The practice room Kim Ji-ye rented was in a piano academy near Jamsil.
Dedicated to preparing students for music school entrance exams, the academy closed at 9 p.m., but Ji-ye requested an exclusive use for Soo-hyun outside of business hours.
Although it was for personal use, the practice room was not located in a large space; It was a small private room of a Pyeong.
Soo-hyun reviewed the documents Kim Ji-ye had prepared and muttered to himself:
"The second round of entries must include one of these ten pieces: Étude, Nocturne, Mazurka, Ballade, Scherzo, Fantasie or Barcarolle."
Despite not having made it past the first preliminary round yet, Soo-hyun was already thinking about the second.
Kim Ji-ye had suggested simply submitting the application and preparing for national competitions, but Soo-hyun was mentally advancing as if the preliminaries were already settled.
Participating in the main competition was already considered a great honor. Only 80 contestants.
A smile flashed across Soo-hyun's face as he muttered:
'The tournament named after Uncle Frédéric is really great. He was a great man.'
In fact, his story did not appear in the books Franz had shared.
However, upon secretly reading in Franz's study, Soo-hyun discovered that both Franz and Frédéric had died a hundred years ago.
At the time it was a shock, but he soon accepted it.
'They were nice guys. They took care of me. Whether they were alive or dead.'
As he flipped through the pamphlet, he reflected:
The main contest is divided into three rounds. In the first, it is required to perform two Études, a Nocturne or a nocturnal style study, and a Ballade, Scherzo, Fantasie or Barcarolle. In the second, another Ballade, Scherzo, Fantasie or Barcarolle, as well as a Waltz and a Polonaise. In the third, a sonata (Op. 35), a sonata (Op. 58), a prelude (Op. 28) and a Mazurka are presented. The final round consists of playing Piano Concerto No. 1 (Op. 11) or Piano Concerto No. 2 (Op. 21).
Clearly different from national competitions that allow a free selection of pieces.
Seven years. I've been with Frédéric for seven years.
All of the works on the list were master-level.
'Don't worry.'
Soo-hyun was sure. He had memorized them all. I didn't need sheet music.
'Does he know that there is a competition that bears his name? He should be proud. I have to win. Make him happy.'
'I don't plan to return to the city for now. But if I win with pride and come back with a trophy... Uncle Frédéric will be very happy, won't he? My heart beats hard just thinking about it.'
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway.
In the silent academy, there was only one protagonist.
Soo-hyun opened the door to the practice room with a smile... and saw Kim Ji-ye running down the hall, panting and waving a document in his hand.
"Soo-hyun!!
He leaned against the doorframe, smiling.
"You passed, you passed!! You've passed the first preliminary round! You're going to Poland in September!
"Sure, sister. Who is my teacher? If he finds out, he faints. Haha...
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Warsaw Conservatory of Music, Poland.
It was rare to see professors — not students — gathered in small groups, chatting. They were in a corner where the students could not hear them. They were all talking about the same thing.
"Did Professor Lech laugh out loud after watching the contestant's video?" Do you expect me to believe it?
"Really?" The teachers who judged were stunned.
"Is it real?" Who is it?
"A Korean participant. His name is Nam Soo-hyun."
"Korean?" Have any Asians won this competition?"
"Only once, in 2015. She was also Korean."
"Oh, right. Then he went to the Paris Conservatoire, right?
"That's right. In 2000, a Chinese man came in third place. In 2005, another Korean placed third. A Japanese man took fourth place.
"Well, Korea, Japan and China dominate in Asia, but the odds are that someone from a country that only won once repeats victory..."
"Nobody talked about winning. They only said that Professor Lech smiled when he saw the video.
"That's what they say, right?" I heard it was a smile that not even previous winners had seen. With that attitude... isn't it natural that he wins?
"That's it... strange."
"What?"
The professor who had been speaking looked around and then said:
"Do you know the professors in charge of the preliminary evaluation?"
"Of course. Professor Jaroslaw, Professor Andrzej, Professor Mateusz...
"Exactly. Professor Andrzej said that, upon seeing the video, Professor Lech laughed out loud and said this:
"What?"
"Perfect technique. But an execution completely devoid of emotions."
"No emotion?" No expression in the interpretation? What do you mean?"
"I don't know. I have only heard that his execution was absolutely flawless."
"Hmm... That is ambiguous."
"We'll have to wait. There's a buzz going around the school right now. It seems like everyone is waiting for that guy."
"Of course... is that Professor Lech does not usually praise anyone. I'm intrigued by the participant who managed to make him laugh. Do you know when that student arrives in Warsaw?
"I don't know. It's a personal matter. I guess it will come before the second preliminary round.
"Well, there's nothing left to do but wait.
"Wait?" Why?
"I wanted to see him play at least once.
"Haha, look at you. So should we get waiting tickets? Since Lech spread, many teachers have said that they can't sleep because of curiosity.
At that instant, the professor who had been frowning noticed a sudden collective movement. A group of teachers who were chatting quietly began to move at the same time.
"What's wrong?" Where is everyone going?
He quickly took out his cell phone to check if there was any communication from the dean. Nothing.
He stopped one of the moving teachers and asked. The professor adjusted his glasses and replied:
"I heard that the boy Professor Lech praised so much has arrived in Warsaw. Everyone wants to see it at least once. I'm curious too, so I'll be there soon.
The two who heard this looked at each other and ran after the group.
