On a cold wintry week in November 2016, top ten prodigious child pianists between the ages of 9 to 14 years selected by the Láng Lǎng International Music Foundation, set forth on a seven-day musical adventure called the Allianz Junior Music Camp. It was a privilege for me to be one of them representing the UK. The whole experience was set in a picturesque city often called the ‘Paris of the East’. Warsaw in Poland is the birth place of Frédéric Chopin. It was a once in a life time opportunity to not only learn from the masters of classical music but also to meet, perform and be taught by the rock-star of Classical Music and living legend, Láng Lǎng himself in his masterclasses.
Láng Lǎng’s Allianz Junior Music Camp was for musically gifted children from different countries and continents. It is a platform to share musical ideas and have fun with each other, without the pressure of competing with each other. We are meant to be music ambassadors, who not only share a common passion but also spread the message of music to a wider audience. For each of the ten participants, all expenses were covered. Allianz also sponsored the expenses of one of the parents or guardians, who travelled with us.
The six-day program consisted of many concerts and rehearsals, culminating in an almost 4-hour long masterclass by International Concert Pianist Láng Lǎng and live performance at Teatr Polski, Warsaw, Poland. It was aired live on Allianz Polska and on Láng Lǎng Facebook pages. It was watched by over 30,000 people online.
After I performed Liszt’s La Campanella for the masterclass, Láng Lǎng remarked that
“…I did not play this piece when I was 13… so really good job… you have this very beautiful sound”
Although, I have attended masterclasses from various maestros, Láng Lǎng’s masterclass was a lot of fun. He explains his concepts and techniques using analogies that make you laugh.
As Láng Lǎng puts it simply, “If you can dream it, you can do it”
Regarding La Campanella, Láng Lǎng’s advice to me was to use my fingers on the piano keys like a duck flapping in the water to get the best sound. Who can tell us better stories about the life of a famous musician than him! We received valuable tips for improving our performance skills and even got to play the piano with our role model, Láng Lǎng.
Nevertheless, all good things come to an end at some point and the camp was no exception. Sharing our passion for music was one of the things which brought us together, and sharing an experience like the Allianz Junior Music Camp is what keeps our friendship going in the future.
To this end, we keep in touch regularly through social media even though the camp is over. Allianz and the Lang Lang International Music Foundation share a common vision – to inspire the next generation of classical musicians and pass on their passion of music. We hope to keep that vision alive through our music and their helping hand.