23-08-20
Hong Kong’s ‘homegrown’ world-class orchestra conductor Lio Kuokman is young and energetic. He speaks like a lawyer, in fact faster, sharper and more precise than lawyers.
In 2017, he finished his tenure as Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, founded in 1900 and one of the ‘Big Five’ American orchestras. Now, he has a London manager to look after his ‘guest conducting’ engagements worldwide for him. Kuokman wants to prove and position himself. The numerous challenges for him to raise in the international music scene is a rigorous test that he has been put through. Kuokman smiled, “I finished the test but if I plan to move up, I will face more challenges. Now, I am constantly on the road and traveling almost 300 days on average per year.”
I asked, “Do you enjoy work and travel around the world?” Kuokman said, “I must say I get used to it. To be an international artist, you have to travel around the world to share your music, and I have many home bases, Macau, Hong Kong and Paris. My 4th home is hotel. My weekly routine is like this: after my concert on Friday and Saturday in a city, I run back to the hotel and pack my suitcase so that on Sunday morning, I can rush to the airport to catch a plane to my next performing destination. On weekdays, I sleep in a hotel, go to work, rehearse with the orchestra and get ready for the coming concert on Saturday. On Sunday, I become a bird again!”
I deplored, “What a dreadful life!” Kuokman disagreed, “It is tough but again, as soon as I accustom myself to changes, change of climate, change of city, change of people, change of orchestra, change of venue, change of audience, change of hotel and change of food, I will be fine! Don’t forget I have made friends all over the world, from Russia, Poland, Shanghai to Taipei. The only bad thing is that I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and forget which hotel I am staying at. My 5th home should be my suitcase which contains outfits, formal and casual, for four seasons. My opened suitcase will reveal who I am as I put all my favourite goodies like personal care stuff, snacks and laptop into it.” I replied, “Lord, the secret of a happy old age for me is simply an honourable pact with a lazy and easy life.”
“All artists want to be international but how?” I did not understand. Kuokman sincerely pointed out, “Keep on moving and working hard. Do swim from a smaller pond to a bigger one and keep on mounting the stairs. Don’t be happy with being a big fish in a little pond because once you move to the world arena, you may be just another unknown musician. I was born in Macau and learnt music at the age of 5. My ambition was to be a great orchestra conductor. So, I had to go to Hong Kong for better music education. After leaving The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in 2003, I knew that I have to continue my studies overseas. By the provision of a scholarship, I went to The Juilliard School in New York to get a master’s degree. In 2005, I fought hard and was admitted to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia which was one of the best music conservatories in the world. It was extremely selective and the admission rate was usually lower than 5%.” I asked, “Looking back, how would you feel?” Kuokman laughed, “The music fight in my destiny was fixed. I did one thing right and that was I signed up for this fight. I hit harder and forced myself to be stronger. I still remember I practised piano alone till 3 a.m. almost on a daily basis when I studied in Hong Kong.”
I said, “Kuokman, you are talented, determined, diligent and having been chasing the leading edge of the music wave. Are you afraid of failure?” He was lost in thought for a while, “Failure is an essential part of life. It is not fatal. If I fail, I use the downtime to unwind and equip myself better. Before I became the Assistant Conductor of the world-class Philadelphia Orchestra, I had my wrestling years from 2009 to 2014: no permanent job, no stable income, living in a small partitioned room in Boston, interviews not going well and feeling anxious about the future. When I could later change my fate, I sighed with relief that it was all over. Right now, because of COVID-19, I am being locked up in Hong Kong but I try to make the best out of the worst. I enjoy how to wakesurf in Sai Kung, reading books in Eslite Bookstore in Tsim Sha Tsui and training as an apprentice barista in my friend’s cafe near Central. For an artist, whether international or local, pushing harder than yesterday is the answer to life.”
I said, “What made you an international conductor?” Kuokman was shy, “Apart from luck, I believe that a great conductor, by twirling his baton high in the air as he starts to lead the musicians, must have the ability to create inspiration and imagination with the orchestra and audience. I also need to understand and know my musicians in order to create the best result. Conducting is fascinating but the job can be stressful: at this moment, you have to perform well but you have to know also what you did not do well in the previous moment and to plan how you want to fix it in the next moment!”
My last question for Kuokman, “What is your wish for the orchestral music scene of Hong Kong and Macau?” He pondered, “Better venues. Our concert places have become old and cannot catch up with the standard of the times.”
Talking to Lio Kuokman is a wonderful experience, like talking to myself of another existence. I am a lawyer and writer. He is a musician and commander. We have 2 things in common: high rationality and emotional sensitivity. I remember what was said, “Being a conductor is kind of a hybrid profession because it is being someone who is a coach, a trainer, an editor and a director.” Kuokman, you are Hong Kong’s idol!
His concert will be in HKCC on 9th and 10th October 2020.
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