From Melbourne to Asia with the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: Meet pianist, Timothy Kan
Hear from Timothy Kan, a Master of Music (Research) student, as he prepares to accompany the University of Melbourne Symphony Orchestra as soloist for piano in Ginastera's Piano Concerto no. 1, Op. 28, for an upcoming tour to Singapore and Malaysia.
The Orchestra Tour is a couple of weeks away. How have you been preparing for your performances?
I’m currently patching up, refining some sections, and doing my usual practice to maintain my condition and memory.
I’ve also been working with different recordings for cues and will do some practice performances on stage with a few accompanists. I will also be rehearsing with the orchestra in the next two weeks, which I am very excited for.
What made you choose the Ginastera's Piano Concerto no. 1, Op. 28?
My teacher and I thought this was a good opportunity to showcase a less famous work. It is also a piece scored for a large orchestra, involving many different instruments and timbres.
Although I struggled to learn and love the concerto at the start of my journey, the piece has grown on me. There are many places throughout the concerto with catchy rhythmic and textural effects and bizarre timbres that make the piece exciting.
You must have spent thousands of hours in a practice room working on your own to get to this point. How does putting it all together with the orchestra and conductor feel? Are there any challenges?
Of course, there are many. The learning process was especially arduous because I wasn’t used to the patterns and this style of writing. It is very different from your typical classical and romantic repertoire.
Putting it with an orchestra was also a different kind of challenge. Knowing and memorising my cues and how my part interacts with the orchestra is challenging and fun. Richard has also been very kind and accommodating, helping me adapt well to the orchestral context.
Seeing it come together with the orchestra in rehearsal is also exciting and I look forward to showcasing this piece with them as a team.
Is this your first time performing on stage as a soloist with an orchestra? What’s the experience been like so far?
Yes, this is my first time playing a concerto with an orchestra. It is a bit nerve-wracking, especially when my mind tries to imagine every possibility that could go wrong. But with how things are going in rehearsal, I am very excited to share the music with our audiences.
You’ll be travelling with more than 100 of your peers to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. What are you most looking forward to?
Great food, of course. Singapore and Malaysia have some of the best food in the world.
I can’t wait to perform with the orchestra. It is an honour to play in three different venues, all of which are regularly visited by professional musicians.
Also, this tour allows my peers and I to experience a snapshot of what a touring orchestra or a touring musician’s lifestyle might look like.
I’m excited to get to know the orchestra members better, too.
How did you become interested in playing the piano?
My parents got me into it first. However, it wasn’t until I studied under my high school piano teacher, Eddie Dorn, that I started to develop my passion for piano.
After moving to Melbourne from Hong Kong in high school, I had more time to mess around and explore on the keyboard. At that time, I was also exploring music in animation and the YouTube recordings of great pianists such as Zimmerman and Argerich, which showed me the power music has in moving people’s hearts.
Just as music moved me, I also wanted to use this power to share my interpretations to move others.
Can you tell us about any mentors or other musicians who have inspired you in your journey to becoming a pianist?
Mr. Dorn, Glenn (my current teacher), teachers of the numerous masterclasses I’ve had, and my peers at home and overseas have all shaped the musician I am today.
My exposure to different opinions and perspectives has informed my artistry and inspires me to push forward and share my ideas. I have also had many supportive friends along my journey who encouraged me and built my self-esteem and confidence as a pianist through fruitful discussions.
What would be your advice to any younger students wanting to study piano?
Pursuing music is not easy.
We musicians, especially pianists, spend so many hours working away in the practice room building our technique, musicality, repertoire, and competition record that it is often easy for us to lose sight of why we are doing all this in the first place.
Oftentimes, there will be burnout and rejection. What should keep us going is our deep sincerity and love for the music we play.