NOT MANY have heard Kyung-Wha Chung or taken interest in her music genre but again, classical music is not big in this part of the world.

But in the world of violinists, Chung is legendary. She is famous not only for her performances on stages across the world but also for the path that made her a celebrated artiste and an inspiration to the plight of women.

Chung is in the country courtesy of the Korean Embassy on a charity mission which started with performance in a classical music concert at the Kigali Serena hotel on Tuesday. For most Rwandans attending the concert was their first introduction to the genre of her music but it was undeniable that the sounds of her violin stirred something in them. 

As far as concerts go, her best days are probably behind her; today Chung is a professor at the same school that made her who she is, (Julliard Music School).  

But there are numerous lessons in her life story that have shaped the destiny of many a woman. Through her life story, she shares the lessons she is always sharing with her students. Speaking to this writer, she gave insights into her life and music.

Having heard of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in her church, she decided to sponsor and children orphaned during the Genocide.  The beneficiaries are attending school locally and abroad. Her plan is to see the children through university. 

"In 2001, I was in Korea for a charity concert when I was introduced to the story of Rwanda and how hard the country was working to rebuild itself. There was instant connection, having been once a protégé I felt that I wanted to give back to the community too,” the mother of two explains. 

To all female artistes (and artistes in general) she gives them the same advice she gives her students. "I always tell my students that everyone is unique, so have conviction that you are too. You have to trust yourself to find yourself, there will be pain and agony through the journey, but the journey is worthwhile. Open yourself, the world is rich,” Chung says.

Her career began in Seoul, South Korea, when she was just three but took her across the world to learning, performing and giving back to the society every way she could – and in the process, touching lives.

Born in a musical family 66 years ago, the second born in a family of 6 was introduced to music at an early age. Chung was first introduced to a piano but on hearing the violin, she realised she had found what she wanted to spend the rest of her life doing. 

Realising how talented her daughter was and how small Korea was for her daughter’s talent, Chung’s mother moved the family of to America when she was 13 where she joined the prestigious Juilliard Music School.  Having been one of the best in Korea, moving to America widened the scope of what she had to learn. 

"Moving to a foreign country had its own challenges despite being a rare opportunity, there was a language barrier and of course the culture shock. But there was nothing I wanted more than to get better, I spent hours and hours learning and practicing. For some of my class mates, they did it as an ordinary thing but for me it was everything. It was my life,” Chung says. 

The efforts paid off, she rose to fame in the 1970s and the 80s, but never did she lose track of what she wanted.  Just as it is now, it was a common thing for artists who had begun their career early in life to indulge in drugs and alcohol and other unhealthy behaviours. But not Chung. 

"Art is long and life is short, whenever I had a performance and people praised me, I always felt I would have done better. I never let the fame and praise get to my head. I always felt that I was not good enough. I was in pursuit for perfection which I later realised did not exist,” Chung says.

Another factor that could have kept her from falling off was the kind of music she did.  Classical art, she says, is different from popular music.  It is not destructive, and it caused her to look deep into your soul, introspective and doesn’t drive out emotion. Her music sought to connect. 

But though she has stood in front of crowds all across the world and shared a stage with other famous acts, she doesn’t consider any of those concerts unforgettable.

"I live for today, I do not dwell in the past. But a concert I will never forget was my first. I was about 13 years old and I had rehearsed for two weeks before performing for the crowd at school, about 1000 students. They sat still as I played, they couldn’t believe it,” she says.