English Blog

Summer Piano Concert: Fun, Romance, and Splash! Gershwin to Chopin at FUMC Pasadena on Saturday 7/19 at 4pm July 5, 2014

 I will perform a fun and romantic summer program including Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue and 3 Preludes, Copland: Rodeo Suite, Chopin’s celebrated Andante spianato and Grand Polonaise brillante Op. 22, Granados’ passionate Spanish Dances, Debussy: L’isle Joyeuse and Ravel: Jeux d”Eau. The venue will be at FUMC Pasadena (500 E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91101 (626) 796-0157, www.fumcpasadena.org) It […]

Summer at the New House in LA 7/2/14 July 2, 2014

It has been for 10 days since we moved into the new house. As you imagine, the moving is not easy! From the time to start sorting and getting rid of many many things (at least dozen trips to Goodwill and one big pick up from Salvation Army) to the actual moving, it has been a long journey. But […]

2014 Music Camp “Sound Encounters” in Kansas 6/13/14 June 13, 2014

It has been for 15 years teaching and performing at the music camp “Sound Encounters” in Kansas. This year, I added to teach composition, and enjoyed working with students so much besides my usual piano classes. I performed several concerts with different faculties which is always very fun. Today is the last day of the […]

LA Phil/Dudamel “Cosi fan tutte” 5/27/14 May 27, 2014

This production is the conclusion of the Mozart/Lorenzo Da Ponte Trilogy (“Don Giovanni” in 2012 and “The Marriage of Figaro” in 2013). “Così fan tutte” provides a “forever” theme of a test of fidelity, an amazing humor (still works in 2014), and a perfect match between the music and the text. You may not cry during […]

A Movie “The Grand Budapest Hotel” 5/27/14 May 27, 2014

I saw this movie a while ago.. It is a fantastic movie with a lot of imagination, fantasy, creativity and wit. I love this kind of films. It is about Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), a legendary concierge at a famous European hotel “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, and Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori), the lobby boy who becomes his […]

A Movie “Song of Love” 5/1/14 May 1, 2014

I have been fascinated by the life of Clara Schumann (Sep. 13 1819 – May 20 1896), a wife of Robert Schumann. Clara was one of most famous pianists in her time, and one of the great piano stars around Europe in the 19th century. She premiered new works by Frederic Chopin, Johannes Brahms, and […]

Joe Garrett (May 2, 1954 – March 22, 2014) March 30, 2014

Joe was an amazing brother-in-law for me for the last 20 years. He passed away last Saturday with a pancreatic cancer. It was 10 months after the diagnoses. He went through very difficult treatments, but he gave us precious moments to share. He is in peace now. He helped me when I had to endure […]

Piano Recital “Romance on Piano” in Bird Studio, Occidental College on Wednesday 3/26, at 12:50pm March 22, 2014

Romance, Romance, Romance…! Composers tell love stories in their music. I will perform some of most beautiful music from Romantic and Impressionistic periods and talk about anecdotes on composers and pieces. Please join me!  

A Movie “Gloria” 3/1/14 March 1, 2014

I saw this movie a little while ago. Gloria (Poulina Garcia) is a “woman of a certain age” with 2 grown up children and has an office job, but still wants to feel young. The story is based in the life of Santiago, Chile. Though lonely after the divorce, she makes the best of her situation and fills […]

Debussy: L’Isle joyeuse and Rain… 3/1/14 March 1, 2014

Los Angeles has been having a big rain. The city is not made for rain so anytime we have some rain it causes some troubles. Anyway, I was practicing Debussy’s L’Isle joyouse in my piano studio at Occidental College yesterday. I love my studio there. The building is historic (I discovered many century old sheet […]