A harmonious education

For Wan Pin Chu, an illustrious career playing the erhu – a Chinese string instrument – is just one string to his bow. He’s also an award-winning composer for hit films including Ne Zha 2, the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, and The Last Dance, which reached number one at the Hong Kong box office.

When Wan Pin was growing up in Hong Kong, the path towards his future didn’t always feel straightforward.

‘I felt stuck between law and music, and my parents felt that law was a more stable choice. Eventually, I asked myself – if I have to look at a sheet of paper with law work on or music notes for the rest of my life, which would I prefer? That’s how I ended up doing music.

‘Erhuists like myself would traditionally go to a conservatoire in China, but I wanted to expand my knowledge beyond just the erhu, which is how I ended up at King’s. It was a shock at first, as the course was more academic than I’d expected and I found essay-writing challenging, particularly in a second language.

‘However, after I graduated, I came to appreciate all that my degree taught me. It honed my ability to think critically, and the research I did has enabled me to create more thoughtful and intentional compositions.’

Like many King’s alumni, he has fond memories of the Maughan Library, but another location on campus stole his heart. ‘I always loved being in the chapel – it is the only place you can be quiet and reflect. I remember listening to the chapel choir conducted by the wonderful David Trendell.’

Since leaving King’s, Wan Pin has touched audiences around the world through his music. ‘I’ve had the honour of performing solo on the erhu for the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and for the British Royal Family. I’ve composed for films, TV shows and theatre productions, and there are many more projects coming up which I’m excited about.’

Wan Pin’s advice to new graduates: ‘Don’t think that university knowledge is going to be useless after you graduate. The skills you learn in any degree and the experiences you gain are what matter – whether that’s new ways of learning, adapting to challenges or communicating with people.’