It is 5: 15, July 28th. There is less the 3 hours before the 12th National Student Sports Meet Opening Ceremony. The final rehearsal for the ceremony in Eastern Gymnastic Center has already ended. The light and sound effect controls are making their final adjustments; while the director’s voice comes out from the speaker: “One hour break time!”
While most performers are taking their dinner break, a journalist knocks on dressing room 103. The person who opens the door is a bright young man in a white suit. He is the leading pianist for “New Shanghai Concerto”, ZONG Chiang (aka. Chiang Rong-Zong). Do not underestimate him! Although he only graduated from high-school, he is a music prodigy who excels in piano, cello, songwriting and orchestra. He is already a somebody in Taipei’s music scene. This time, he is invited to Shanghai to perform in 12th National Student Sports Meet’s opening ceremony. ZONG shall dazzle the audience with his unique crossover between the classic and the modern. With perfect balance between the intensity of pace and softness of melody, he shall bring together the universal language between the student in mainland and Taiwan.
Speaking of music, as a single child, ZONG sees music as his “play mate” who accompanied him throughout his childhood. “My father is a music producer, and always plays the piano at home. I remember when I was about two or three years old—before I learn how to read and write, not to mention recognizing the notes—I would climb up the seat and tinker with the piano when my father left for a minute or two. It’s so much fun just pushing keys at will. To me, the piano is magical.” Under the influence of his musical family, the young ZONG is deeply appealed to music. Quickly recognized his son’s interest, his father further helped him explore his virtuoso talent, starting from the basic.
“He is really smart. He is a fast learner”, says Chiang San-xing(蔣三省), ZONG’s father. He recalls his son’s first experience on stage when he was 5 years old, “That performance was supposed to be my first performance. The night before the performance, my son insisted that he wanted to take my spot. I thought he was just being silly. I didn’t take it seriously. Yet, he was serious. He patiently went through an intense practice and training, and guess what! He actually learned how to play the song I performed, “Bizet's Carmen”.” Mr. Chiang looks extremely proud of his son. Ever since then, ZONG’s talent could not be more apparent. He learned cello when he was 7 years old, and composing at 10. Within a year, he was able to produce his own album. Now, he is 18 years old with three albums released. The song performed today is from his third album, Moment of Glory.
ZONG tells the journalist that he performed this crossover piece of work from Moment of Glory this May, during “The Song of Youth—2014 Cultural Exchange between Shanghai and Taiwan’s Students(青春放歌—2014臺灣上海學生文化交流展演活動)” in Taipei. At that time, the deputy mayor of Shanghai, Weng Tie-Hui(翁鐵慧), visited Taipei, and was amazed by ZONG’s performance. Thus, he invited ZONG to perform in Shanghai two months later in the stage of the opening ceremony of the student sports meet, in the hopes of sharing Taipei’s music prodigy’s talent to the audience back in mainland.
ZONG is thrilled to be invited. He never ceases complimenting his new “partner”, “I am so honor that the director’s team brought in the limited edition scarlet grand piano from the museum. I was told that I am the second person to set my fingers on it. The first being Lang-lang(朗朗).” As he introduces, he takes the journalist to the stage to witness this precious piano, “In a moment, there will be 37 boat-like cars pulling 37 pianos on to the stage. Along with 36 other pianist, I will begin this ceremony.”
As ZONG finishes his sentence, several students who are performing come up to him for autographs. ZONG smiles and agrees like a welcoming star. ZONG laughs, “Apart from signature and picture, some people even ask for a hug.” He is open with sharing his path in growing up, “This kind of communication makes me happy. Being with people of the same age inspires in greatly. This is one of the biggest rewards from performing in this student sports meet.” During the opening ceremony, a piano fan, who claims himself as Lang-lang Jr., goes to the back stage, seeking for an autograph from ZONG.
While most performers are taking their dinner break, a journalist knocks on dressing room 103. The person who opens the door is a bright young man in a white suit. He is the leading pianist for “New Shanghai Concerto”, ZONG Chiang (aka. Chiang Rong-Zong). Do not underestimate him! Although he only graduated from high-school, he is a music prodigy who excels in piano, cello, songwriting and orchestra. He is already a somebody in Taipei’s music scene. This time, he is invited to Shanghai to perform in 12th National Student Sports Meet’s opening ceremony. ZONG shall dazzle the audience with his unique crossover between the classic and the modern. With perfect balance between the intensity of pace and softness of melody, he shall bring together the universal language between the student in mainland and Taiwan.
Speaking of music, as a single child, ZONG sees music as his “play mate” who accompanied him throughout his childhood. “My father is a music producer, and always plays the piano at home. I remember when I was about two or three years old—before I learn how to read and write, not to mention recognizing the notes—I would climb up the seat and tinker with the piano when my father left for a minute or two. It’s so much fun just pushing keys at will. To me, the piano is magical.” Under the influence of his musical family, the young ZONG is deeply appealed to music. Quickly recognized his son’s interest, his father further helped him explore his virtuoso talent, starting from the basic.
“He is really smart. He is a fast learner”, says Chiang San-xing(蔣三省), ZONG’s father. He recalls his son’s first experience on stage when he was 5 years old, “That performance was supposed to be my first performance. The night before the performance, my son insisted that he wanted to take my spot. I thought he was just being silly. I didn’t take it seriously. Yet, he was serious. He patiently went through an intense practice and training, and guess what! He actually learned how to play the song I performed, “Bizet's Carmen”.” Mr. Chiang looks extremely proud of his son. Ever since then, ZONG’s talent could not be more apparent. He learned cello when he was 7 years old, and composing at 10. Within a year, he was able to produce his own album. Now, he is 18 years old with three albums released. The song performed today is from his third album, Moment of Glory.
ZONG tells the journalist that he performed this crossover piece of work from Moment of Glory this May, during “The Song of Youth—2014 Cultural Exchange between Shanghai and Taiwan’s Students(青春放歌—2014臺灣上海學生文化交流展演活動)” in Taipei. At that time, the deputy mayor of Shanghai, Weng Tie-Hui(翁鐵慧), visited Taipei, and was amazed by ZONG’s performance. Thus, he invited ZONG to perform in Shanghai two months later in the stage of the opening ceremony of the student sports meet, in the hopes of sharing Taipei’s music prodigy’s talent to the audience back in mainland.
ZONG is thrilled to be invited. He never ceases complimenting his new “partner”, “I am so honor that the director’s team brought in the limited edition scarlet grand piano from the museum. I was told that I am the second person to set my fingers on it. The first being Lang-lang(朗朗).” As he introduces, he takes the journalist to the stage to witness this precious piano, “In a moment, there will be 37 boat-like cars pulling 37 pianos on to the stage. Along with 36 other pianist, I will begin this ceremony.”
As ZONG finishes his sentence, several students who are performing come up to him for autographs. ZONG smiles and agrees like a welcoming star. ZONG laughs, “Apart from signature and picture, some people even ask for a hug.” He is open with sharing his path in growing up, “This kind of communication makes me happy. Being with people of the same age inspires in greatly. This is one of the biggest rewards from performing in this student sports meet.” During the opening ceremony, a piano fan, who claims himself as Lang-lang Jr., goes to the back stage, seeking for an autograph from ZONG.
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