Interview by William Chan
Zhuhai Youth Symphony Orchestra (ZHYO) conductor Tony Yeh Cheng-Te has told The Macau Post Daily in an online interview that a joint concert will be held by the Hong Kong String Orchestra, the choir and orchestra from the Zhuhai No.1 High School, the ZHYO and the Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) at the Huafa & CPAA Grand Theatre on Sunday.
During the interview last week, Yeh, who is from Taiwan, said that he and the Zhuhai youth orchestra will be performing an arranged version of The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Suite No. 1 Scène and a choir song named Jinzhao (今朝– “This Morning”).
Yeh is currently assistant conductor of the Taiwan Philharmonic, where he works under music director Jun Märkl*. Yeh has performed widely at festivals around the world, including receiving a full scholarship to study at the Gstaad Menuhin Festival and working with Gennady Rozhdestvensky**.
Drawing on his Taiwan experience, Yeh said he believed that promoting music and advancing music education are essential for fostering the growth of music within society. “In most Taiwanese schools, every student is required to choose a musical instrument to learn. This is a significant accomplishment by the Taiwanese administration, as it truly elevates the importance of music and its role in education,” Yeh said.
As the prominence of music increases within the educational sphere, the popularity of musical instruments similarly rises on a societal level, Yeh said, adding that, many prominent brands in Taiwan, such as Dior and Chanel, regularly engage orchestras for their high-profile events, reflecting the broad appeal of live music. Consequently, with more students learning to play instruments, musicians can earn a living through both teaching and performing.
However, Yeh acknowledged that the job market for musicians in Taiwan is becoming saturated. “Although fewer musicians pursue professional careers, the overall skill level has grown exponentially. Many young, non-music-major players perform at an exceptionally high standard, rivalling that of professionals. I believe this is testament to the success of our music education,” Yeh noted.
As a frequent conductor for youth orchestras, Yeh views professional musicians as having a dual responsibility: nurturing young people’s love for music and preserving the long-standing tradition of music. “Many people nowadays debate the importance of music, with some even claiming that classical music will eventually fade away. It is our mission to protect its future,” Yeh underlined.
As a founder of an orchestra in Taiwan, Yeh must continually strike a balance between expenditure and revenue. “This is a challenge faced by most arts organisations worldwide. In my opinion, an orchestra must cater to the preferences and demands of the business sector—although this is not always warmly received by professional musicians—while also allowing musicians to fully realise their talents.
For example, if an orchestra has eight performances in a year, half of them should focus on generating revenue and promoting the ensemble to reach a wider audience, while the other half should showcase the music we love and our abilities,” Yeh said. Running an orchestra is akin to managing a business, with Yeh’s primary goal being the ongoing negotiation and communication among various stakeholders.
Besides conducting professional orchestras, Yeh also noted the importance of guiding young students. “I always tell students that besides playing well, I really hope they will have good manners and learn how to cooperate with other people. For me, an orchestra is not only a musical ensemble but also a small society in itself,” Yeh stressed.
The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. this coming Sunday at the Huafa & CPAA Grand Theatre. The event will be free of charge. For more information, visit: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/tCuDptvB_CEAMpx1GvfPNg
*Jun Märkl was born to German-Japanese musician parents. He studied piano, violin, and conducting from an early age. He attended the University of Michigan, where Gustav Meier mentored him. He was also a pupil of Sergiu Celibidache. He later won a conducting stipend to Tanglewood, where Leonard Bernstein and Seiji Ozawa mentored him.
**Gennady Rozhdestvensky (1931-2018) was a renowned Russian conductor. He trained in conducting under his father at the Moscow Conservatory and in piano with Lev Oborin. At just 20 years old, he conducted Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre, quickly earning recognition. Rozhdestvensky premiered many works by Soviet composers, such as Edison Denisov’s Le soleil des Incas (1964), and gave the Russian premiere of Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Western premiere of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Fourth Symphony at the 1962 Edinburgh Festival.
This undated photo shows the Zhuhai Youth Symphony Orchestra (ZHYO) performing. – Photo provided by Huafa Music
Tony Yeh Cheng-Te conducts the Taiwan Philharmonic in 2020. – Photos provided by Yeh
This photo shows Yeh conducting at the Kaohsiung Center for the Arts in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan.
