DR Joanne Chang started playing the piano at four years old as a means to counteract boredom. An only child to busy parents who were building up their family business in Ipoh, she often had to find her own amusement.
Tinkering on the piano was something that provided endless hours of occupation and diversion.
However, it wasn’t until she started college in the United States 14 years ago that this passion was truly ignited. She decided that perhaps music was a route for her to express herself and learn more about what classical music had to offer.
It wasn’t just theory, practice and research for this self-confessed music nerd throughout her studies in the US – it was performing, collaboration and teaching that has fuelled her long academic and professional career.
Based in New York City, Joanne is affiliated with the prestigious Juilliard School. She is pursuing her Graduate Diploma in Collaborative Piano and is a recipient of the Kovner Fellowship.
She travels abroad regularly for performances, masterclasses, and presentations, and makes a point to come home to Malaysia twice a year to visit family and friends.
This Sunday at 8pm, Joanne will be performing in a recital with tenor Tan Chee Shen at Bobo’s Music Studio in Klang titled ‘Journey through Songs.’
The duo will take their audience on a musical journey to Spain with Manuel de Falla’s Siete Canciones Populares.
The set is based on popular Spanish folksongs on love and each individual piece is strikingly diverse in style – from the flamboyant flamenco rhythms to pensive lullaby melodies, a petite set with great Spanish flare and flavour.
When asked “Why Klang, though?” Joanne laughs and said,
“Why not? You can have your bak kut teh first and then come and enjoy some wonderful classical music at Bobo’s Music Studio and indulge in a little bit of culture.”
Jokes aside, Joanne revealed that it was a last-minute event organised by friends. She hopes that the distance to travel to Klang for most music lovers won’t deter them from making the trip on Sunday.
“Hopefully on my next trip back to Malaysia in July, we’ll put on another performance in KL. Make sure you come to that one!”
On Monday, February 27, Joanne will be conducting a workshop and piano masterclass at the Malaysian Institute of Art. It is open to the public and admission is free.
The Workshop will be divided into two parts:
Part I at 1.30pm – The Unsung Heroines: Female Composers and Performers in Classical Music
Part II at 3.30pm – Turning Pro: Transitioning from College to Career
On March 3, Joanne will be in Kota Kinabalu to perform at the Sabah State Library.
Together with flautist Kenneth Chia, they will be performing flute music from the mid-18th Century Romantic era. Works by Gaetano Donizetti, Camille Saint-Saëns, Benjamin Godard, Franz Doppler, and Joe Hisaishi will also be featured.
Flautist Jennifer Hsu and dancer Shanen Isabel Santani are set to put in an appearance.
The event is organised by the Society of Performing Arts Kota Kinabalu, Sabah (SPArKS).
“I love speaking to students about their musical aspirations and all the options that are open to them in this field. This is one of my favourite subjects to talk about.”
Despite living an enviable life in NYC doing exactly what she’s dreamed of doing, she does fervently wish to come home permanently at some point.
It isn’t just for family – Joanne believes there’s so much unexplored room to create a dynamic classical music culture in the country and is excited at the prospect of building that with the talent and stakeholders who are open to experimentation in the arts. – The Vibes, February 25, 2023
Catch the full podcast interview on Podio: Beyond Breakfast with Shazmin Shamsuddin next week
