Golden West Student Plays Way to Rome

When she was a child, Golden West College student Helen Wong would listen to her father’s massive CD collection while he was at work six or seven days a week to support the family.

Wong said she remembers him coming home late at night and putting on classical music to unwind.

“My dad would make me tapes of classical music that I listened to when I slept,” Wong said.

Many of Wong’s family memories are colored by music. Her mother was partial to traditional Chinese music.

Wong began to take music lessons in the fourth grade and played clarinet in the band at Huntington Beach High School.

Now a music and nursing double major at Golden West, Wong absorbed her father’s love of classical melody and is now a successful performer herself.

The Huntington Beach resident was recently awarded a partial scholarship to participate in next summer’s prestigious Rome Festival in Italy.

Wong will play clarinet with 1,000 other musicians at various courtyards in the historic center of the Italian capital.

The American musicians were selected in a national competition and join performers from more than 20 countries.

Wong and her colleagues will be given the opportunity to hone their performing skills under the tutelage of internationally renowned artist-teachers and coaches. Professionals will also share insights about working as musicians.

In addition to practice and coaching from other musicians, the students will play a series of public concerts for Roman music lovers.

The weight and importance of the program have not been lost on Wong.

“I feel overwhelmed,” she said. “I didn’t expect to be chosen.”

Wong said she applied after seeing an advertisement for the festival hanging on a wall at her college.

Alumni of the festival have gone on to fill some of the world’s most famous orchestras and opera companies, including the New York Philharmonic and the Berlin Radio Symphony.

Wong’s family and friends are also cheering her along.

“My best friend is making me write her a postcard every day,” Wong said.

Wong said her parents are also supporting her, but they worry about how she will finance her stay in Europe.

The three-week program is not cheap--about $2,700.

Wong was awarded a $1,600 scholarship by the institute, but a $1,100 gap remains.

Wong baby-sits part time and said she hopes to scrape the needed funds together before the summer.

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Andrew Wainer can be reached at (714) 965-7172, Ext. 15