Page 8 - Fifty-fifty Sep 2021

Yoonseo’s musical loves are composition and performance equally. I asked her why she chose Victoria
University rather than any of the others. She said that Victoria has a reputation for supporting music scholars
whether they aim to do performance studies, or composition, or film scoring, to be the very best that they can be
without excessive competition. This means that the students and staff work as a team rather than as individuals
in competition with each other.

This is what drew her to the gamelan. Pak Budi S. Putra stressed that he would give everyone support with the
gamelan, and even offered to continue Yoonseo’s tuition for free. But she has to supplement her student loan by
teaching piano and harp to younger students and time is a big factor in what she does. Her gamelan studies were
fascinating because Pak Budi taught the culture of gamelan before he taught the various instruments and their
input. He also supported her in using a non-traditional instrument, her harp along with the gamelan. This was a
technically challenging task because she had to tune the harp, which is an ethereal sounding instrument, to work
synchronously with the metallic gamelan. Every one of the 47 strings had to be tuned so that her contribution was
compatible with the gamelan.

I asked her how it was that her parents were happy to support her doing a music degree, when many families,
especially if they are Asian, want their children to do a conventional degree that will automatically enable their
children to earn money. Yoonseo said that this was part of the learning curve that happens when families come
to New Zealand. There has to be a compromise so that the children can follow their passions, and music is her
passion. Her elder sister has followed her passion, and she is an early childhood teacher. Yoonseo is dedicated
to music and her parents are now saying that they just want their younger daughter to be happy.

At this point I asked her about her name. I was sure it meant something amazing. Yoonseo said that it translates
to “a lover of books”. Her elder sister’s name translates to “a very wise person” and her youngest sister is “A
happy person.” And, as these names are concepts that shape one’s life, I asked whether she thought of changing
her name or shortening it. She said that she has been called “Yooni,” Yoony” and “Yuni” but the fact that her
name has dignity and a wonderful meaning, is sufficient to keep it just as it is.

Yoonseo’s dreams for her future include working in the film industry and scoring films. Her mother has already
said that during an Academy Awards ceremony, she can see her daughter walk the red carpet to pick up her
award for scoring an award-winning New Zealand film. Keep an eye on the credits for future New Zealand films.
We are sure that Yoonseo’s name will be right there under the heading “Music Scores” for everyone to see. (/JG)

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