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Victoria Button

Ann Wong marketing manager  of the Hong Kong  Sinfonietta

What was your childhood ambition?

I adored my father so I thought of being a telecommunications engineer like him. Mum thought I should be a lawyer as I'm talkative. Then I got good HKCEE results in music and realised I might be able to make that my career.

How long had you been studying music?

I started piano at 31/2. I could barely make the keys work and the teacher immediately grabbed my hand and cut my nails. It was - I shouldn't say horrifying - unexpected.

Presumably things got better?

At St Stephen's Girls' College

I started having viola lessons and joined the orchestra. I loved the social aspect. Playing the piano is always lonely.

How about further education?

I studied piano, viola and erhu as part of my honours degree in music at Chinese University of Hong Kong, but I also took  German, social science and economics. The variety was great. I got to know people who had a different way of thinking to artists. I became more practical. University education allowed me to ask questions and try to find answers, to research. That skill is applicable to anything.

Did you want to become a performer?

Never. The competition is intense and I get terrible stage fright. I don't like being a soloist. I used to be quite a nervous person. Piano exams have made me sick with nerves. Before HKCEE, my insides stopped working. Then I got an injection and had to go to the toilet so often that I took my books in there with me to study!

I notice your face on posters advertising 'Ann's World of Music - All Creatures Great and Small' on 13 and 14 August. Have you lost stage fright?

I'll be the compere for the concerts. I've done it many times now so I'm used to it, although the first one was pretty scary. I am confident when I speak - it's my best 'instrument'. We want to get children and parents interested in music by educating them in a fun way. I talk to the orchestra members on stage, get them to demonstrate their instruments and even do silly things like making the conductor use a fly swat instead of a baton.

What jobs led you to this position?

I managed a violin shop for a few months, then took a pay cut for a more interesting job dubbing music for dramas at ATV. I spent three years as a classical music presenter and producer on RTHK Radio Four before I joined the Sinfonietta in 2000.

What does your post at the Sinfonietta involve?

As marketing manager, I organise promotions to sell tickets, I get critics to attend performances, deal with the media, things like that. We're a government-funded charity so everyone has to work extra-hard and be flexible.

How is marketing music different from marketing, say, rice?

You know what rice tastes like. With music it's difficult to tell you how nice it tastes, and there are many different flavours available. It's so abstract. Some people love Beethoven and others hate him. I have to conduct  research on what is good about a piece and convince people it's something they shouldn't miss.

Do you have any formal qualifications in marketing?

Mainly I learnt on the job, but I recently took night classes to get a certificate in English public relations writing through HKU Space.  The training will be useful for my next job. I'm going to work at the British Council as media relations manager.

How did that move come about?

I like making changes in my life. After working in a local organisation for four years, and in music for more than eight years, it will be good to work for an international organisation in a non-music related role. My motto is 'Eyes Wide Open'.

Useful contacts: Hong Kong Sinfonietta tel 2836 3336; HKU Space 2559 9771; Chinese University of Hong Kong 2609 6000; Hong Kong Association of Business and Professional Women 3113 6552

Ann Wong was talking to Victoria Button. Ms Wong will start work at the British Council next week



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