Do Re Mi student tops Guam music competition

A student from Do Re Mi Music School topped the elementary division of Guam Symphony Society’s “Young Artist Competition 2015” late last month.

Young musicians from both the CNMI and Guam went head-to-head in the Jan. 28 and 29 competition at the University of Guam Theatre.

Kevin Liang, an 11-year-old from Saipan Community School, emerged on top with his rendition of “Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64-Third Movement,” by Felix Mendelssohn.

Ao Zhang, Do Re Mi’s founder and one of Liang’s teachers, called the song a “difficult piece, a professional piece.”

“He did great,” Zhang said of Liang in an interview yesterday.

Liang began his study of the song in August, practicing every day ahead of the competition.

“Violin is a difficult instrument,” Zhang said. “But Kevin’s talented. He practices more than three hours a day. Saturday and Sunday, eight hours.”

From left to right are Do Re Mi music school founder Ao Zhang, Kevin Liang, and teacher Yi Wang. (Dennis B. Chan)

Zhang said the song requires “high technique” and all kinds of different skills on the violin, among them great finger dexterity and a good ear for intervals and tempo.

Other musicians played the piano, auto saxophone, violin, or sang, among other things.

Pianist Cameron Fruit accompanied Liang during his performance as well as on the trip. Zhang and Liang’s mother could not accompany him over issues with their papers.

Zhang said he wishes he could have made the trip. He said Liang stood on the part of the stage that was farther away from the audience than he should have, but he still happened to win.

Did Liang get nervous on the stage? “I never get nervous,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Zhang said Liang has all the different skills and supporting factors that make him good. Liang also plays the ukulele, flute and piano.

“First you need talent,” he said. “He never feels scared,” Zhang said of Liang. That’s a talent, he said.

You also need an “ear” or “music sense,” he said. This can’t be taught, Zhang said. You also need good teachers, and supporting parents, he said.

“Not everybody has all these,” Zhang said.

Liang will perform at the Young Artist Award Winners concert on Feb. 15 this month. He also plans to play at Guam’s Tumon Bay Music Festival in March.

Liang treated Saipan Tribune to a live performance of his winning rendition.

The song was played fast, with dozens of notes cascading across the air of the room, peaking, dancing, and riddling the ear for a soothing, lively experience.

It may make you feel young again. “The violin has a soul,” Zhang said. “It moves your heart. It’s very difficult.”