Deborah Siok
Winner (Grand) Singapore Chinese Music Competition (SCMC) 2020
First (Open) National Chinese Music Competition (NCMC) 2018
Finalist National Chinese Music Competition (NCMC) 2006, 2008, 2010, 2016
“Competitions like SCMC are great platforms to raise the standards of young budding performers and music enthusiasts across the nation, it drives all participants to not only improve their skills but also to acquire discipline, tenacity and good sportsmanship.” - SCO erhu musician Deborah Siok, who joined the orchestra 2 years after winning the most prestigious competition category.
Tell us about your music competition journey
As a child, I never had a particular interest in competing. I took part mostly due to my teacher’s encouragement. Only when I was studying in NAFA did I take competitions more seriously. In 2016, I was a finalist in the erhu open category but I didn’t perform optimally to win any prize. I was quite demoralised as this was the first time that I had actually worked hard, indeed, I left with some regrets on stage and vowed to myself not to do so in the next competition. In 2018, I broke through and won the first prize in the same category, this time I’m much more prepared, both mentally and in terms of ability. Through SCMC, I’ve learnt how important it is to manage your own expectations and stress. By not focusing so much on the results but rather more on the improvements made during the competition preparation journey, aim to present a performance that you do not regret.
What did you want to be when you were young?
I have always had an interest in music during my childhood and adolescence, and it was my dream to have a career in a music-related industry. After my A-level exams (including H2 Music), I was at a crossroads between a UK music academia and an eventual MOE music teacher, or pursue my real interest as an erhu instrumentalist and teacher. I must say that I am thankful for the doors that closed and doors that opened during this crucial time, that ultimately pointed me in the right direction.
Since winning SCMC in 2020, how did you steer towards becoming a professional musician?
Since I graduated in 2019, I freelanced between teaching, gigs, playing with the SNYCO and I worked with many other musicians through different projects. During this time, I continued to practise hard and learn new repertoire as I desired to further my studies in Beijing. However, Covid halted my plans to study abroad. Coincidentally, SCO held an audition in 2022, which I practiced very hard for and was accepted as an erhu musician in Singapore’s only professional national Chinese orchestra.
How has it been performing with SCO?
I love playing in a full orchestra because of the unexplainably and special feeling of all musicians flowing together to create that powerful and beautiful music on stage. Everyone works as a team to standardise the way we play to produce a unified full sound. I’ve learnt that to play well in an orchestra, your skills have to be good enough to blend well with others, which in my opinion is harder to achieve but way more fulfilling. Being in an orchestra also requires humility and teachability as you cannot be stubborn or insistent in the way that you play orchestral music, instead, one needs to be flexible and adaptable to the conductor’s and principals’ musical requirements. It has taught me discipline, to be a better listener and to be humble. You cannot be complacent or arrogant when you master an instrument.
What's next in your horizons?
I hope to do my best as a musician in SCO and continue to improve on my skills. I also believe in the importance of passing on the art of playing the erhu to future generations and I do hope to be able to nurture my own students to perform well in future competitions. My advice to SCMC 2024 participants:
“I believe that every competition is an opportunity to grow as you push yourself to explore your limits in your skill, and it always starts with the desire to hone your craft with practice. I feel that it is important to know how to practice so that each practice session is meaningful and effective. I also find that it is pertinent to do the intensive practice months ahead of the competition date, such that there would be no need to over-exert yourself with practice closer to the competition. Instead focus more on preparing yourself mentally.”
