Ricker Choi

My first piano lesson was a failure...

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I was born in Hong Kong and studied at Rosaryhill School, where I spent my kindergarten and then primary school years at.  I still remember for my Grade 6 music class examination, me and five other classmates chose to sing the theme song from the famous Japanese TV series Story of Oshin.  I didn't know any classical music, and pop music was my only exposure to music at that time.  When I was 7 years old, I decided to have piano lesson, hoping to be able to play Hong Kong pop tunes that my mother often played.  After less than 1 month of piano lessons, I gave up!  I didn't have the discipline, nor the passion for music.  I just hated practising!

When I was 12 years old, I entered into St. Pauls Co-ed College, in which each student was required to learn at least one instrument.  Guess what?  For novelty, I picked Er-Hu, while most of my classmates opted for more conventional options, such as piano, violin, and cello.

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Falling in love with Amadeus and Ludwig

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It was in this environment that my passion for classical music was ignited.  I was fascinated by the beautiful sound my classmates made from their instruments.  Listening to Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik during music class and Chopin's Polonaise Op.53 ("Heroic Polonaise") performed by a senior student during the class assembly opened my ears to the wonderful world of classical music.

I started purchasing classical music cassette tapes.  (CD was not available yet.)  One day I came across a tape with the title The People United Will Never be Defeated! I thought it was such an inspiring name and bought it.  Then I came across another one called The Ring of the Nibelung, with a piece called: Immolation Scene.  Immolation: a big serious word which I didn't even know.

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The cries of the Valkeries, the powerful emotions of The Ring, and the stirring theme of The People United Will Never be Defeated! opened me up to a new world.  Even though I didn't understand a word sung in the opera, I was fascinated by the picture of the dragon slain by a boy with a sword on the cassette tape cover.  My love of Wagner and mythologies started from this time.

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My first piece?  Für Elise!

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I decided that I must learn to play the piano, and my first piece?  Für Elise!

I was only able to recognize what middle C looked like on a score, therefore I had to write down the letter names of almost every single note on the score in order to learn the music.  I practised extremely hard, and after 3 months, finally, I was able to play through the first page, hitting only 50% wrong notes, and stopping only 10 times through my way.  What an accomplishment!

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Then I discovered Richard Clayderman!  Yea, I know serious music students are not amused when someone says he likes Richard Clayderman.  Well ... he was so popular in Hong Kong, and I really loved his Ballade pour Adeline!  I bought all his music scores and cassette tapes.  It was from his own arrangement of popular classical music such as Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 or Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata that I get further introduced to the classical masters.

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Piano lessons again!

I started really learning the piano when I was 13 years old, when I immigrated to Toronto with my family.  I started with a piano teacher from RCM, Catherine Russell.  After she passed away, I studied with Boris Zarankin, co-founder of Off Centre Music Salon.  I was totally passionate about classical music, and I practised extremely hard. I completed the ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance at the age 18.

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It was a tough decision!  Should I study music, or get into a more conventional academic program?  I sent in the application form and had arranged for an audition with RCM, but at the last minute, I opted for the easy route: study business!  I knew at that time I was not musically gifted.  I just worked extremely hard, but I didn't speak through the music.  I was playing the piano, not making art.  The most important factor was that I didn't even know what I want for a musical career.  I didn't have a vision of a musical future.  It was a hard decision, but I still believe today that it was a right one for me.

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Bye bye love ....

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Upon entering York University's Schulich School of Business, my piano study was halted for 12 years.  The work load of the business program plus working a few part-time jobs at the same time didn't allow any time for practising piano.  It was initially quite depressing to have to say good-bye to my beloved mistress, Lady Piano.

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After I graduated, I was busy with my career, and at the same time studying on the side for further academic credentials.  Piano was not even thought of.

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I'm back!

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In 2005, I felt that my career was on track, and I started studying piano again with Boris Zarankin, co-founder of Off Centre Music Salon.  After more than 10 years of hiatus, I was finally back with my mistress!

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I started participating again in local music festivals, and was awarded the Best of Festival Award from Yip's Music Festival and the Markham Music Festival Trophy.  Through a friend I met at Kiwanis Music Festival, and with the encouragement of Boris Zarankin, I started also having coaching sessions with other teachers such as Lawrence Pitchko and Michael Esch.  I participated in the Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival, attended master classes of Anton Kuerti, Andre Laplante, Marietta Orlov, and James Anagnoson.​

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My life today ...

I am currently a business consultant specializing in financial risk management.  I have an MBA from York University, and am a holder of FRM and CFA. I enjoy reading, traveling, and listening to music for leisure.

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I like to share my passion for classical music with my friends, while at the same time contribute to the needy in society. Hence in 2006 I started organizing and performing in charity fund raising concerts.  Since 2006, I have been helping to raise funds for charity organizations such as Oxfam Canada, SickKids Foundation, and World Vision Canada.

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Through other amateur pianists in Toronto, I first knew about international amateur competitions in 2008.  I have participated in following international amateur piano competitions:
          

2012: 3rd Prize at the Concours International de Grands Amateurs de Piano (2012), where I performed at the 1,000 seat Salle Gaveau in Paris

2010: 2nd Prize and the special Candidate Prize at the Berlin International Amateur Piano Competition, where I performed at the 2,500 seat Berlin Philharmonie

2009: 2nd prize for the 2009 Boston International Piano Competition

2008: 3rd prize for 2008 Washington International Piano Artists Competition (also awarded both the Press Jury Award and Best Performance of a Romantic Period).

I hope to see you at one of my future performances.

Ricker Choi