Teachers, families, and friends gathered to watch multi-instrumentalist Emily Shek present her senior recital of western percussion and traditional Chinese music on April 12 at the McKay Auditorium. Audience members recognized Shek as accomplished musician with a cheerful personality.
During the recital, Shek played the vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, and the steel drum. Shek also plays Chinese instruments like the suona, a Chinese reed aero phone, and the guzheng, a string instrument.
More than 60 people attended the recital, including Shek’s family from Hong Kong. Audience members said they were impressed by the Chinese instruments. Gus Yim, a sophomore from Washington state studying business management, said he was in awe of how Shek played the suona and performed motions that cannot be done with most Western wind instruments.
Chinese audience members said they felt a sense of connection when Shek played Chinese music. Ryan Ng, an alumnus from Hong Kong, explained, “[‘Butterfly Lovers’] was what we had known since we were young. It gives us such a warm feeling when we hear that here. I think it’s wonderful Emily could share Chinese music here.”
Hunsik Son, a senior from Korea majoring in graphic design, said Shek is a skillful performer who has put much efforts in her practice. “When I looked at [Emily and those who performed with her], they felt the rhythm. When performers could feel the rhythm, the audience could feel almost the same feeling.”
Originating from Hong Kong, Shek had studied Chinese music at The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, the Music Office of the Hong Kong government. Shek said she had also been a member of Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra. She specialized in the guzheng.
Having taught Shek for more than two years, Darren Duerden a music professor, said, “She’s taken on an enormous task of learning percussion from the ground up in a new culture. [It’s] different from what she was used to. She’s been so eager to do and learn many different things. I had to scale her back because she wanted to tackled too many things.”
“It’s a beautiful thing to show my other students. Often times, our Western world is not as graceful as Chinese performers are. I’d like them to see how she does it. It’s a very beautiful example,” said Darren Duerden.
Darren Duerden described Shek’s Chinese music performances as the “epitome of grace and elegance.”
Jennifer Duerden said Shek brings her joy. “She has this totally fun personality. Every time we had a rehearsal together, there was always laughter, it was always a good time. It’s been wonderful having her here. I’m thankful that she’s chosen BYUH.”
Shek’s parents recalled the time when Shek was not admitted by the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and had to come to BYUH and study Western music. It was a difficult time to them. They expressed their appreciation to the music teachers at BYUH.
“When Emily first came to Hawaii, she felt like her dream [for Chinese music] was just shattered,” Shek’s mother, Alice Chan, shared. “I told her it’s good to go out and explore more in the world, and studying Western music could be good for her future career too.”
“She still couldn’t accept that and struggled a lot in her first year,” Chan continued, “But in the second year, she found out there were a lot of professors who loved her very much. With their support, she finally realized her studies in Hawaii would actually be helpful to her future, and she learned to humble herself.”
“I was shocked at first,” Shek’s father, Jimmy Shek said, “But I just let her do what she wants to do. She needed to learn to make decisions by herself. She had a good learning environment. I’m very grateful that the music teachers here have taken good care of my daughter.”
At the end of the recital, Shek expressed her gratitude to the faculty members of the BYUH Music Department. She shared how Darren Duerden accepted her to study Western percussion as a complete beginner in Western music. She thanked Jennifer Duerden for always being willing to accompany her on the piano.
Shek described Dr. Daniel Henderson, an assistant professor of music who specializes in jazz, as her Hawaii dad, who has invited her to his house every Thanksgiving and Christmas.
In response, Henderson shared, “My wife and I feel like our role is not just to be professors, but to be sort of mentors. I feel like some students could really use families. Emily’s been in my classes and ensembles a lot.”
“Emily is such a beautiful human. She has such a warmth and love wherever she goes. It’s very easy to want her in your house,” continued Henderson.
Momoe Sakurai, a senior from Japan also studying percussion and a friend of Emily, said, “She’s really cheerful and energetic. She’s good at becoming friends with anyone. She’s really kind and always cares about others and tries to make people around about happy.”
Jason Chang, a Taiwanese senior studying graphic design, “She’s an innocent and pure person. She also has such a pure passion for music. I could tell she had put much efforts in preparing for this performance. She performed with a heart full of gratitude.”
Writer: Tomson Cheang