{"id":7153,"date":"2016-01-18T14:16:24","date_gmt":"2016-01-18T14:16:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/?p=7153"},"modified":"2018-05-11T10:19:46","modified_gmt":"2018-05-11T09:19:46","slug":"in-profile-lydia-cheng","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/music-matters\/2016\/01\/18\/in-profile-lydia-cheng\/","title":{"rendered":"In profile: Lydia Cheng"},"content":{"rendered":"

First-year Law student, violinist,\u00a0and Music Performance Scholar, Lydia Cheng<\/strong>, reflects on coming to the University.<\/p>\n

\"Lydia_Cheng_web\"Where do you come from?<\/strong>
\nToronto, Canada<\/p>\n

How did you first get into playing the violin?<\/strong>
\nI first started on the piano at the age of 5. About a year later, I joined a violin group class and I loved it and it’s been with me ever since.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your musical background?<\/strong>
\nApart from playing as a soloist, I love chamber music. The collaboration with other musicians and friends is a completely different type of performance and is something I enjoy doing as much as possible. Back home, I am a member of a piano trio – Radiance Trio<\/em> – and we perform and compete together. Last year, we were national finalists of the Canadian Music Competition.<\/p>\n

What made you choose Kent as a place to study?<\/strong>
\nThe UK is well-known for its multitude of great schools and with cousins having studied here as well, it was always a dream for me to study in the UK. I’ve had a long-time interest in studying law and as direct entry law is not an option in North America, I knew England was the right place for me. When it came to choosing a school, I knew I wanted a place where I could continue with music. Kent’s Symphony Orchestra and String Sinfonia drew me in.<\/p>\n

\"Lydia_Cheng02_web\"What music-making are you involved in?<\/strong>
\nI am currently playing in the Symphony Orchestra and String Sinfonia.<\/p>\n

What have you enjoyed most about your first term?<\/strong>
\nI loved the Baroque Christmas Concert. It was my first concert in Colyer-Fergusson and was an exhilarating experience. The atmosphere was warm and festive and all our rehearsals coming up to the concert just fit together like the final piece of a puzzle. It is not often that I get to perform with harpsichord or with choir, so to have this performance opportunity in a such a beautiful hall was a wonderful way to start my musical journey through Kent.<\/p>\n

\"WP_20151204_003\"
The String Sinfonia ahead of the Baroque Christmas concert in December<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"BaroqueChristmas_Dec2015\"
The String Sinfonia and Cecilian Choir: A Baroque Christmas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n