His bow glides seamlessly across the strings, while his fingers delicately pluck along. The strings vibrate throughout the room and the audience is swept up in song. This is what it is like when WCHS junior Huan Changvu plays his cello; his talent and ability are felt across the whole room. Despite learning the cello later than most, Changvu has more than made up the skill gap between himself and other players.
“I started playing the cello at the start of fifth grade because a cello quartet had performed at my elementary school and it really impressed me how they could play so well,” Changvu said. “I was already playing the piano since first grade and I just wanted to try the cello out. Now I would say that I am better at the cello than I am at the piano because I play the cello much more often.”
With all the time and energy Changvu and other cellists put into learning and mastering the cello, it still can be a big decision for them to continue to play in high school. As extracurriculars and classes pile up, it can be hard to find time to practice. Yet, Changvu manages to make time to learn each piece.
“The reason I continued to play cello in high school was because I had already devoted a lot of time to learning the cello,” Changvu said. “I also genuinely enjoy playing the instrument. Some of my favorite pieces I have played are the Kung Fu Panda Theme Song and the Kahoot Theme song which I played for the Lunar New Year Gala last year.”
For Changvu, playing the cello extends beyond playing for WCHS’ Orchestra and performing in the Lunar New Year Gala. Changvu has used his talent to become more involved in Maryland and DC organizations and other youth orchestras.
“Playing the cello has opened many opportunities for me,” Changvu said. “I play with the TACY Foundation, the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestra (MCYO) and the All-State. I also go to senior homes to play for senior citizens and teach them how to play the piano.”
Changvu has also improved his cello playing through inspiration from other celloists. watching YouTube tutorials or even performances of his favorite cellists can help him learn new techniques.
“Some of my favorite cellists are Pablo Fernadez because he has good tutorials, and I like Camille Thomas because she has a good vibrato and interpretational songs/music,” Changvu said. “This has helped me improve because I was at the bottom orchestra out of three orchestras at Cabin John Middle School (CJMS) at the beginning of sixth grade. Then, in seventh grade, I was at the top orchestra at CJMS and I joined the MCYO in 8th grade.”
While Changvu has been playing the cello for some time now, it can be hard to remember that it is not easy. The cello is a complex instrument that requires a lot of diligence.
“One of the reasons the cello is a hard instrument to master is due to its large size,” WCHS junior and fellow cello player of the WCHS Orchestra, Danica Hwang said. “Therefore, playing the cello requires a lot of hand strength. There are so many small things you have to think about while playing, like the intonation, bow changes, placement and string crossings.”
“What makes Huan a unique cello player is that he is very expressive when he plays the cello,” Hwang said. “When he plays you can feel the emotions through the way he carries the bow across the strings.”
After high school, it can be difficult for musicians to find opportunities to play their instrument instead of just at home. Yet, Changvu has great ambitions to continue playing his cello and to have some fun with his skill as well.
“I hope that I can do some more live performances,” Changvu said. “I do not even care if they are outdoor venues, but as long as I still get to play. I would also like to do more duets or trios, maybe even some quartets with my musical friends.”
