Wenhong Luo says emphatically that none of her family is musical: “Not at all. They all work in the aerospace industry which is rocket science to me”. This talented violist, who is part of the line-up of world-class musicians performing at the Martinborough Music Festival (MMF) this year, was born in Beijing, China.
Her musical career began when she was four, learning the violin. When she was 12, she switched to the viola after meeting viola teacher, Sue.
“She was such a beautiful player. I also felt the viola chose me. I love to sing, and the viola sounds like my natural voice,” Wenhong noted.
When she was 16, Wenhong made her debut with the China Broadcast Symphony Orchestra. Shortly after this she moved to London and studied at the Royal Academy of Music relocating to the United States when she was 22 to study at the New England Conservatory of Music. She was a prize winner in the Lionel Tertis Viola and Johannes Brahms International competitions.
While in the States, Wenhong played with a group of volunteer musicians in Boston who perform under the banner of Music For Food. Several notable musicians have played for this charity including virtuoso cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
This initiative was started in 2009 to raise funds to alleviate hunger in local communities. Since this time, over 350 artists have donated their services to provide funds for more than 2 million meals. Something Wenhong is passionate about is delivering music to and for diverse communities. An experienced chamber music musician, she has played in trios and quartets in the United States, United Kingdom, Nepal, and Japan.
Wenhong has recently completed more than 3 years teaching as part of the string faculty of Melbourne University where she was noted for her “fine musicianship, passion and vitality.”
Teaching viola is something she enjoys, saying “music is a medium to express love and to connect people. A good teacher will bring out this love from each of her students”.
She will begin study for a PhD shortly which “is likely to be viola pedagogy related.” Wenhong plays viola in the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
In her spare time Wenhong loves “watching movies, cooking shows, and trying new restaurants”.
Food for her is “another type of art”.
She is looking forward to performing in the MMF playing in all four concerts: “It is such a great programme. If I had to choose a favourite, the Brahms Quintet (on the Sunday afternoon of the Festival) might be it”.
Footnote: The Schimmel Grand will be played this year by gifted Australian pianist, Laurence Matheson. He has collaborated with MMF Co-Artistic Director, Wilma Smith, on several chamber music projects.
Laurence was “pleased to be asked by this wonderful musician” to participate in the MMF. This is the second time Wilma has invited Laurence to play, the first was thwarted by the second Covid lockdown. He is looking forward to joining the “fabulous line-up of musicians, some of whom I know and have played with before.”
Another gifted musician, cellist Matthias Balzat, is returning for the MMF. Mathias was accepted by Waikato University to study the cello when he was just 14. A crowd favourite, he performed in the first MMF when he was 18 capturing the musical hearts of the audience.
For tickets and more information about Martinborough Music Festival, 22-24 September 2023, visit the MMF website www.martinboroughmusicfestival.co.nz
