Career plans for musicians

March 26, 2010 at 12:18 AM

I listened to a violin recital on BYU TV today of violinist Ben Chan. Ben is a computer science major. He played the C major fugue (Bach), Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Wieniawski Polonaise Brilliant and the Vieuxtemp Concerto No. 5. It was very fine. It will be broadcast again in the next few days and if you have U-verse TV you can record it on channel 567 (or see it on line at the streaming site.

The interesting thing about Ben is that he is a computer science major. I don't know him and don't know why he chose computer science but I find it telling that a young man of his capabilities is choosing something other than music. Could this become a trend?

He has his own Youtube channel. This has been posted on YouTube.

From LUIS CLAUDIO MANFIO
Posted on March 26, 2010 at 11:29 AM

Midori studied phycchology, if I am not wrong. There are many fine amateur musicians. There are whole orchestras constituted by lawyers, doctors, Air Force Orchestra, etc. Borodin was a professional chemist. Yes, it's difficult, but possible.

www.manfio.com

From Bart Meijer
Posted on March 26, 2010 at 12:37 PM

In the Netherlands we have an orchestra of MDs, and in Germany there is even one consisting of pediatricians.

Music is such a great hobby, but it must be a very stressful profession. I believe it's understandable when people choose to do something else for a living, no matter how great they may be as musicians.

Bart

p.s. the Tchaikovsky video is a joy to listen to. Congratulations, Ben!

p.s.2: Watching this interview I cannot imagine that Ben Chan will ever be lost to music!

From Tom Holzman
Posted on March 26, 2010 at 1:40 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_T._Gill_(opera_singer_and_economics_professor)

Richard Gill may well be the best example of someone who was fabulously successful in having a career in music and a more traditional career.

From Anne-Marie Proulx
Posted on March 26, 2010 at 10:55 PM

It surely interfeers a little more when you have started music late (since you didn't have as many years to progress musically before the "demanding" school years) but I'm so happy to see these musicians! Bravo to them! It's wonderful! If I'm not wrong, Ben Chan did study in music at university before doing computering,no? This is also wonderful!!!

Anne-Marie

From Corwin Slack
Posted on March 27, 2010 at 5:13 AM

It seems that perhaps the recital I heard was taped when he was still a senior. Looking at his profile I am guessing that he is no longer a student. Ben Chan is a member of v.com. Click on the link to see his profile. If you click on through to his web site you can see that he has a blog.

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Career plans for musicians

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