"As I mentioned, the Korea University Talent Music Education Center rejected the special examination for Nam Soo-hyun. They said it would be unfair to other students who have invested a lot of time and money in specialized education from a young age, taking exams backed by their achievements in various competitions.
Kim Ji-ye's voice is heard clearly as she pulls out some brochures stacked in a file.
"Yes, it makes sense. The parents of these students have surely made a great effort from an early age, taking them to classes, contests, preparing them for everything."
Kim Ji-ye sat across from so in the hotel lobby and continued:
"They asked for more than one award as a requirement. I think they thought you wouldn't meet those conditions, so they flatly rejected it. They probably don't even know your level."
Soo-hyun plays the piano, but for some reason, it's Kim Ji-ye who seems the most convinced. As if to say, 'It would be ridiculous if you couldn't meet those conditions.'
With a smile, Soo-hyun said:
"Do you do piano competitions? I didn't know that."
"Of course you don't know. You were there for seven years without a phone. Was there a television?"
"No."
"Oh my God! How could you live in a place like that for seven years? Anyway, this is the brochure of the contest."
I don't know what a brochure is. I guess from the name it contains information about the contest.
Kim Ji-ye took out the booklets one by one and placed them on the table.
"First, this is the brochure for the Rising Star Contest. The general section is divided into professional and amateur categories. A piece must be played free of memory, without repetition. In the case of a piano concerto, a three-minute fragment must be performed, including the cadence, without accompaniment.
Soo-hyun tilted his head slightly after hearing it.
"I know what cadence is. My uncle Franz explained it to me."
This refers to the practice of the orchestra stopping for the soloist to show off their technique and tone, filling the stage solo. It's like the part where each instrument plays its solo in a band.
"But what is 'ambo'?"
"Ambrose?"
"Ah, it's a word of Chinese origin, you may not have heard it. It means playing from memory, without sheet music.
"Ah, then that means playing without looking. It shouldn't be difficult.
"Are there other competitions?"
"Of course. This is the Classic On International Piano Competition, this is the Grand Prix National Music Competition, this is the Korea Little Mozart Competition, and lastly, the Seoul International Music Competition.
Soo-hyun looked at each brochure with interest.
"Most of them are about free pieces."
"Exactly," Kim Ji-ye replied, nodding.
Soo-hyun looked at the file and noticed that one was missing.
"I think one is missing."
Kim Ji-ye checked and pulled out another one.
"Oh, this is the brochure for the Korean Chopin Competition. I had missed it."
"Chopin?"
"Yes, Frédéric Chopin!" Do you know him?"
"Haha... of course I know him."
"He is the pianist and composer I admire the most."
"..."
What would this lady say if I told you that I took lessons with Frédéric Chopin for seven years?
"Well..."
"But this contest is a little more demanding."
"In what sense?"
"First, it is not allowed to perform free pieces. Like the International Chopin Competition, the Korean Competition also requires a thematic piece and a work of work. Since Nam Soo-hyun is thirteen years old, he is in the sixth grade of elementary school. So I would participate in the children's division. In this competition, you must perform a fast movement from a Mozart or Haydn sonata as a working piece, and a Chopin work of approximately six minutes as a thematic piece."
I don't know why you have to play sonatas by Mozart or Haydn at the Chopin Competition, but I understand what they mean.
"Is there also an International Chopin Competition?"
"Yes, it is held in Warsaw, Poland. It takes place every five years, and the Fryderyk Chopin International Children's Competition every three. This year it will also be celebrated."
"If I win the Korean Chopin Competition, can I go there too?"
"Not necessarily. You have to submit a video of your performance online, and they select 160 preliminary participants from all over the world. It is a demanding skill: you have to travel to Poland on your own.
Soo-hyun stared into her eyes.
"Well, first of all, we've only selected the national competitions that the center recognizes, so if you finish in the top three in any of them, you'll have the opportunity to take the exam.
Kim Ji-ye spoke in a low voice, after seeing Soo-hyun nod his head.
"However, if you win a prize at the Korea Chopin Competition, you can probably participate without going through the exam.
There was a subtle anticipation in his tone. As if to say, 'You can do it.'
Soo-hyun, who read between the lines, said with a smile:
"Is it very difficult to participate in the International Chopin Competition?"
"Well... It may be difficult, but you can try. You just have to send a video with your interpretation. Although passing the preliminaries is like reaching for the stars, I think it would be best to send it in and wait, while you prepare for other contests. What do you think?"
"Excellent."
"Then you need a place to practice. The fourth floor of the mall is too crowded... I'll make it."
"Thank you."
"What?" It's my job.
He is a wonderful person. Very kind to me, even though we had never met before.
Uncle Franz said that there are three types of people in the world: those who love you, those who hate you, and those who don't care about you at all. He said that the way not to waste life is to try to convince those who hate you and to whom you are indifferent, while striving not to disappoint those who appreciate you.
Soo-hyun watched her as she went through her papers and asked:
"Excuse me."
"Yes?"
"A while ago, in the department store, I heard a boy call a much larger woman 'sister'.
