I started winning competitions. We still had very little money — my father had to borrow $5,000 for my trip to the International Young Pianists Competition in Germany in 1994, when I was twelve. Watching the footage later, I realized the immense pressure he was under. Tears streamed down his face when my victory was announced — the prize money was enough to repay our loan.
It became clear that to become a world-class musician, I needed to be on the world's stage. So, in 1997, my father and I moved to Philadelphia for me to attend The Curtis Institute of Music. Our financial worries eased; the school provided an apartment and even lent me a Steinway. At night, I would sneak into the living room just to touch the keys.
In America, I was eager for fame, but my teachers reminded me I had much to learn. After two years of dedicated practice, fortune intervened in 1999. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra heard me play and was impressed, but their schedule was full for years ahead.
The very next morning, I received a call. The renowned pianist Andre Watts had fallen ill and could not perform at Chicago's Ravinia Festival. I was asked to substitute. That performance was my defining moment. Introduced by violinist Isaac Stern, I played Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. My father watched, awestruck, his mouth agape throughout.
Afterward, in a celebratory mood, the audience requested Bach's Goldberg Variations. I played until 3:30 a.m., sensing a shift. Indeed, engagements soon poured in: Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall. Yet, my father continually urged, "You'd better practice!" Life in America began to relax him. In Beijing, he had been thin ensuring I ate well, while I was chubby. Now, the roles were subtly reversing.
Wishing to honor my father's sacrifices, I included Chinese music in my Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2003 at age 21, aiming to revive our family's musical tradition from Shenyang. My father and I often practiced "Horses," a lively duet for piano and erhu. That night, after performing Chopin and Liszt, I invited him on stage. We played our duet. The audience was enthralled. My father was elated for days, too happy to sleep.
Many concerts have graced Carnegie Hall, but for me, playing there was profoundly sweet, remembering our humble beginnings in Beijing. Together, my father and I strived to reach that fortunate place where luck finds you and lets you shine.