“Music Is Our Common Heritage”Han-Na Chang, the New Music Director at the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Believes in the Unifying Nature of Music
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talk Qatar “MUSIC IS OUR COMMON HERITAGE”HAN-NA CHANG, THE NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR AT THE QATAR PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, BELIEVES IN THE UNIFYING NATURE OF MUSIC. BY NIDHI ZAKARIA EIPE an-Na Chang only That was in 1994, when Chang was only 11. wanted to meet Mstislav Chang has since won accolades, admiration Rostropovich, considered and recognition for her prodigious talent from by many to be the greatest all corners of the world. In September 2013, cellist of the 20th century, she will add one more feather to her cap when even one of the greatest she takes up her newest position, that of Music cellists of all time. But Director at the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra. when she competed in Born in South Korea in 1982, Chang says: the Fifth Rostropovich Music has been a part of her life for as long as International Cello she can remember. When she started school Competition, not only did at the age of six, her parents gifted her a cello. she get to meet and play for Chang would gradually fall in love with music, HRostropovich she also came away with First for “wanting to become a better musician, to make Contemporary Music Prize and the opportunity better sound.” Four years later, her parents to study privately under the maestro himself. decided to move to New York so that Chang 72 could continue her musical studies at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music. During this time she also attended master classes and studied privately with acclaimed cellist Mischa Maisky. Chang reserves her warmest praise for her mentor and teacher, Maisky. “He is my most important teacher –– he is the first one who recognized my talent when I was 10 and opened my eyes to what music is all about,” she smiles. For 20 years, Chang pursued a formidable career as a cellist, debuting in major orchestras around the world including the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Cleveland Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Orchestre de Paris, La Scala Orchestra introducing, sharing and teaching classical music to young and the San Francisco Symphony among others. audiences in Qatar and the region. In 2007 - incidentally the same year that the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra was born – Chang began to focus THERE IS more more on conducting. This decision stemmed primarily from But it’s not all music for Han-Na Chang, even if it does her wish to study occupy the most important place in her life. One little- and perform the known fact is that Chang has a degree in philosophy from great masterpieces Harvard University. She attributes the inspiration for “PEopLE HAVE EASY ACCESS written for the this unorthodox subject choice largely to one of her most orchestra: the important mentors, Italian conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli. TO EACH OTHER’S CULTURE foundational works “He was always studying diverse academic fields like Now, THANKS TO THE of classical music. archaeology and psychology –– things that are related Living between to human civilization and human thought,” she recalls. INTERNET. IT MAKES IT worlds –growing up (Sinopoli himself had a degree in medicine and had also poSSIBLE FOR US TO LAUGH in a South Korean completed a dissertation in criminal anthropology). family, studying He instilled in Chang the motto: “Music is the most AND CRY TOGETHER, TO BE in America and important thing in a musician’s life, but it should never MOVED BY THE SAME THINGS” spending much of be the only thing.” Chang took these words to heart her time on the road and Sinopoli’s sudden passing just a few months before giving concerts in she started university cemented her decision to study different countries Philosophy, as a silent homage to the influence he had on – Chang soon realized that being a musician can often be a her life. Chang is deeply passionate about music and its solitary affair. power to bring people together. “The harmony and unity “As a solo cellist, you practise alone and you perform that the orchestra achieves is nothing short of a miracle –– alone. It’s a lonely job,” she admits. It is perhaps for this take the music away and I think we will find out how difficult reason that she views the orchestra as a “musical family” it actually is to have 100 individuals sharing the same vision with whom one works continually to achieve long-term together,” she says. musical goals as well as contribute to the community. She speaks of music as a shared sound that breaks Chang’s own contributions to her community are many. through the barriers of difference to speak directly to In 2009 she founded the “Absolute Classic Festival” in our hearts. Music is our common heritage, she affirms, Korea to promote classical music among newer audiences, belonging to all of humanity, and an orchestra is like a while also offering young musicians in their 20s and 30s “living instrument” that allows people to participate in the the chance to audition for a place in the Absolute Classic transcendent moment of its creation. Festival Orchestra, personally conducted by her. She holds So, just what do classical musicians think of the popular a special place in her heart for children, often performing music coming out of their countries today? Chang is nothing concerts for children in her home country of South Korea, but generous on the subject of the viral K-pop craze of as well as for underprivileged children who would not 2012, “Gangnam Style,” reflecting both on its popularity otherwise have the chance to attend such concerts. For and reach. “Pop music or classical music, people have easy her efforts, she was appointed as a Roving Goodwill access to each other’s culture now, thanks to the Internet. Ambassador for the Korean Red Cross. “I think the younger It makes it possible for us to laugh and cry together, to generation should be given the opportunity to become be moved by the same things,” she says. “I hope that we, friends with the diverse sounds of classical music. Young classical musicians, will also be able to share the joys of kids are especially open-minded and they absorb things so music with the many diverse people around the world.” quickly,” she says. In her role as Music Director for Qatar One suspects that the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will Philharmonic, Chang is especially enthusiastic about be an excellent place to start. 73.