負笈瑞士前，臺灣給我的印象是：我的家鄉在台灣，學校有不輕的課業，寫完功課後又得練琴，接著參加國内比賽及加入青少年樂團等等。而臺灣的自然地景與人文，其實還沒有真正見到。在瑞士認識我先生法比安‧穆勒（Fabian Müller）後，喜歡旅行和爬山的我們開始了臺灣之旅，我才和他一起「探索」臺灣，而臺灣特别的人情味和美食，更早已是我先生的第二家鄉。因為年歲的增長，雖然旅居海外期間也去了很多很美的地方，但家鄉的美、心的故鄉，讓我在飽覽了臺灣的瑰麗山景與壯闊海景之餘，我的心中，更是升起了一股强烈希望回饋家鄉臺灣的心，所以在十年前成立了「音樂瑞士之夜」，也是這十年來我心愛的臺灣和旅居的瑞士之間最重要的音樂交流平台。2024年，為了擴展交流層面與深度，我進一步推動創辦首屆「臺灣國際大提琴藝術節」。

 

要成立並舉辦藝術節，不能没有志同道合的伙伴，在此衷心地感謝各單位的支持與藝術節團隊的熱情響應，並非常期待和大家分享精彩豐富的TWICF藝術節。首屆TWICF藝術節豐富多元，來自德國、瑞士頂尖大師將與台灣傑出大提琴家合作，將在台北、高雄規劃舉行音樂會、大師班與工作坊。此外，藝術節也特別與雲林百年老宅三秀園合作，邀請台灣絃樂團演出多首改編給大提琴與絃樂團的臺灣民謠，同時也提供大提琴初學者與愛好者，帶琴來現場一起演奏的難得機會。

 

而在音樂家的養成過程中，能有機會遇到音樂大師並受其教誨，對年輕音樂家而言是非常重要且影響深遠的，這也是我的親身經歷。當然磨練演奏技能是必要的，同時還要勤奮和天賦。然而最重要的不是技能，而是音樂背後的人性與音樂本質。因此，去了解這些音樂名家是如何將生活經驗、知識、技巧與熱情轉換成音樂的詮釋是很重要的。而要去理解、感受這些大師經驗，無論是音樂會或大師班，都將在年輕學子心中激勵出一束經久不滅的火花。藉由「臺灣國際大提琴藝術節」的推動，我期望能為台灣年輕大提琴家創造與大師相遇的機會。

 

「臺灣國際大提琴藝術節」（TWICF）是一年一度的大提琴盛會。TWICF藝術節中，不僅由來自世界各地及臺灣的大師們演奏的最美麗大提琴作品會獲得共鳴，同時也鼓勵探索未知。在TWICF藝術節，人們可以透過難忘的音樂會、引人入勝的工作坊與開放有興趣民眾參與的大師班，感受大提琴豐富多元的音樂面貌。TWICF藝術節也是國際頂尖音樂家、音樂愛好者、有抱負的音樂家與單純喜歡大提琴者的友好聚會。因此，我衷心希望TWICF藝術節能成為臺灣音樂生活中不可或缺的一部分。

 

創辦人暨藝術總監　　簡碧青

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My father is an art painter who always enjoyed listening to Western classical music while he paints. As a child, I was influenced by him and naturally began to paint and listen to music as well. I initially started playing the piano, and after a while, my parents decided to buy me a piano because they saw my interest. One day, we went to a music store and heard someone playing, and the sound of the instrument was so beautiful, I had never heard anything like it before. I followed the sound of the music and eventually found the musician who was playing. Wow, what a big "violin"! Immediately, I ran back to my parents and told them: I don't want to play the piano anymore, I want to have this "big violin"!

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While I was still in Taiwan, my father accompanied me to every cello lesson and sat beside me when I practiced at home to assist me. Although I had some cello teachers in Taiwan and my father did play a little the guitar, he had never learned cello and yet became my greatest teacher! Looking back, this seemingly natural path into music was actually the result of my parents' tireless efforts to pave the way for me everywhere. When I came to study in Switzerland, I felt a little lost without the support of my parents. But precisely because of that, I worked harder and found my own path in music.

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I remember when I wasn't considering going abroad yet, the famous French cellist Pierre Fournier performed in Taiwan. I had been learning cello for about five years and was fortunate to participate in a master class he gave. I was a little nervous, and after playing the last note, before I could catch my breath, Fournier smiled at me and said, "I'm flying back to Switzerland tomorrow. Would you like to come to Europe with me?" Later, I learned from a newspaper interview that he told reporters, "This girl is the talent I've been waiting for decades." About two years later, my family had saved enough money, and I was able to begin my studies in Switzerland.

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Before going to Switzerland, my impression of Taiwan was: a rigorous time in school, practicing cello a lot, participating in national competitions, playing in youth orchestras, etc. Actually, I hadn't really seen Taiwan yet. After meeting my husband Fabian Müller in Switzerland, we started to enjoy traveling and hiking in the mountains, and we began our "discovery journey" in Taiwan together. With its exceptional hospitality and delicious cuisine, Taiwan has soon become Fabian's second home! As I've grown older, I've seen many beautiful places abroad. However, Taiwan, although there are still many places I haven't visited, remains the home of my heart. And within me grew a strong desire to give back to my homeland Taiwan for everything it has given me. So, together with my husband, I founded the "Swiss Music Night" concert-series ten years ago. In these ten years it has become the most important platform for music and cultural exchange between my beloved Taiwan and Switzerland. This year, in 2024, we have taken another step and launched the first Taiwan International Cello Festival.

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To establish and organize a music festival, one cannot do without like-minded partners. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude for the support of all organizations and the enthusiastic response of the festival team, and I look forward to sharing the vibrant TWICF festival with everyone. The inaugural TWICF Festival is rich in diversity, with top masters from Germany and Switzerland collaborating with Taiwan's outstanding cellists in concerts, master classes, and workshops in Taipei and Kaohsiung. In addition, the festival has partnered with Yunlin's century-old Samsiu Garden, to invite the Academy of Taiwan Strings to perform a number of Taiwanese folk songs adapted for cello and string orchestra, and to offer beginners and cello enthusiasts a rare opportunity to bring their instruments and play together live.

 

The importance and impact of encounters with great musical personalities for young musicians is something I've experienced firsthand. Of course, honing skills on the instrument is essential, requiring diligence and talent. However, ultimately, it's not the most crucial aspect. It's about the humanity behind the music and the music itself. It's about experiencing how great musicians immerse themselves in the flow of music with their entire life experience, knowledge, skill, and passion. Experiencing this, whether in concerts or masterclasses, can ignite a spark of inspiration in a young person that lasts a lifetime. With the TWICF, I am committed to providing such opportunities for inspiration to young cellists in Taiwan.

 

The TWICF aims to be a grand celebration of the cello, held annually. It's a festival where the most beautiful repertoire for cello resonates, but also where the exploration of the unknown is encouraged, played by masters from around the world and, of course, from Taiwan. It's a festival where the cello can be experienced in all its versatility, through unforgettable concerts, intriguing workshops, and masterclasses open to the interested public. It's a friendly gathering of world-class musicians, music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians, and people who simply enjoy the cello. And so, I hope that the TWICF becomes an enriching and integral part of Taiwan's musical life.

 

Pi-Chin Chien

Founder & artistic director

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