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Spotlight Interview with Huang Ling Ling, tutti cellist of the CCOHK. Where are you from and how long have you been in Hong Kong?I am originally from mainland China. I lived in New York for several years before settling in Hong Kong about eight years ago. What brought you to Hong Kong? I came because my husband was transferred here to work. What do you enjoy most about playing in the CCOHK? The varied programming and the high standard of playing of the CCOHK members. Which CCOHK guest artist has made the biggest impression on you? Julian Bliss, the teenage British clarinettist, who played with us in October 2005. Which CCOHK concert has been the most memorable for you? The inaugural concert entitled “Spirit”. I felt very honoured to be invited to play in the augural concert of such an excellent orchestra. How did you come about choosing the cello? It was primarily my parents’ choice, but I do love the cello very much because of its beautiful sound. Tell us about your background and music training in mainland China. I was born in Kunming in the southwestern part of China. I started learning the cello when I was six. At eleven I entered the Yunnan Art High School and at thirteen I auditioned with the People's Liberation Army Art Academy in Beijing. I was the youngest student accepted by the Academy and studied there for five years. What do you think of the music education system in China in general? When in China, I spent most of my time practicing solo works ever since I started to play the cello. In doing so I acquired a solid foundation in technique. At that time all my fellow cellists did the same in the belief that if one could play solo well then one would automatically be able to play well in an orchestra. We had relatively little training and experience in ensemble and orchestral playing. After arriving in the United States, I joined the University orchestra and was simply astonished by the other students’ sight-reading skills and vigour. Having said that, I must stress that I left mainland China a long time ago. The standard of orchestras in China has improved vastly in recent years. I feel that Chinese musicians are very hardworking and possess excellent technique. If they could add a bit more vigour to their performance and enhance the rapport when playing in ensembles or orchestras, they would become superb players. Name one of the most important milestones in your music career. Enrolment in the Master degree programme in cello performance offered by the University of Virginia. This gave me the opportunity to learn from master cellists including Matthew Waxler and Evelyn Elsinger. The experience transformed me completely. What message do you have for our friends? Thank you very much for appreciating and supporting
the CCOHK! I am very honoured to be a member of this orchestra.
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