words irma widjojo

Music spurs responsibility in youth

The obligations of the privileged – that is what the French expression “noblesse oblige” means. It is a term 17-year-old Arnold Wong knows well, for he considers himself and many other Hong Kong youths privileged. ‘We get to eat three meals every day, we have a house, so we are better off than a lot of other people,’ Wong says. ‘That’s why I want to make people realize that we need to do our part to help the society. No matter what the scale is.’

Wong is a youth ambassador for the billWillie brand, a luxury clothing brand in America, founded by National Football League player William James Peterson. The billWillie brand uses fashion to spread global understanding about bettering human relations. Every year, ambassadors are sponsored to organize events that aim at making change in communities and promoting youth.

Given this opportunity, Wong has decided to start Noblesse Oblige, a movement to encourage responsibility in youth. ‘I think youth doesn’t respond to cheesy charity videos that make you feel sorry for people. I think they will respond better to something that they actually care for and enjoy, like music,’ Wong says.

Consequently, he has put together a night of musical performances he’s called focus:Music, which will showcase 13 performances with 17 performers – including singers, guitarists, a rapper, a jazz pianist and a tap dancer, all ranging from 16 to 19 years of age.

‘focus:Music aims to give inspiration to other youths so that they can also strive to be like the performers,’ Wong explains. ‘But it should also be a platform for [the performers] to be discovered, because all of them are really, really good.’

To get to know these talented young ’uns better, bc asked some of them to introduce themselves.

Tom Freeman
Guitarist and singer (17 years old)
I enjoy playing rock music when in a band, something that I can bob my head to while playing. But when it comes to acoustic and solo performances, I like to play with one or two other people and really show the audience some quality tunes. I hope to either become an artist writing songs for myself or other artists. I hope to become someone significant in the music industry and play alongside or write for famous artists. I started singing and playing because I took a great interest in other peoples’ songs and wanted to try writing my own, and this led to me finding a love for music and performing. I don’t like to think that I have an idol in particular, instead I admire anyone that pursues their dreams and follows their heart.

Peter Park
Guitarist and singer (16 years old)
I was brought into music when I took piano lessons in primary school. Now I can play numerous instruments including drums, guitar, bass, clarinet and piano. My music is influenced strongly by artists such as Jason Mraz, Chris Brown and Ne-Yo amongst others. I enjoy writing and performing original acoustic songs. I have won a singing contest held by the Hong Kong International School and another competition held on YouTube by Marie Digby, a signed artist under Hollywood Records. My performance includes playing unique renditions of popular R’n’B hits in my own style using an acoustic guitar. I am also a part of a band, which plays rock music, as the drummer.

Mike Yung
Guitarist and singer (17 years old)
I started playing classical piano when I was four and played for about 10 years. When I was 13, I grew absolutely sick of classical piano, so I demanded that my parents stop my piano lessons. After a year or so I found myself attached to the piano again, but in a different way. I was experimenting with the keys, the chords, the harmonies and playing music that was completely my own. Soon, this interest grew into fascination and inspired me to write my own songs. I picked up the guitar in the same year I won the award, and have been playing the guitar for four years, heavily influenced and inspired by John Mayer and Jason Mraz. This was when my music ‘career’, if you will, started.

Ammar Nasir
Guitarist and singer (17 years old)
From a very young age, I have been jealous of people who play guitar, piano or any instrument for that matter, since I never could. I consequently took up singing as it seemed like the easiest way into music. During my time studying in London, I joined a senior choir, not just because it got me out of a number of chemistry lessons, but because it trained my voice and gave me the confidence to sing in public. After moving back to Hong Kong, I co-formed my first band, which eventually disbanded in 2008. I still continued performing, either solo, or with another good friend, Mike Yung. For now, we just hope that people enjoy the music we play. We couldn’t ask for any more. My inspirations are Usher, Justin Timberlake, Sammie, Mario, Gabe Bondoc, John Mayer, John O’Callaghan.

Alex Mikic
Singer (17 years old)
I started rapping in about 2003 by fluke. It didn’t last that long and I stopped for a while. When I got started again, I decided to write my own lyrics instead of performing covers. I was criticized by friends – the ‘white boy rapping’ sort of thing – but paid no heed to it, continuing to pursue my interest in the craft of portraying a story through upbeat lyric writing. Nevertheless, being musically influenced by my father, I felt as if my rapping wasn’t satisfying my creativity as much as it could’ve been by, let’s say, singing. I never took any singing lessons nor did I perform at any venues, but I’ve had my fair share of shower singing sessions and I felt as if I could handle the singing thing. I started creating more musical songs, and instead of writing rap lyrics I wrote song lyrics and made the instrumentals myself on my laptop. I’ve always been into performing and I enjoy entertaining people.

