Q) What was the first tune(s) you learned?
A). I believe on top, the ordinary tunes like chopsticks and Bach minuet. The first piece I was extremely proud to learn was Silent Night in time for the holidays.
Q) Which musicians do you admire or were you influenced by?
A). In the past, I listed to mostly classics, but today I find myself heavily inspired by popular music stars, such as Muse, Adele, Coldplay and Lana del Rey.
Q) What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?
A). I guess my greatest music memory, which is still clear in my mind, is winning the Zurich Geza Anda competition in June last year. It is my biggest achievement to date because a victory at an international competition is something I had aspired to do since I was 12 years old and I gave up in 2013. This was truly a special moment.
Q) What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?
A). Have faith in yourself and believe that all the work you’ve done in the practice room has paid off.
Q) Do you teach music?
A). Teaching is an important part of my life and I regularly do in summer festivals as well as in Germany where I live.
Q) How do you balance your music with other obligations?
A). Music is a way of life for me, and seeing as I only practice about 3 hours a day, I have plenty of time for other activities that interest me.