SOTY 2023/24: Performing Artist winner recounts his musical journey
Eighteen-year-old Mack Long-chai is dedicated to music, not just as a hobby but as his calling.
Mack Long-chai, an 18-year-old clarinetist who says music is his calling, won Performing Artist at the Student of the Year Awards. Photo: HandoutMack Long-chai’s journey with music has been anything but straightforward.
The 18-year-old clarinet player’s story started at his grandmother’s house. As a young child, he was fascinated by the piano.
“I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but it was around Kindergarten Two or Three,” he recalled. “My mum took me to a music centre to try learning piano.”
He picked up the clarinet in primary school.
However, “during my primary school years, I wasn’t fully committed to music; I even stopped playing the clarinet for a while,” the former Munsang College student said.
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It wasn’t until the pandemic that things changed. It gave Long-chai the chance to reflect. “I began to ask myself: What am I doing? What’s the purpose of all these years of learning music?”
During this period of uncertainty, Long-chai found himself on YouTube, discovering classical music performances. “That’s when I realised how limitless music is. Slowly but surely, my interest and passion for music grew stronger and stronger.”
This new-found passion led Long-chai to dedicate himself seriously to his craft. Soon enough, he realised that music was not just a hobby – it was his calling.
“Every time I hear great music, I find myself thinking, ‘I could be that player on stage, contributing to this masterpiece,’” Long-chai said. “The thought of achieving that sense of fulfilment and accomplishment is so motivating. I’ve thought about it a lot, especially during secondary school.”
With this drive, Long-chai began to engage with his school’s musical community.
In Form Five, he took on the role of Music Concert Chairperson, conducting the school orchestra and even stepping in for performances when the conductor was unavailable.
One of the highlights of Long-chai’s secondary school experience was performing with his school’s wind band at the Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows during his final year of secondary school.
“We started from scratch at the beginning of the school year in September. I had to lead the team and guide everyone from the ground up,” Long-chai recalled.
The hard work paid off when the band earned a gold award and advanced to the finals. “Although we didn’t win in the finals, it was a huge leap forward. It gave us a tremendous sense of accomplishment and boosted our confidence to continue pursuing music.”
Outside of school, Long-chai also took on the role of conductor for the City of David Cultural Centre Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, an ensemble formed by students who wanted to explore larger works beyond what was possible in their school environments.
“Together with like-minded students from different schools who shared a passion for music, we decided to step out of those boundaries and form this orchestra,” Long-chai explained. “As the conductor, I helped guide and lead the group, which allowed us to perform pieces we might not otherwise have had the chance to tackle.”
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His talent and dedication earned him the title of 2023/24 Performing Artist winner at the Student of the Year (SOTY) Awards, organised by the SCMP and solely sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
Long-chai recently began studying at the Royal Conservatoire in the Netherlands, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Classical Clarinet.
When asked about his future, Long-chai said: “The only thing I can say with certainty is that my future lies in music. Beyond that, I don’t have a set path yet.”
“My ultimate goal is to become a conductor. I want to truly connect with an orchestra and communicate my interpretation and ideas about music.”