By Dottie Ashley of the Post and Courier
(Reprinted with permission by the Post and Courier)
"I want to make myself as much a part of this community as possible, and so I'm trying to figure out
how I can be most relevant to my surroundings," says Siow.
Wearing jeans and a black velvet jacket and boots, the petite musician relaxes in the living room of
her apartment in a vintage house downtown. The decor is a pleasant mix of antiques, photographs
of her family and friends, and a poster for a concert she played in
Guanajuato, Mexico, in 2001, the Cervantino Festival known the world
over.
"You know, I had been offered a job at Ohio University at Athens last
year, but I selected to come here. I chose Charleston because of the
newly established strings program, which I view as a challenge. I want to
make it develop and grow into something truly great," she says.
"Another reason I came is because Charleston reminds me of
Singapore, with the warm weather and such friendly people. I was tired
of the snow. But most of all, I was made to feel so welcome by the
friendly people at the college who took me out to eat and to the beach."
Since Siow started teaching at the college, the number of students taking
strings has increased 66 percent. Last year, there were two violin majors
and now there are six majors. Also, there are 16 violin students this year. "I
want to interest more students and to plan a number of events for the spring to call attention to
what we are teaching. One of my goals is to bring three or four internationally known violinists to
perform and give master classes here each year."
Siow is the only full-time violin teacher and the others are adjunct professors.
Valerie Morris, dean of the School of the Arts, says, "Steve Rosenberg (chair of the music
department) and I were wondering how to find a top-notch violinist to come here, and someone
suggested asking for recommendations from top faculty at various conservatories. We inquired at
Oberlin, and Lee-Chin was the top one recommended. And we were so thrilled when she came."
"I have been very, very lucky in that all of my education has been paid for through scholarships,
and I'm so grateful to the United States for giving me this incredible life”, says Siow.
"I want to pay this wonderful country back through teaching and performing," she says. "Because I
have traveled so much, I have friends all over the world, and I plan to use these contacts to help
students. I think about my students all the time. They are like my children."
Morris says that in the past year Siow has come up with ideas for a number of innovative ways to
recruit more string students. "And it is important that wherever she performs, she is always
recruiting."
Siow is excited about a gala concert, "Lee-Chin and Friends" to be held as a benefit for the strings
program March 25, 2003. The evening will feature concertos for two and four violins, featuring Siow
and her students. Guests soloists will be Almita and Roland Vamos, faculty members at Oberlin
Conservatory and Northwestern University, along with Piotr Janowski, winner of the Wieniawski
International Competition.
Siow is enthusiastic about a CD she is making as a requirement for a grant from the South Carolina
Arts Commission.
"I want to play some Gershwin pieces because I know he once composed here, and I want to play
some of the music of Gian Carlo Menotti because I know of his influence here," she says. She also
has not ruled out jazz. One of her favorite violinists is the late Stephane Grappelli, whom she saw
perform in person in Singapore. Grappelli died in 1997 at the age of 89.
"He was very old, but he looked so young. His music kept him young," she says, pointing out that
the approach one uses in playing classical music is very different from playing jazz violin.
"Once for a benefit in Singapore I played a jazz version of 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,' and people
went wild. It is good to try new approaches."
She expects her CD to be produced in the spring.
"Everything I have learned in life has been because of music," says Siow. "Growing up, any
difficulties I had, I turned to the music to help solve them. Music teaches you patience because
things don't always work out like you want, and you have to keep trying over and over."
Thinking of some of the challenges she has confronted, she says, "I feel everything happens for a
reason, and I know you have to always struggle to get to the next level. I recognize the challenge
when I reach a plateau, and I relish it."
In the culture of her native country, the traditional path of a woman is marriage and children, she
says. "There is very much pressure put on women in Singapore to get married and have a family,
but I am lucky in that my parents, who are just wonderful people, are very supportive of me.
Although I know she would love to have a grandchild, my mother says, 'Why get married just to get
married?'"
Siow notes that neither of her two brothers are married, but both are successful: One is a physician
and the other has a computer business in Singapore.
"The great thing is that my mother likes me just like I am, whether I'm a great success or not. My
parents are not pushy, demanding people. In fact, sometimes they forget to tell me when my
picture is in the paper in Singapore, or if I had a new tourism advertisement on a billboard at
home." As Siow looks through her wardrobe in preparation for a photograph to be made, it is
evident that clothes and fashion intrigue her.
"My favorite designer is Vera Wang because her clothes suit my body," says Siow as she slips on a
custom-made jacket and skirt tailored in Singapore. "I love to have my photograph taken. I adore
the camera," she says with a smile. "But I want the camera to show me as happy, as a person who
has a great life. Because I truly believe I do, and it's all because of my music. It teaches you that
nothing is impossible."
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)
“Everything I have learned
in life has been because of
music,” says Siow, Director
of Strings Program and
Professor of Violin at the
College of Charleston
© 2011 Siow Lee Chin
MY STORY
She knows how to seduce
listeners, drawing them into
her world with just a few
notes... This is artistry of the
highest level.
- Fanfare Magazine