Kyra Santiago
Guitarist and singer (18 years old)
Music has always been more than an interest of mine and since my first performance at 10 years of age, I’ve grown to be very passionate about it. Coming from a relatively musical family, I had all the encouragement and support in the world. As a child, I took up many instruments such as the piano, guitar and saxophone but never quite pursued it. I never really took proper lessons, but preferred learning and experimenting on my own instead. In this sense, I guess you could say I am a ‘jack of all trades, but a master of none.’ With music, I find there are no limitations, no boundaries. A simple chord can be found in hundreds of songs, yet each song might have a different melody, rhythm and feel. And now with Noblesse Oblige coming up, I feel very humbled and thrilled to be sharing the stage with such talented performers!

Yui Mugino
Singer (18 years old)
Music has always been the only thing that I could never get tired of. I have been playing the piano since I was three, and gained an interest in singing during kindergarten while listening to Japanese R’n’B and pop songs on the radio and CDs of foreign artists that my parents liked, such as the Beatles and the Carpenters. My favourite part of being a musician is the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction I get from making music. Not only does it make me happy, but it has the capability to make others feel the same way that I do and evoke emotions that words cannot describe. The other amazing thing about being a musician is that it allows me to befriend and create music with many other enthusiastic and inspiring musicians who share the same feelings and passion for music as me. If I could work both in Japan and the United States, or even internationally, it would be like a dream come true.

Alisha Budhrani
Singer (17 years old)
My passion for singing was discovered about six years ago after I watched the movie A Walk to Remember. The song Only Hope by Mandy Moore was what influenced me to try out singing and pursue it. After a while, I tried to sing along to another song but my voice was quite raw and untrained. However, I kept going and going and singing by myself in my room and discovered it made me happy. Something inside of me was igniting and starting to burn. That was when I discovered another passion. I would start writing poems, short verses and tried to rhyme. I still haven’t found the right
place for vocal lessons but I’m trying to train myself to improve everyday. I’m still a young girl looking for advice and willing to learn more. I’m like a sponge ready to absorb anything beneficial that comes my way.

Ryan Kwok
Singer (17 years old)
Like art, music is a universal language that allows people of different races, age groups and sexes, to communicate their emotions, entertain people and inspire others to do the same. About six years ago, I was almost certain that all the cool kids were cool because they played the guitar. Well, nothing’s changed now, but I’m just beyond grateful to have picked up the guitar back then, because it became a pivotal moment in my life. I wasn’t aware of it then, but playing the guitar opened a whole new door for me: like a door to Neverland, or a door to the Matrix. Since then, I’ve expanded my exploration in the world of music through developing a profound appreciation for all genres of music, including hip-hop, jazz, country and even operatic works. Music won’t be the path of my future, however it will definitely be like a cute dog that will walk alongside me, whatever path I choose.

Michael Lin
Tap dancer (17 years old)
I began performing in Hong Kong when I was five years old and have been on stage ever since. I have worked with many local and international companies, both amateur and professional – you may remember me as Peter Pan! However, last September, I took my first lead role as an adult, in Pippin in Lan Kwai Fong. Although I’ve had my share of dancing, singing and acting, my first love is tap. Last summer, I attended Tap City, the New York City Tap Dance Festival (under scholarship) and I enjoyed it so much that I returned again under scholarship. Despite a busy schedule, I also put aside time for sports, and represented Hong Kong in rugby and in-line skating. I also am a drummer in a band.

Chris Carpio
Jazz pianist (19 years old)
Since I was little I’ve always remembered being around music. My parents were in the Tony Carpio Big Band, which is a pretty big name in the music world. So I grew up with the old big band sound, like Frank Sinatra. I started playing the piano when I was eight years old and I would play with my parents from time to time. I also play the piano-guitar, which is just a piano with a strap, because I just thought it looked really cool to play. I enjoy the musician lifestyle, but my passion for music has changed my perception in a lot of ways. I think through the Noblesse Oblige concert I can raise awareness of jazz in Hong Kong.

Noblesse Oblige, focus:Music, will take place on July 22 from 4-9pm at the Fringe Club 2, Lower Albert Road, Central Tel: 2521 7251.