Pianist passionate about her craft

Modi Deng, Photo by Christine O'Connor

When musician Modi Deng talks about pianos, it is like it is a living, breathing thing.

''It's an expressive force. You can create different colours with it,'' she said of her passion for playing the piano.

The former Columba College pupil has been playing the piano since she was 6 years old, passed the difficult grade 7 exam when she was 9 and began to learn from Tom McGrath, a University of Otago teaching fellow, soon after.

Mr McGrath met Miss Deng after hearing her perform at a local competition when he was adjudicating and went on to teach her for eight years.

''I was absolutely astounded and moved by her piano playing.''

He described her as having a ''beautiful, fluid ease'' at the piano which had meant as she developed she was able to play ''very advanced works for someone so young''.

''Playing the piano is a very natural thing for her to do. She does not find things difficult as some of us do.''

She played Chopin's Variations on ''La ci darem la mano'' at the Dunedin Town Hall aged 13.

''Now she is of the age where people are catching up, but she is showing she has something special to offer and wants to continue to develop that.''

Her talent on the piano and good academic record saw her receive a full scholarship to the University of Auckland this year, where she is continuing her piano education under Assoc Prof Rae de Lisle.

Mr McGrath, who recently practised the Rachmaninoff piece she will play with the Southern Sinfonia alongside Miss Deng, said she appeared to be making the transition from talented child pianist to young artist very well.

''It's often a very difficult thing for someone, in any field, who shined early on. With Modi there is new and wonderful things happening in her playing.''

Those who heard her play at the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday night would witness a ''talented, assured young artist'', he said.

Moving to Auckland was helping her broaden her horizons and her interests outside music were helpful.

''Being well-rounded is very important,'' Mr McGrath said.

Miss Deng had been a model pupil over the years and teaching her had been a ''great responsibility''.

It was the teaching and the opportunities provided in Dunedin that Miss Deng credits for her success.

She described herself as ''single-minded'' and ''passionate'' about her music, which she believed was important to improve as a pianist.

''I like learning as much as I can.''

Performing was about communicating with the audience, she said.

''There's a pianist, I think she's French, that said if you change the audience's view of life for a second you've done an amazing performance.''

Being able to say something through the performance ''is quite cool'', Miss Deng said.

While she loved performing all composers, at the moment her favourites were Bach and Rachmaninoff.

She was looking forward to playing Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the sinfonia and conductor Nicholas Braithwaite to open the ''Sea Symphony'' concert.

It will also feature Dunedin-trained soprano Anna Leese, baritone Marcin Bronikowski and choirs Auckland Choral and City Choir Dunedin.

''It's good to branch out as well right now and play different pieces.''

At the moment she was spending four hours a day rehearsing.

Long term, she hoped to make a career of playing the piano but admitted it would take perseverance and hard work.

''I'll find my own way.''