LIHUE — When Alpin Hong’s mother signed him up for classical piano lessons, she had no idea it would lead to a successful musical career. Born in Michigan to South Korean immigrants, Hong said his parents were devoted to making
LIHUE — When Alpin Hong’s mother signed him up for classical piano lessons, she had no idea it would lead to a successful musical career.
Born in Michigan to South Korean immigrants, Hong said his parents were devoted to making sure he had opportunities they never had.
“They wanted me to have things they didn’t, so they started me on the piano,” he said. “But they never expected me to become a pianist; they thought I’d get a real job.”
That “real job” meant going to medical school and becoming a doctor.
But in 1989, when he was in middle school, Hong lost both his parents in a car wreck, and was adopted by his aunt and uncle. That was also the year he won the Starvinsky Piano Competition.
Despite that early success as a pianist, Hong decided to pay homage to his parents, and prepare for medical school.
“I thought I could pursue a career with social security, and I was all set to live the life of a stable doctor,” he said.
Hong started college in 1994, but soon missed the piano and performing on stage.
“I realized if I was going to be a doctor, I would have to be a performer in some form,” he said. “Sharing stories with people, it’s something I’m addicted to.”
After that realization, Hong said he took a “career 180.”
In 1999, he applied for and was accepted into the Julliard School in New York City. In 2001, Hong completed his master’s degree, and “on a whim,” entered the Concert Artists Guild Competition, a yearly talent search for instrumentalists, ensembles and singers.
“I thought I had zero chance of winning, but I did,” Hong said.
Since that competition, Hong has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and The Atlanta Symphony Hall.
This week, Hong will be performing at the Kauai Community Center Performing Arts Center. The concert take place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for students, and can be purchased on the Kauai Concert Association website.
“I’ll be returning to Kauai after five years. Not all my gigs are in such gorgeous places, so it wasn’t difficult to persuade me to come,” he said.
This tour is a little different because he’s bringing his entire family — including a 3-year-old son and a 1-year-old daughter — with him, Hong said.
“My wife and I can’t hike the Na Pali Coast like we used to because we have little kids,” he said. “But the beaches and sand are magical in their own way.”
During his visit to Kauai, Hong will also visit various schools to teach music to students.
Hong said the themes of classical music are relevant to all ages, so he has made it his mission to introduce it to the younger generations.
Learning music is more than just about learning how to play an instrument; it’s about perseverance and teaching students new study techniques, he said.
“Learning music helps kids process anything better — science, math can be enhanced by music,” he said.
Because of his efforts, Hong has become known as an arts educator, he said.
“I go into schools, and relate the music from things they know — like Star Wars and Super Mario Brothers — to classical music, and how that music makes them feel. They know me as Darth Vader, but also as Beethoven.”
