I think she asked for mine first!). She finally relented and told me that she’s in her fifties. I exclaimed, “Really?!! You look so young, you don’t look like you’re in your fifties.” Jun smiled. I think she blushed too, kekekeke.
A bit about Jun’s musical background:
– She started playing the piano when she was six years old.
– Jun plays the double bass in MPO. She started playing double bass back when she was 15. She says that the reason she plays double bass instead of piano is because she loves the double bass.
It was my first time talking to a high-level musician and I wanted to know this: “Does Jun still takes lessons?” I questioned Jun and she said that she doesn’t take lessons currently as she studies on her own now, but she does have a lot of teachers around the world in countries such as Austria, Germany etc.
If I’m not mistaken, Jun mentioned about having played in her own country’s orchestra before. She was also part of the Austria and Germany orchestra respectively. I think Jun mentioned some other countries, but I must’ve forgotten ahhh!!!
I asked Jun the million dollar question: How many hours do you practice a day?
She cleverly answered “A lot.”
She told me to practice a lot too.
I asked quietly, “Every day?”
She said, “Yes, you should practice every day.”
Jun told me that she’s been in MPO for 2 decades!
I asked if Jun still feels nervous about performing.
Surprisingly, Jun said “Every time.”
I proclaimed in shock that she still feels nervous performing even after being in the MPO for 20 years???
Her reply was as follow: “Yes, because when we perform, we want to give our best right?”
I nodded.
She continued, “That’s why I feel nervous. I think everyone in the orchestra feels nervous about performing too.”
Additionally, Jun shared with me that she will practice a part until she thinks that she can play that part perfectly.
There was also a question that’s bugging me: Does Jun know everyone in the orchestra?
Jun answered with a resounding “Yes!”
Jun said to me that I should learn from a teacher, and I also informed her that I’ve already begun piano lessons with a teacher. Jun seemed happy and satisfied with my answer.
Remember that previously I’ve written about Jun wanting me to stay there and wait? She actually told me to go buy some food to eat while waiting. I countered that I’m not hungry (that wasn’t true, I was starving in reality).
Finally Jun was like, oh fine you can come along.
We crossed over into KLCC from the Dewan Filharmonik and we were chatting on the way to what turned out to be a cake store (Chateraise was the name).
Chateraise at KLCC.
When Jun was looking over the cake selections, she said something that blew me away. Jun told me to choose a cake. I was like??? Jun wants to buy me cake? Yep, Jun wants to buy me cake.
Believe it or not, in the beginning I hesitated (maybe I just pretended to hesitate) to accept Jun’s proposal of buying me a cake. Partly I think it was because she was too sweet and I couldn’t believe it.
I explained to Jun that there was no need to buy me a cake, but Jun insisted. Actually in the inside I was secretly very happy hehe.
I gave one Patchi chocolate to Jun too as a thank-you gift. Jun politely declined and told me to give it to the pianist instead. I told Jun that I have prepared another Patchi chocolate for the pianist. I have to repeatedly give Jun the chocolate and she finally accepted it HAHAHAHA!!!
The final colourful character I’d like to introduce for today is Mrs. Akiko, the pianist of MPO!
Mrs. Akiko started the piano at the tender age of three!
This prodded me to ask Mrs. Akiko the question: What grade is Mrs. Akiko in?
Mrs. Akiko chuckled before answering, “There’s no grade in Japan.”
Mrs. Akiko also mentioned that many people have asked her what grade she’s in, which made me blush a bit.
The following dialogues were the highlight of our conversation:
Me: “Can we play [the piano] together one day?”
Mrs. Akiko: (delighted, pleasant smile)
Me: “But I’m only in grade one.” (smiling cheekily)
Mrs. Akiko: (with a shocked face + small chuckle?) “Maybe when you’re higher [grade].”
Me: “Grade three?”
Mrs. Akiko: (flustered smile)
Me: “When I get better, can I come and find you?”
Mrs. Akiko: “Yes, I’m always here.” (directing towards the hall with her arms)
Now, I want to share some advice which Mrs. Akiko kindly gave me.
Mrs. Akiko: “It’s not just about playing the piano, you also have to learn about music theory, music history, accompanying and singing.”
Furthermore, Mrs. Akiko noted about not knowing any good music schools in Malaysia. Does that mean I should further my education? 👀
Lastly, I gave Mrs. Akiko a piece of Patchi chocolate. Mrs. Akiko wished me well in my piano playing and we hugged goodbye as well.
In my interactions with Ms. Sharon, Mr Gerard, Mrs. Jun, Mrs. Akiko, and the MPO staff, what stood out to me the most was the fact that they asked for my name. I get the impression that they think that I’m in MYPO (MPO, but for youth) or something, but it just makes me feel special…
Gotta go practice! See ya in the last segment of the MPO series: Part 3 – Musical Meditation.
