International student shares gift of music

By Jess Decina

Anyone who has ever watched the 2002 drama The Pianist might tell you it’s a film about a musician struggling during World War II. For international student and pianist Taylor Yuan, however, the film is an inspiration – and a great way to study the composer Frédéric Chopin, whose music is frequently played in the film.

“I like Chopin, and I like the movie,” Yuan said. “In that movie, the actor playing the pianist plays Chopin well. I was so excited about Chopin’s masterpieces.”

Selections from Chopin, as well as other classical composers, could be heard inside the Gill Chapel last Saturday, Sept. 16, at Yuan’s piano recital, an event that has been several months in the making. According to Dr. Minmin Wang, special assistant to the President and Provost and professor of Communication and Journalism, Taylor approached her with the idea of sharing his piano talents with others toward the end of last semester.

“It was his own idea,” she said. “He really missed piano when he came to Rider. He asked me if I could help him organize a concert here or find some opportunities that he could share his piano talents with the public.”

Wang worked with Joe MacAde, director of Academic Affairs, to organize the event. MacAde is also responsible for international students on both the Lawrenceville and Princeton campus, Wang said. Yuan said he also had some encouragement from his classmates.

“My classmates gave me ideas because they know I play piano well,” he said. “I really wanted to share my music with my friends, and I wanted to make more friends. I wanted everyone at Rider to come to my recital to enjoy my music.”

Junior Pete Coach, Yuan’s student mentor, attended the recital. Coach, who has known Yuan since last year, described Yuan as “a fantastic pianist.”

“He played for about an hour and a half, almost nonstop,” he said. “I played piano for one semester and still remember simple songs, but [it wasn’t] even close to his level of talent.”

For the hour and a half recital, Yuan chose emotional and often fast-paced pieces from Chopin, Beethoven and other classical composers. He admires them for their ability to turn their life experiences into masterpieces, he said.

“I’m really interested about the composers and their lives, their experiences,” Yuan said. “They experienced something and composed these masterpieces. When I’m playing that piece, I can remember what I’ve read, what I saw. That gives me the power to play that music.”

Yuan especially enjoys performing Chopin’s “Fantasy Impromptu,” a piece that combines “piano skills and techniques and emotions,” he said.

This recital will hopefully open the door for other students like Yuan to take the stage, said Wang. Many students approached her to reveal their own talents after Yuan’s recital, she said.

“[Yuan] is not the only one who has the talent; there are many very talented international students like him,” Wang said. “Many learned piano when they [were] very young and are very good at it. Some are very good dancers, singers, or good with other instruments.”
Coach would like to see more events like the recital, because it presents “something everyone can enjoy, no matter what part of the world you are from,” he said.

Yuan said he doesn’t have any set plans to perform again at Rider, although he would like to. For now, piano playing is “just a hobby,” he said.

“I want to have another piano recital next year, but I’m not sure,” he said. “If I have a chance to become a professional piano player, I will.”