Piano studio turns 40 on the sweet sounds of success

By Sara Lin
Advertiser Staff Writer

Among the students who will perform at the Ernest Chang Piano Studio anniversary concert are, from left, Stephanie Lum, Bolin Chang, Nadine Mitake, Christy Kokami and Elvina Zhang. Ernest Chang 'Piano Playing Party III' 40th anniversary of the Ernest Chang Piano Studio 3:30 p.m. Sunday Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa $12 general, $8 students/seniors 536-0218

At 23 years old, Chang had made his debut with the Honolulu Symphony at age 12 and performed seven times as a soloist. He played Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with the symphony at the inaugural concert opening of the Waikiki Shell under the baton of the illustrious Andre Kostelanetz, and after spending five years at Juilliard — one of the premiere schools of music in New York City — Chang was opening a piano studio in Makiki.

The calls came in and the lanky kid from lower Manoa signed up 28 students — not bad for a teaching debut.

Forty years later, the Ernest Chang Piano Studio still teaches students to read the black dots on a page and play sweet piano melodies. What began as a one-man operation in 1963 has ballooned into a bustling studio of 130 students, with four more piano teachers under Chang. Chang estimates his studio has taught nearly 1,000 students to play the piano.

Last year, the studio participated in 60 activities involving its students — public performances, recitals, master classes, competitions. The studio plays concerts to benefit a variety of local causes — the Hawaii Lions Club, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Hawaii Opera Theatre, and the Maui Symphony, to name a few.

Ten of Chang's students have gone on to attend Juilliard and handful have become internationally recognized performers.

Valerie Liu signed on with Chang when he first opened up shop in 1963 and became his first student to attend Juilliard.

"You learned how to dress nice and talk nice, and play nice," Liu says. "Most importantly, you realize that if you don't work hard, you won't get anything done."

On Sunday, Chang and his piano-teaching colleagues Ann Ogino, Beverly Nagel, Deven Kono and So Jin Kimura celebrate the 40th anniversary of his piano studio. Twelve students, ages 7-18, will play a program of Bach, Beethoven, Listz and Barber, to name a few.

Wendy Yamashita, Chang's former student and an internationally recognized pianist, will conclude the program with Chopin's Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise, Op.22.

Sara Lin, who was a summer intern at The Advertiser, is a student of the Ernest Chang Piano Studio.