Singapore - Muhammad Iman Mohamed Irfan, 18, who understands only basic Chinese words like "lianxi" (practice) and "zhunbei" (prepare), has become a talking point after confidently performing a solo on stage with an orchestra composed of Chinese traditional instruments. Iman, the sole non-Chinese member of Temasek Polytechnic Chinese Orchestra and currently the only 'dizi' (bamboo flute) player in the ensemble, showcases a burning passion for music that transcends language and cultural background.
The conductor, fluent in Mandarin, makes the effort to repeat instructions in English for Iman. When faced with challenging parts, Iman relies on his orchestra friends who are willing to help and the Chinese dictionary app 'Pleco'. He started learning Chinese after joining the orchestra as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) upon entering Temasek Polytechnic in 2024.
His passion for Chinese music began at the age of 12 when he偶然 stumbled upon a performance of the Chinese orchestra piece '百鳥朝鳳 (A Hundred Birds Paying Homage To The Phoenix)' on YouTube. "After watching that video, I was completely mesmerized by that style of music and started listening to more and more Chinese music," Iman recalled.
During his time at Edgefield Secondary School, which did not have a Chinese orchestra CCA, Iman joined the concert band and developed an interest in wind instruments by playing the trumpet for four years. In high school, he saved up his allowance to buy his first dizi for 70 Singapore dollars (approximately 70,000 Korean won), and later acquired a 'suona' (double-reed horn) worth 230 Singapore dollars (approximately 230,000 Korean won) and a 'xiao' (vertical flute) worth 100 Singapore dollars (approximately 100,000 Korean won), completing his collection of wind instruments.
Iman taught himself to play these three instruments. "There aren't many people around me who really like traditional Chinese music. My family and friends knew about my passion for music, and although it was an unfamiliar field for them, they were always supportive," he said.
Iman, who is starting his second year of a chemical engineering course in April, added that his family always comes to his performances to support him.
After enrolling in Temasek Polytechnic, Iman auditioned for the Chinese Orchestra. Having played three wind instruments and other orchestral instruments, he was assigned to the woodwind section.
Walter Yeo Boon Kai, 19, a second-year student in the woodwind section, was deeply impressed by Iman when they first met. "I asked him what he knew about Chinese culture and how much he had learned, and it was really surprising," Yeo said.
Despite his musical background, Iman confessed that the transition from concert band to Chinese orchestra was not easy. In addition to the language barrier, "everything was different – the instruments, the genre of music, and the conductor's personal way of guiding," he explained. Moreover, some of his orchestra friends had been involved in Chinese orchestra since elementary or middle school, so they were already proficient in playing their instruments.
To keep up, Iman often sought help from his friends and repeatedly practiced difficult parts of the score to improve his playing skills.
These efforts paid off, and he has performed solo parts in several orchestra performances, one of which was the Chinese Orchestra's annual concert last February.
His passion for traditional Chinese music naturally led him to explore Chinese opera and Chinese tea culture. However, his true love remains music.
Iman hopes to inspire more students to join the Chinese Orchestra at the school's upcoming CCA fair. "I will share my story that if you enjoy music and have passion, your background doesn't matter," he said.
"My dream is to join a professional Chinese orchestra in the future, but even if that doesn't happen, Chinese music will still remain my passion."
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