Highly talented sixth-former claims top music prize
The winner of a prestigious annual award hopes to be a piano teacher one day in order to promote music among the local community.
Ami Ip Hei-man, 17, a sixth former at St Paul's Co-educational College who won the South China Morning Post Student Musician of the Year Award, said the sound of the piano was elegant, sweet and attractive.
According to Professor Anthony Camden, dean of music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hei-man had 'wonderful music direction', along with the ability to excite her audience.
Professor Camden and Tai Kit-man, senior curriculum development officer (music) at the Education Department, were the judges.
Professor Camden said Hei- man was unique in that apart from being a talented musician, she was also technically very good.
'She played a beautiful song and made a lovely sound. And she had exactly the right spacing,' he said.
'And her technique is outstanding as well.'
Hei-man, who has obtained the Licentiate in Solo Piano Performance from Trinity College, London, chose to perform Chopin's Etude Op 10 No 3 for its combination of technical excellence and emotive quality.
She is the pianist on the school's senior mixed-voice choir.
Hei-man has been playing the piano for 12 years since she first appeared for the school choir in Primary One.
'Playing with the choir and solo performances are two different things,' she said.
'But I love them both. In solo, I control everything. On the choir, it's about teamwork and you have to follow the conductor's direction.'
Hei-man said she would only concentrate on the piano for the time being.
'I think there's still room for improvement,' she said.
'For a long time, I've put much effort into honing my skills. I think from now on I'll focus on improving the expressions.'
Hei-man wants to study music in the United States and then return to Hong Kong to conduct piano lessons.
'It is meaningful to allow other people to enjoy the music as I do,' she said.
Hei-man will receive a Citi bank scholarship worth $20,000; two British Airways return tickets to Manila; $5,000 worth of gift certificates and music course coupons amounting to $5,000 from Tom Lee Music; one-year broadband Netvigator Internet access service; and free admission to a Hong Kong Arts Centre course.
First runner-up was Sabrina Ma Suk-wai, 15, a fourth-former at Diocesan Girls' School.
She gave violin and percussion performances at the audi tion. Professor Camden said: 'Suk-wai is very young, but very talented in many areas.'
She started playing the percussion at five and the violin at six.
'They are different,' she said.
'Percussion is energetic and rhythmic. But the violin is beautiful and expressive. I love them both.'
Suk-wai will receive a Citibank scholarship worth $5,000 and a one-year Netvigator Netteens Internet access service.
