Features

Inspirational movies on music often portray a genius drifting in miseries in the pursuit of a music dream until pulling off an ecstatic performance onstage one day. Sounding exaggerated?  Indeed there are still stories where ordinary people are chasing down their dreams in music. Like lots of young people, Terence LAM landed at the workplace upon graduation from the IVE and worked hard every day. He is not particularly gifted in music. Nor has he been nurtured in music since young age. But he was stone deaf in one ear. Yet he made it onto the stage in various open performances and moved audience to love music thanks to his passion in and dedication to music. He attained the position of First Clarinet Player in the VTC Symphony Orchestra.

To realise the dream in music, musicianship is the number 1 priority. Born “mono channel”, and coming from no music family, Terence, however, is convinced that, quite like study and work, one stands to gain from paying efforts to the thing one likes. The process is as enjoyable as the end result. “My passion in music stems from my keen interest, which drives me to improve my skills. Eventually I was able to get promoted to the First Clarinet Player from my original position as the Fourth Clarinet Player. The sense of satisfaction gained from playing music drove me to participate in the rehearsals and performances actively in spite of my demanding job.”

“Being ‘mono channel’ does not affect my music learning and solo performances. If anything, it enhances my communication and rapport with the other Orchestra members. A player in an orchestra has to match the volume of other musical instruments. With hearing on only one side, naturally I am not able to get a full judgment. So I will discuss with the Conductor beforehand to understand the requirement on the volume of the clarinet by the musical piece to be played, and then seek confirmation from other players. These kind of preparations are in fact common among us as everyone are bound to come across problems and need support.” The VTC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus were established in 2005 and 2009 respectively and serve as a unique cultural platform for the VTC students, alumni and staff to enable music lovers like Terence to realise their dream in music. “Despite that we are not professional players, and who actually come from different backgrounds, we urge ourselves to learn from and encourage each other to elevate ourselves and achieve our music dream in our ordinary lives.” Dr Henry SHEK, the internationally-acclaimed conductor is the Artistic Director cum Conductor of the VTC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and under his baton, member players grow in musicianship.

Terence and Orchestra players will make appearance on the “Celebration with Beethoven’s Music” Fund Raising Concert to be conducted on 22 April in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Apart from the symphonic pieces of Beethoven, crossover with the world-renowned Hong Kong Pure Strings and young musicians Mag LAM and C AllStar will also be staged, which promises to be a most refreshing and popular show. Proceeds of the Concert will be contributed to funding of the student development work of the VTC. Members of the public are invited to join the delightful concert.