Rising Stars: Meet Yao Lu of Marietta
"This article is reprinted from: https://knoxvillevoyager.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-yao-lu-of-marietta"
Knoxville Voyager
Today we’d like to introduce you to Yao Lu.
Hi Yao, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first discovered traditional Chinese musical instruments when I was a fourth-grade student. Luckily, the school I was at had a band. When I transferred to a new school, though, I took up the recorder. At that time, the movie Titanic was all the rage in Shanghai, and I had heard its soundtrack for a week. After listening to it just three times, I learned how to play its theme music. My father wanted to hear me play, so I gave it a try, and just like that, it was a success. The school’s music teacher also discovered that I was gifted in this area and took a chance in recommending that I learn the bamboo flute. In the end, I studied the bamboo flute for two years and successfully joined the school’s band in the sixth grade.
However, I wanted to learn how to play the guzheng (Chinese zither) more. I think girls look beautiful when playing the guzheng, but the problem was that this musical instrument was not only expensive, but it was also 163cm long and took up way too much space, so I kept this thought to myself. It wasn’t until I entered the Shanghai Theater Academy, where I could choose my minor, that I decided to fulfill my childhood dream and learn how to play the guzheng.
I am really grateful to my professor, Mr. Zhan Yongming, who is the supervisor of postgraduate and doctoral students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. I also want to give a big thanks to Ms. Wu Yang, the assistant professor of my guzheng major at the Shanghai Theatre Academy. Both of them have done all that they could to teach me. Now, I have developed my own ideas about music and can perform on stage and teach on the podium with confidence. Personally, these experiences in school were the luckiest I have ever had.
Later, when I participated in the following two ensembles, I was able to gain valuable stage experience and do live solos. Practical on-stage experiences like these could not have been available in school. And naturally, during the process, I got nervous or stressed and worried about slipping up, and feared that I would not be able to do a good job during the performance. There were times that my face would go pale from all the jitters, but now as I think back on it, it was a valuable experience which helped me mature.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The first time I had a sense of frustration was the first time I received only a passing grade on the grading test when I was in junior high school. The feeling of frustration and stress made me suddenly not want to put effort into practice. I blamed myself and wrote myself off as hopeless. People who are Virgos tend to put polarizing demands on themselves. I felt like that was the first time I rebelled against the idea of learning an instrument.
The second time I had a sense of frustration was when I crossed-over and partnered with the New Modern Chinese Ensemble. I had never performed fusion music or never played jazz songs with Chinese instruments. Standing on stage for the first time with this orchestra and without adequate preparation time, I almost forgot when to phrase, which would affect the other musicians. Since I was overly-nervous and not used to the cadence of the rhythm, this was a serious problem for me, which had to be overcome by practice.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Since I have on-stage performing experience and have taught in Shanghai, I did not want to give up my favorite major in the United States, since I have learned it from childhood. Using my strong points of teaching and performing, I organized a small ensemble that plays traditional Chinese folk music, fusion music, and some pop and folk songs from the US, China and Japan.
Over the years, I have participated in many festival performances, academic speeches, and performance demonstrations. The ensemble I organized featured two concerts and won grand, first, and second prize awards in a number of competitions. My students have also performed very well.
Gradually, many people have come to understand that Chinese musical instruments are no longer what they were portrayed to be in movies many years ago. They have a fresh look, one that is youthful, energetic, and integrates cultural diversity.
2015-2022 has been invited by the University of North Georgia, Emory and some universities for exchange performances and New Year concerts. She has also performed in Gwinnett 200th Celebration NAAAP Atlanta events Atlanta international nightmarket Lawrenville Arts Center opeing Gala and some international cultural and arts festivals.
2021 Be interviewed by “WABE”, joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes to talk about Chinese traditional instruments, and the concert” WE ARE THE YOUNG” in Aurora Theatre.
Next year 2023 June 24th will have the new concert with Magic Eastern Enesemble in Aurora Theatre.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I think that the most risky thing I’ve attempted was first coming to Atlanta and seeing my gradual development from a nobody. In terms of Chinese musical instruments, not every Chinese person even knows them that well. Sometimes, people confuse the guzheng with the seven-stringed guqin (they look completely different), and some people confuse the flute with the xiao bamboo instrument. (One is played horizontally and the other vertically, varying also in sound.)
Many people may have quite stereotyped views of national Chinese musical instruments. Some think that these instruments are only suitable for playing slow music that is difficult to comprehend and does not instantly resonate with the common people, or that the people who enjoy listening to it are old folks.
After making up my mind to play some new Chinese folk and fusion music to change people’s stereotypes and ingrained opinions, I took a risk and founded the Magic Eastern Music Studio and Magic Eastern Ensemble back in 2018.
In terms of live performances, in addition to selecting the music, I also tried something new for stage appearance and overall style, which included costumes. I began to try to adopt more elegant and beautiful ethnic-styled costumes as a means of artistic expression. I also tried to incorporate elements of Chinese traditional drama and played some traditional opera-styled music fused with popular rhythms. At the outset, I wasn’t sure whether this kind of music was really acceptable to Americans and some Chinese descendants when performing at the festival. But to my surprise, the kindness and loads of praise that we received gave me a boost in confidence.
It was then and there that I felt I understood why people say that cultural diversity in the United States can provide artists with sufficient space and friendliness. After experiencing it for myself and seeing all the cheerful and smiling faces in the audience, I felt that everything was beyond wonderful.
Contact Info:
Website: www.magiceastern.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/louiseluyao0831
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/yaolu
