Chao-liang Lin Comes Home

Clear and gentle, strong and vibrant notes ring in the hall, holding fast the audience, especially exciting because "he's a Chinese, too." After four years away, Lin Chao-liang had come home and fulfilled the deep hopes of his countrymen with the beautiful consonance of his violin.

He lost his father at 11. At 12 he went to Sydney, Australia, and then to the Juliard School in New York at 15. At 17 he won the grand prize in the Empress Sofia music competition in Spain. At 18 he signed with the famous ICM management group in the U.S. Still no older than 29, Lin has already traveled a long and difficult road.

Happily, he has done so with firm and steady steps.

At ten he was the prodigal winner of the Taiwan Youth Violin Competition. Nevertheless his teacher Li Shu-teh and mother Yu Kwo-lin did not push him too hard. The Lin they raised is open, warm, calm, steady, and sincere.

His victory at the Sofia competition--the only one he has entered--was an auspicious start. He caught the eye of the great New York teacher Isaac Stern, a unique opportunity. "Stern not only supported me in many ways, even more importantly, in having the chance to play together with him, I learned many things that could not be learned elsewhere," says Lin with evident admiration.

On stage, his music is sublime; he is dignified but amiable and of good humor, as in life. "I feel that to be a 'musician' and to be a 'person' are inseparable." And his geniality has been a big help in the fiercely competitive international music scene; he is not wealthy, but has won a benefactor to provide an open-ended loan to buy instruments. This is perhaps his reward for his sincerity in dealing with people.

In traveling extensively, it is impossible to avoid pressure and loneliness, which could affect concentration on stage. But Lin feels a sense of responsibility to those who have paid to see him and a firm determination not "to let the audience hear another violinist and say 'He is better than Chao-liang Lin.'"

Seeing a gap in the production of young musicians from Taiwan, Lin hopes that a fund to help talented young artists can be set up as early as possible to send the most promising overseas to deepen their abilities. "If the younger generation can have outstanding achievements on the international stage, this will absolutely be helpful to the country's image." He "hopes Taiwan can have many Chao-Liang Lins." This is also the hope of his countrymen.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.

Violinist Chao-liang Lin.