February 24, 2006
Hi to Everyone! Ca va bien?

Well it’s been a while since I sent a group email. I didn’t tell many people about this competition (the 17th International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs) in Paris. I felt a little humbled by my experience in Warsaw...despite playing my best there I didn’t seem to fit demographically with all the other pianists. My gut told me that this was not the way to pursue my musical goals. So in order to define my life and figure out indeed where I am with my playing, I decided to enter this competition (the biggest one for amateurs, by which the Van Cliburn models their amateur competition in Texas). Anyways, I write to you from a cafe on Champs Elysees…

Yesterday was the preliminary round. There are some really strong players here, all of them like me...loving piano while maintaining a career. There are 100 competitors from 30 countries here, all trying to get into the top 15 spots in the semifinals. I played Dutilleux (3rd movement) for them. Dutilleux is a composer from the Paris Conservatory. I was freaked out to come to Paris to play their music in their house. Mrs. Dutilleux is also on the jury, and she premiered the piece in 1948. YIKES! Sort of the same feelings in Warsaw. I could hear some of the audience/jury talking while I was playing...what were they saying? Thankfully, there were a few “bravo’s” after I played. Then came the announcement…

“Thomas Yu...Canada”. I was so excited! So relieved too. Soon the cameras came by to interview me (both CBC TV and France TV are here...the director mentioned that the finals will be broadcast to 4 million homes on TV and radio!). Today is the semifinals, held in the beautiful Richelieu Amphitheatre at the Sorbonne. I am getting quite nervous because I thought of myself as an underdog here, but now I believe that I deserve to be here. I feel well, despite a nagging dry cough...I think I have a case of asthma but I will check it out next week. Can anyone say “Toronto pollution”?

There are 2 other Canadians who qualified too, so our country is being well represented (unlike men’s hockey!). Which leads me to wonder...why does the Canadian government give money to kids in hockey, and not piano? Anyways, I’ll keep everyone updated, but I would like to appreciate in advance if you could send some “bon chance” vibes over here. It’s all happening so fast!

Thomas
ps. my hotel room has a bidet...who thinks I should give it a try??? =)

February 25, 2006
First of all, thank you to all of you who wrote back so quickly yesterday with words of encouragement. It’s great to have e-support as I know very few people here. Secondly, I apologize if you aren’t all that keen on wanting to know every detail of my experience out here. I just realized this is a “blog”...and who likes blogs? Not me! But here it comes anyways…

Yesterday I spent the afternoon getting taken around many famous Parisian sights with the camera crew. There is this french cameraman who wears a shear white scarf and looks like a classic french director! The fuzzy mic guy has apparently worked alongside Walter Kronkite through the ‘70-80s and has hilarious sunglasses. Anyways, here I am (little prairie boy) walking down Champs Elysees with this entourage of 3 following my every move. The tourists (and cars) paused to stare and take pictures...it was a bit embarrassing but I do have to admit I was smitten.

Then it was back to work. I arrived at the Sorbonne, playing 7th out of 12 semifinalists. The hall was really intimate and incredible. It was an ampitheatre style, with beautiful statues along the walls and artwork on the ceiling. The level of playing was now really high (people playing Gaspard de la Nuit, 4th Ballade, etc). I was in a daze pretty much the entire time. By the end of the rep, I was getting tired but pushed myself to keep going. But what happened after, I will never forget.

After the last chord of my Liszt (Rigoletto) the crowd erupted. Shouts of bravo!...people were yelling almost like they were at a rock concert. I sat there for a few seconds, stunned...wondering if I should let go of my pedal yet. That’s about all I remember...but hopefully the CBC will have footage for the documentary, because it was all a blur. Anyways, the great news is that I qualified for the finals! It’s down to 5 competitors now (Germany, London, France and...2 FROM CANADA). The other Canadian is Averill Baker, a legal aid and wife of Senator Baker. She got 2nd at the Van Cliburn amateurs last year, and we have become super friends and supporters of each other. Incidentally, we signed our names under a table in one of the old lecture halls...I wonder how long that will be there?

