On January 10, 16 young musicians competed to win the 2015 Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition. These students delivered many impressive performances, and at the end of the day the judges announced that the First Prize would be awarded to Ben Hoang, an eleven-year-old sixth grader from Austin who performed Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Recently, I got to ask Ben a few questions about himself and his amazing talent.
Calvin Dotsey: Why did you choose the piano?
Ben Hoang: When I was 3, my sister started to play piano and I got to like the sound of the piano from listening to my sister practicing.
CD: When did you start playing the piano?
BH: I started playing at the age of 5.
CD: What musicians or people have inspired you most in your playing?
BH: Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman, and of course, my teacher and my mom.
CD: Why did you pick this concerto? What do you love about this piece?
BH: I heard this Grieg concerto once on KMFA Austin 89.5, and thought it would be a nice concerto to play. When my teacher suggested for me to learn the concerto a few days later, I said yes already knowing how it sounds. We started with the 3rd movement, since it is more exciting. But I especially clicked with the 2nd movement which I find the most natural to express myself. Overall, what I love about this concerto is through it, I learn something about the Norwegian sea, with the seagulls and the ripples, and also the powerful waves.
CD: What are your favorite things to do when you are not practicing or doing homework?
BH: I enjoy reading and riding my bike, and of course, playing video games!!!
CD: What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
BH: I’m not sure yet about my hopes and dreams at this point. Maybe I can tell better in a few years.
Congratulations to Ben and all of the young musicians who participated this year. To learn more about the annual Houston Symphony League Concerto Competition, click here. You can watch Ben play the last movement of the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra in the video below. Ben will perform the Grieg Concerto with the Houston Symphony at our upcoming Salute to Educators concert.
