- Title: SINGAPORE: NINE YEAR CHILD PRODIGY PIANIST BENJAMIN BOO PERFORMS IN CONCERT
- Date: 7th October 2001
- Summary: SLV CUSTOMER LOOKING AT DISPLAY SCU POSTER ADVERTISING BENJAMIN BOO MUSIC VARIOUS, BENJAMIN AND TEACHER TED JOSELSON PLAYING AT CONCERT
- Embargoed: 22nd October 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3O3IZUJB5HON1YWE4CV6VSYGH
- Story Text: Singapore's latest piano prodigy is impressing mature audiences with his own interpretation of classical music pieces.
This little boy is about to be on stage for another piano recital.
But this is not an ordinary children's piano concert.
Once this 9-year-old boy sits in front of a piano, he becomes a professional pianist, playing at Singapore's Victoria Concert Hall where world's renown musicians have performed.
The concert tickets go as high as 81 Singapore dollars (46 US dollars) and Benjamin Boo is performing in front of mature audience and critics.
'Ballade Pour Adeline' made famous by Richard Clayderman is his signature piece, and he has mastered the song when he was only four years old solely by listening.
He frequently performs classical music pieces at large concert halls, but he is not nervous once he is on stage.
"(When I'm on the stage,) music just flows in my mind and music just fills up," said Benjamin Boo.
Benjamin recorded his first pop solo piano CD when he was only six years old.
Recently, Benjamin has released his new classical album, and has been featured as a best seller at top music stores in Singapore.
He has only ventured into classical music a year and a half ago when Belgian-American renowned pianist Ted Joselson spotted him while attending a charity concert.
"He has an extraordinary creative mind. He has no inhibitions. He takes something that you give him and he just makes it work. It's quite remarkable. You can give him a passage of anything, and he can create a whole institution in no time. It's phenomenal," said Joselson.
Joselson now trains gifted children in Singapore after retiring from 26 years of public performances all over the world.
Recording sessions have become second nature to Benjamin.
He now has nearly 50 classical and pop repertoires under his belt.
Joselson said Benjamin's talent stems from his extraordinary ability to reinvent music as his own.
Benjamin likes to play with his friends when he's away from piano. Despite his busy schedule, he has managed to come out third in class.
His mother Betty Goh said her family tries to maintain a normal life. She is determined not to let music and fame ruin his childhood while working with adults at such a young age.
"There's no point in forcing a child to practice for hours and hours when he just does not have any interest. In the end it just kills music, which could affect him in the future that he does not even want to touch or listen to music at all. For Benjamin's case we actually leave it very freely to do what he likes, especially that he has this talent that was spotted, and we are just glad that he enjoys the music,"said Betty Goh.
Joselson said music training in Singapore is not enough for the child to grow as a world class pianist.
In the near future, Benjamin is due to attend music schools in the West such as Julliard in New York, or other top music institutions in London or Berlin.
He said Benjamin has a bright long future ahead.
"Where would he end up? Listen. Who knows. He's doing everything the right way, and he's got the wonderful group of people who are supportive of him. He's got a nation back of him. He's got the whole nation on back of him, which is quite extraordinary. And people who just love him and nurture him,"said Joselson.
Benjamin's family and Joselson are excited about Benjamin's latest achievement. His classical CD 'Classical Ivories' will be featured internationally on the internet via www.classical.com.
But Benjamin seems rather oblivious to his new fame - he enjoys playing with his friends and piano just like any other boys his age.
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