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Marriott Hotel Warsaw.
Kim Ji-ye's expression, standing in the hall, reflected pure disbelief. She wasn't an expert, but she knew that Soo-hyun had exceptional abilities.
Even so, his goal was simple: to be among the 80 finalists. But how to explain this scene?
All the hotel staff were mobilized by the crowd that filled the lobby.
In front of her were teachers in their thirties. Perhaps out of courtesy, they all addressed each other in English.
"I came because I wanted to see the boy personally".
"Is this the child Professor Lech praised?" Who was his teacher?"
"Did you grow up in Korea? Or Moscow? Or maybe in Paris?"
"Did you practice Chopin's music intensely? I thought you were twelve..."
Thirty people were speaking one by one. Kim Ji-ye was totally outclassed.
He couldn't answer them separately, so he raised his voice:
"Wait a minute. Silence, please!
Eyes were directed towards her. Even hotel guests were beginning to feel uncomfortable.
The teachers fell silent, realizing that they were hindering the tranquility of the place.
Kim Ji-ye swallowed hard and asked:
"Did they really come to see Soo-hyun...?" Or are they looking for someone else?
Everyone nodded firmly.
"Are you a professor at the Warsaw Conservatory?"
More nods.
Kim Ji-ye's mouth parted.
The Warsaw Conservatory? The Frédéric Chopin University of Music?
They had come to see a boy of barely thirteen years old.
'What the hell is going on?'
As she was overwhelmed by the bright, expectant looks of the teachers, she saw a corridor open up behind them. As if the Red Sea were dividing.
A distinguished old man with white hair slowly crossed the hall. As soon as it was perceived, the other teachers stepped aside respectfully.
I didn't know who he was. But it was clear to me that he was someone important.
The gentleman stopped in front of Kim Ji-ye and spoke:
"I came to see him. I'm Lech Piłsudski, from the Warsaw Conservatory.
'God... It's him.'
"Hey, professor. Everyone here came to see Soo-hyun. We will have to hand out waiting tickets. What will we do if it comes out?
But something was different. In the presence of the old man, the other teachers backed away, as if they knew that it was not their place to speak.
Kim Ji-ye watched him carefully. And he made a decision.
"Eh... He is still a child and is tired from flying. If that's okay with you, I'd like you to meet with only one person on your behalf. Do you think so?
When Professor Lech turned his gaze to the others, none of them said anything.
One by one... they took a step back.
This is the moment when the implied representative is decided.
"I'm sorry. I want to meet him first.
The teachers had no answer, but when they took a step back, it became clear: the competition was over.
Professor Lech, standing in the quiet hall, looked at Kim Ji-ye and said:
"It seems that the representative has already decided.
"Ah... yes. This way, then."
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A while later, Soo-hyun went out into the hotel lounge with a slightly sleepy face, accompanied by Kim Ji-ye. At the sight of Professor Lech—his snow-bright white hair—he paused for a moment.
The teacher, who already knew the boy's face from the video, stood up politely, even though it was a small child.
Assuming that Soo-hyun didn't speak English because of his age, he turned to Kim Ji-ye:
"Can you help me interpret?" First of all, tell him that I am a professor at the Warsaw Conservatory of Music.
Kim Ji-ye smiled somewhat awkwardly.
"That... I don't think it will be necessary.
"What do you mean?"
"Haha... it's complicated. Soo-hyun? Say hello."
Lech's gaze was directed at the boy.
Soo-hyun calmly watched him, then opened his mouth:
"Czy pan jest Polakiem?"
Although Kim Ji-ye had spoken in English, Soo-hyun replied in Polish.
Professor Lech's eyes widened.
"P-Polish?"
"Tak, oczywiście.
"Well... that's true...
"Nice to meet you. I'm Nam Soo-hyun.
He greeted courteously.
But it was not the greeting that was surprising. His pronunciation was fluent. The accent... perfectly polish.
Lech, still bewildered, murmured:
"I didn't know that a child like you could speak Polish, let alone English or German.
Soo-hyun smiled:
"I have lived for a long time with the Polish people.
Frédéric refused to teach him Polish, saying that outside Poland it was of little use.
He mainly used German in his active years. But Soo-hyun insisted. He learned from Chopin... despite his warnings.
In reality, his desire to learn languages was born out of having too much free time... Outside of the piano, there was nothing else.
As soon as Lech found out that the boy spoke Polish, his face lit up with approval.
He tightly took Soo-hyun's hand and smiled:
"I cannot describe how happy I am to hear a foreign child speak my language. Thank you.
Kim Ji-ye, who does not understand Polish, felt displaced.
Soo-hyun looked at her, seeing her disoriented face, not understanding the content of the conversation.
"Did you want to meet me?"
"Yes, it's true. I know you must be tired after the long flight, but... I'm curious. May I ask you something?
"Of course. What are you curious about?
Lech smiled calmly.
"I would like to know who was the teacher who trained a child like you. Could you tell me his name?
"Was that all?" so said Soo-hyun, with an almost amused smile.
"Frédéric Chopin. My teacher's name is Chopin."
Lech's expression, as he held Soo-hyun's hand, became absurd. But there was no trace of falsehood in the boy's clear eyes.
Lech watched him in silence. Then, he nodded with a deeper smile.
"Yes. I've had only one teacher in my life, too. You and I are the same.
Soo-hyun shrugged, unanswering.
'Yes... Anyway, you won't believe me even if I tell you more.'