From China with music: Pianist Xiayin Wang to perform
by Bill DeYoung, Indian River Press Journal (01/26/07)
STUART - A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, pianist Xiayin Wang was a multiple award winner in her native China, where she studied at the fabled Shanghai Conservatory.
Wang, who'll perform in recital Tuesday at the Lyric Theatre, will make a return trip to Carnegie Hall in April.
Tuesday's program includes works by Haydn, Brahms, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff.
She'll spend Monday afternoon at the Pine School, a private Martin County school, giving a master class to music students.
Wang spoke by phone from her home in New York City.
Q. Growing up in China, was music always a plan for your future?
A. When you're a child, you can't really decide for yourself. It's mostly coming from parents. When you teach a child, even though they have talent, they don't really know that they want to do this. Somebody will keep them on track and practicing every day. My parents did a lot of work on me, and they supported me. I think it has a lot to do with foundation when you are young. You get as much training as you can.
And so the older I get, the more I feel I can speak the language - not the English language, the music language.
Q. When you came to the United States in 1997, was it easy to adapt because of music being the universal language?
A. English was a problem for me in the beginning. When I came here I didn't know English, and I didn't have any friends. I stayed far away from where I went to school and spent every day traveling. I didn't have a chance to speak with any American people. But after two years, I started to improve a little bit.
Q. What was studying inn America like for you?
A. Musically, it was a very different picture here. I would say it was a lot more strict in China, the education system. Here is much more free, and you can do a lot of things with your piano playing. The teachers' method is based on inspiration, instead of just telling you what to do. Here, you just sort of figure it out yourself. So I think my playing has been changing a lot, more for the better. I can really put my life experience into the music. I do have more of my own ideas. I'm more of the master of myself, and I really enjoy it.
Q. A lot of young classical musicians tell me they listen to pop music in their off hours. You?
A. I love pop music. I confess to your right now I spend too much time on the pop music! With my friends in China, when you are inn the conservatory, of course you have teachers watching you practice all the time, making sure you stay in the practice room for hours and hours every day.
So whenever we'd get the chance, we'd get together and play some Chinese pop music. That was our freedom.