Common Talk Weeklyshuang yu zhou kan
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A rising cellist
January 7, 2004
By Vivian Zhang

卓贤，生长在鼓浪屿，曾荣获全国大提琴比赛青少年组第一名。为追寻理想，他从琴岛前往上海，去年又远赴英伦深造。最近回乡休假时，我们探访了他，并 得知了他和音乐大师马友友的一面之缘。

The concert celebrating the 13th anniversary of Xiamen Music School（厦门音乐学校） was held last month. The highlight of the evening was a young cellist named Zhuo Xian, a graduate from the school, who is now studying overseas at Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. His emotional performance of Chopin's "Introduction and Brilliant Polonaise op. 3" won the warmest applause of the night.

19-year-old Zhuo Xian is the pride of Xiamen. In 2000, he won 1st in the Fourth National Cello Youth Group Competition. Now, he is warming up again for the coming National Cello Adult Group Competition next month.

To ordinary people, the daily life of a musician is far from the colorfulness and splendor as shown in their music. Since Zhuo Xian began to learn cello at seven, he has been devoting most of his spare time to practicing.

"Even now, I am practicing for 4 hours after class every day, but I am still not the hardest working student among my classmates", he admitted.

It is unimaginable to keep this up for years without ambition. Zhuo Xian disclosed that his idol is Yo-Yo Ma, the world renowned cello master. "I love his music style. He pays much emphasis on timbre and his music sounds so romantic. I hope that one day I can be like him."

It so happened that in 2002, Yo-Yo Ma visited Shanghai Music High School where Zhuo Xian was then studying. "I was the first to perform before him. It is funny that I didn't feel a bit nervous because of the extreme excitement." Zhuo Xian recalled.

Listening attentively throughout Zhuo Xian's playing, Yo-Yo Ma broke into a broad smile when Zhuo Xian finished his piece. He went up to the stage, shaking hands with Zhuo Xian enthusiastically and congratulating him on his excellent performance. Then he spent about 45 minutes tutoring Zhuo Xian, which counted for the most part of his stay at the school. "All your techniques are used to express your mind." Yo-Yo Ma's words are still remembered by Zhuo Xian and he has benefited a lot from it.

Last year, both Yale University and the Royal Northern College of Music offered scholarships to Zhuo Xian. After consideration, he chose the latter for it would also cover his living expenditure in England. Thus he would be completely exempt from economic worries and able to concentrate on his study.

Another man who is vital to Zhuo Xian's life is Lin Qiming, a Chinese Singaporean. For 3 consecutive years, he has been supporting Zhuo Xian by lending him a cello every year. The first cello he gave to Zhuo Xian in the year 2000 cost USD 16,000, and the one Zhuo Xian is now playing with costs a small fortune — USD 400,000.

Nevertheless, among the many people to whom he is thankful, Zhuo Xian is most grateful to his parents. Zhuo Xian was born into a music family on Gulanyu, so-called the "Cradle of Talented Musicians". His father, a former cellist, took up the role of his first mentor. Later, he left his work in Xiamen and accompanied Zhuo Xian during his five years' study at Shanghai Music High School.

"I know I am lucky. Many friends who used to learn musical instruments with me have dropped out for various reasons. Nevertheless I will definitely strive on, not only for my dreams, but also for the people who have backed me up." If he achieves a good result in the national competition next month, Zhuo Xian said he plans to hold a solo concert in his hometown Gulangyu.

Good luck, Zhuo Xian!