She stopped checking the papers and looked at him.
"Is that the title used to refer to a woman older than you?"
Kim Ji-ye's eyes turned into crescent moons.
"Noona is a word used for women older than you..." but with whom you have a close relationship. You can't call just anyone that.
"Oh... really?
"Haha...
"So... what about the relationship between you and me?"
"Haha... With our level of closeness, it's okay to call me that.
His eyes twitched with joy. He seemed sincerely happy.
Soo-hyun hesitated, licked his lips, and asked carefully:
"Can I call you..." sister?
Kim Ji-ye's face flushed as she laughed and narrowed her eyes. Then he spoke aloud:
"Of course! Should I shut up now?
"Yes."
"My God!" It was funny that you called me Nam Soo-hyun when you were in sixth grade, and embarrassing when you called me Kim Ji-ye... but this is great!
Soo-hyun tilted his head:
"What does it mean to 'look with curiosity'?"
"Haha! No, there is something like that... Anyway, don't worry. This big sister will send you to the Music Education Center for Talent! First, the International Chopin Competition is in October. It's April, so you should prepare your performance video as soon as possible. That'll be the first thing! It will be difficult to win... Geniuses from all over the world will meet. Just participating will already be a great experience, so give it a try!"
Soo-hyun's head was still tilted, staring at her with a mixture of serenity and wonder, while Kim Ji-ye burned with excitement for reasons she didn't fully understand herself.
✴︎✴︎✴︎
Two months later — Warsaw, Poland.
Traditionally, the jury of the International Chopin Competition is composed of Polish pianists and teachers.
Four judges sit with their arms crossed, headphones on, connected to laptops. They listen to the interpretations of the preliminary contestants.
Some videos are turned off after the first ten seconds. Others play for a minute before a judge's frown interrupts them.
The day has been long, and exhaustion is piling up.
A handsome, white-haired gentleman takes off his headphones and takes a deep breath.
One of the attendants, who had been watching him discreetly, approaches him:
"Professor Lech, do you want to take a break?"
Professor Lech presses his fingers against his eyes. He has been evaluating for more than eight hours.
He looks at his colleagues, younger, but equally exhausted.
"They all said they would take a short break."
When they finish speaking, the other teachers take off their headphones, sigh and comment something among themselves.
There are too many contestants who are not up to the task. Ninety-nine out of every hundred performances I would consider a waste of time.
"How many people did you choose?"
"I have three so far."
"Ugh... I only five. I don't know when I will be able to select 160 people.
"Has there ever been a day at the International Chopin Competition where all the preliminary contestants were chosen? This is like going through days of death... The problem is that there are no outstanding participants."
"More than three thousand applicants..." Just thinking about it, I feel like my head is going to explode. Stop it!
"Haha, didn't you know it would be difficult?"
Professor Lech, who had walked away from the others with a cup of coffee, suggested taking a break, but then put his headphones back on.
One of the professors looked at him and asked in a low voice:
"Professor, aren't you going to rest?"
Lech, still holding the headphones, smiled:
"You rest. Don't worry about me. Take at least thirty minutes.
There's nothing more naughty than a superior telling you to rest... while he does not.
Three pursed-lipped professors got up to drink coffee, chatting among themselves:
"Professor Lech Piłsudski?" I heard that he is a candidate for dean of the Warsaw Conservatory.
"Yes, so it's better to be on good terms with him." You never know when he may become your boss."
"Wow, almost seventy years... and more passionate than us."
"So you have been a judge in international competitions?"
"Eh... It imposes on me. Remember when he insulted a youth participant two years ago?"
"Of course. It even appeared in the newspaper. He is usually friendly, but he is relentless with introductions. This time too. And that's because it's a children's contest. I checked quickly: Professor Lech hasn't selected anyone yet.
"Huh?" Have you been watching for eight hours and not a single candidate?"
"Yes. He has seen more than five hundred videos. And he has not yet chosen any. I'm telling you: the winner of this contest will be among those selected by Lech."
"Well... it could be."
"By the way, is this your first time as a juror?"
"Yes. Last year I was in Italy, and he was in France.
"Lech has a special quality... When he sees a video that excites him, a gesture escapes him."
The other two professors looked at him discreetly. Lech stared at his laptop, his headphones on.
"What kind of gesture?"
The teacher who shared the anecdote smiled and whispered:
"A laugh.
"Laughter?"
"Yes. When he smiles watching a video, that contestant moves on to the next round. And that child usually ends up among the five winners. The bigger the smile... greater the ability. In the last edition, one of those who made him smile... won first place.
The two professors turned their heads to Lech, puzzled.
"Excuse me..."
"Huh?"
"Are you... Smiling right now?
"Come on, Professor Lech... That cannot happen. It doesn't even look like a smile... It's a light grimace. That has never happened."
"You'll see for yourself."
The professor turned the screen.
Lech... He was smiling broadly.
In the image in front of him, on the laptop screen, an Asian boy, with black hair and a white shirt, played the piano with his eyes closed.