The jury has asked me to play my entire Dutilleux along with Liszt again. I am a bit bummed that I won’t play Chopin, but I’d rather keep the jury happy. I think they just want my best for the finals, which will be at the sold-out Salle Gaveux. Apparently even the Paris Chief of Police coudln’t get a ticket. It takes place Sunday afternoon, with France 2 and CBC, along with Radio Classique, 20 press critics and 20 jury members. Holy shit! I feel so lucky to give you all good news. I’ve sort of found this experience to be much more positive than in Warsaw. But I’ve used what I learned there to apply it here, and the formula seems to be working. All the Canadians here are so proud to have 2/5 finalists. Everybody was saying that the Canadians were among the strongest.

Again, thanks for the emails! It means more than you know. On Sunday, it will be time to show them by best performance ever.
Thomas
ps. the Arc de Triumph is literally around the corner from my hotel. The first thought I had was “this is way bigger than I imagined from Team America”.

February 27, 2006
OK this is my last email from Paris…

Today I went to rehearse at La Salle Gaveau, which was incredible. There was a harp store on the main floor, which I thought was so cool. France 2 had a barrage of cameras; immediately I was sent for makeup (girls, I don’t know how you do that everyday). I had an interview in French, which successfully displayed my pathetic francais. My cousins in Belgium were able to come to the finals, so it was great to have some family support.

There were TV cameras set up everywhere, with microphones dangling from the balconies. The place was sold out...I was told even the chief of police couldn’t get a ticket! I met the assistant to the Canadian ambassador, which was a thrill (although I don’t know exactly what ambassadors do). I was 3rd on the program. When I walked on stage, the energy was electric. Although I was crazy nervous, there was a sense of calmness. I don’t remember much of my playing, except I felt that my energy was a bit overloaded at times, which caused the music to suffer.

When I finished, there was a modest French applause...I ended up taking 3 encore bows. Still dazed, I wasn’t too sure how my performance went. I knew it could have been better, which made me feel uneasy. Then came the announcements. They made us stand on stage...I remember looking up at the people in the balconies wondering how I got myself this far. The announcement was first a tie for 4th place (the other Canadian, Averill Baker got 4th). Then they asked the remaining 3 of us to take a step forward. They were going to announce the winner next, which surprised me.

The winner is.....he said this 3 times to get the crowd all antsy.

My poor heart.

The winner is…

Thomas Yu.

What? Could it be? I couldn’t believe it. The crowd was cheering, and I fought back the tears of joy. CRAZY! My knees were weak. They asked me to say something...I can’t for the life of me remember what I said. Then came the press critics choice. Again, Thomas Yu. SHIT! Then, the audience choice award. By this time I wasn’t too sure of anything anymore. Thomas Yu! Wow, a clean sweep. Praise the Lord! Even as I type I am still speechless. I got a modest award ($5000)...but the coolest thing is it’s a big cheque, like in golf. I also received an original autograph letter from 1913 by Gabriel Faure. I will surely frame this, as it is priceless. Also some CDs and such. I also became friends with Mr. Gerard Bekerman, founder of the Concours.

Afterwards at the gala, I was invited back to Paris May 31st for a performance of Chopin’s E minor concerto at Cathedral des Invalides (where Napoleon is buried!). Also, there is talk of a concert December 14th in Paris (Rachmaninoff 3rd concerto) for France 2, and performances next year in Washington and Florence, Italy. There were invitations to competitions in Moscow, Boston, Berlin (though I doubt I’ll do them), and interviews by Chopin magazine, Piano something-rather...it was all a blur. The chef at the celebration dinner made some mysteriously HUGE dessert. I don’t even know how to explain it, but it was so heavy I couldn’t even lift it!

Tomorrow, I come home and will get back to school. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about my thesis and exams...it won’t change much. Still the same Thomas as usual. I will let you know when the TV programs will air if you like. I will also post some pictures once I get back. I will never forget this trip. If you managed to read this far, thank you and let’s all party when I get back! (of course, only after my homework is done).
Thomas