石礼晶
2020 年新加坡华乐比赛卓越大奖得主
2018 年全国华乐比赛二胡公开组冠军
入围全国华乐比赛决赛（2006、2008、2010、2016）
“新加坡华乐比赛这样的比赛是非常棒的平台，有助全国各地初露头角的年轻音乐家和音乐爱好者提高音乐造诣。比赛不仅能促使参赛者提升自身的音乐水平，而且还能培养他们的自律、韧性，甚至是体育精神。” ——新加坡华乐团二胡音乐家石礼晶（石礼晶在赢得音乐比赛大奖之后的两年正式成为新加坡华乐团二胡音乐家）
请与我们分享你的参赛之旅
小时候，我对参加任何比赛从来没有特别感兴趣。当时参加比赛，主要只是因为受到老师的鼓励。直到我在南洋艺术学院念书时，才更认真看待比赛。2016 年，我参加了全国华乐比赛二胡公开组，成功闯入决赛，但由于表现不佳，没有赢得任何奖项。错失奖项之后，我士气十分低落，因为这是我第一次这么努力准备比赛，却落得空手而归。结果，我带着遗憾离开了舞台，并向自己承诺，下一场比赛中绝对不能重蹈覆辙。2018 年，我取得了突破，在曾经失利的二胡公开组中赢得了冠军！不同的是，参加这次比赛的我，在心理和技术方面都准备得比上一次更加充分。经过了新加坡华乐比赛的洗礼，我了解到，无论是对自己的期望或压力，适当管理都是非常重要的。与其过于在意比赛结果，不如把注意力放在备赛过程中的成长。上台比赛时，以“不留遗憾”作为目标，好好表现。
你小时候的志愿是什么？
在我的童年和青少年时期，一直都对音乐感兴趣，因此志愿投入音乐相关的工作。'A' 水准考试（包含 H2 音乐）之后，我面临了抉择：是应该拿教育部奖学金到英国念音乐学院，之后回新当音乐老师，还是追求自己真正的兴趣，当个二胡演奏家和老师呢？我必须说，在我面临人生分岔路的这个时间点，有的门对我关上，有的却打开了。结果，一切的发生，都为我指明了正确的方向。
你在 2020 年赢得新加坡华乐比赛之后，是怎么一步步朝着成为职业音乐家的方向迈进的？
自 2019 年毕业以来，我接了许多案子，包括教学、演出、和新加坡青年华乐团一起演出，同时也多次和不同音乐家在多个计划中合作。在这段时间里，我还是梦想着到北京继续深造，因此不断努力练琴，并学习新的曲目。然而，疫情阻断了我出国留学的计划。很巧的，新加坡华乐团在 2022 年举办了一次征才活动。为此，我非常努力练习，最后有幸能够加入新加坡唯一的专业国家华乐团，成为职业二胡演奏家。
可否分享你和新加坡华乐团演出的经验呢？
我非常喜欢在乐团演奏的感觉。所有音乐家一起享受着音乐，一起在台上奏出强劲且优美的旋律，这种感觉很难用言语描述，但就是很独一无二的体验。每个人都是团队的一员，努力让奏出的声音都和谐一致，同时丰富饱满。我了解到，要成为好的团员，本身的技术必须够好，才能融入其他音乐家的演奏中。对我来说，这比个人演奏还要难，但却让人觉得更有满足感。作为乐团的一份子，也需要培养谦卑、可塑性。换句话说，乐团成员在演奏时不能过于固执，坚持己见。反之，需要灵活应对，配合指挥和首席在音乐方面的要求。加入乐团，教会了我纪律、如何更好地倾听他人意见，并保持谦虚的心。想要成为某种乐器的顶尖演奏家，绝对不能沾沾自喜，或待人傲慢。
你接下来有什么规划？
我希望在新加坡华乐团里继续尽我所能，努力成为优秀的音乐家，并且不断提升自己的演奏技巧。我也相信，二胡这门艺术的薪火相传，是十分重要的。我希望能够好好栽培自己的学生，让他们在未来的音乐比赛中也大放异彩。对于 2024 年新加坡华乐比赛的参赛者，我想说：
“我相信，每场比赛都提供我们成长的机会。为了准备比赛，参赛者努力挑战自我，突破极限。而这股动力，始终来自对于磨练的信仰，通过磨练，让自己的音乐造诣更上一层楼。我认为，清楚‘如何练习’很重要。这样一来，每一次的练习，才会有意义，才会有效。我也发现，在比赛前紧锣密鼓的练习，一定要在比赛前的几个月就开始加强练习，千万不要在快要比赛的时候过度练习。反之，比赛快到的时候，应该把专注力放在心理准备层面。”