Today we’d like to introduce you to Peter Ko.
Peter, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Well, my story is a little odd. I grew up mostly in El Centro, CA, where I started learning cello under Carolyn Sechrist. She’s an incredible lady who pretty much single-handedly built up the orchestra program in that area into something quite formidable, and really instilled a passion for music into her students.
However, growing up in a small and somewhat isolated area like El Centro, I never really was exposed to live performances of classical music, nor did I even know what a conservatory was, so I didn’t really consider music as an option when I was considering my career choices. I was accepted into UCSD for computer engineering, but within my first year, I found that I was decidedly unsatisfied with the field. Simultaneously, I was suddenly exposed to the wider world of classical music, revealing possibilities and ideas that I had never even dreamed of before.
On somewhat of an impulse, I decided to switch majors to music, not understanding exactly how tough it was to make it as a classical musician! However, even after I realized the daunting reality of my situation, I decided to buckle down and work as hard as I possibly could, to see what I could achieve by the end of my degree. I was lucky to be in a rather supportive environment, surrounded by very high-level musicians and standards, and I was able to get accepted into the Masters of Music program in Performance at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, with full funding. I’ve met some very interesting people so far, worked on some cool projects, and got to visit all sorts of cool places.
Most importantly, I’ve really pushed myself to a level that I, once upon a time, could only dream about, which is quite satisfying. However, there’s still quite a ways to go! I’m back in San Diego to continue honing my craft, studying again with my teacher Charles Curtis. In the meantime, I teach students and do performances here and there, and I also work in a production with the UCSD Department of Music.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It would be a bald-faced lie to say it was a smooth road, at all. Unfortunately, while I had some level of intelligence and aptitude for the instrument, I didn’t quite have the natural talent that some people had, nor did I have the world-class training that one would get in a big city like New York City or LA. All I had was my stubborn persistence, and my desire to achieve something great.
It was especially rough in the beginning, when I had technical issues I couldn’t quite resolve, and a low mental fortitude that couldn’t quite stand up to the sheer number of productive practice required. Looking back, it’s actually quite shocking to think that I didn’t quite right then! Nevertheless, I persisted, and I was very lucky to have met certain people and to have been in the environment that I was.
I think it’s fair to say that almost every day was a struggle, with trying to balance work, studies, and practicing. Practice, in a sense, is always a struggle; I have to confront things about myself that I’m not very good at, and work on it diligently, sometimes with no immediate improvement. But, despite it being a struggle, it’s still quite enjoyable and satisfying!
Please tell us about Peter Ko, cellist.
Well, basically I just do things that involve the cello–namely, performing and teaching. I currently have a nice batch of beginners who are progressing very well. I push them quite hard in the lessons since I hold them to a high standard, and they’re benefitting from all the details about cello playing that I’ve had to discover and think about. I think (I hope!) they’re enjoying the lessons since I haven’t been fired yet! The lessons are something I genuinely enjoy doing, which lets me bring a natural enthusiasm to the lesson .. which in turn makes it enjoyable for the student, I hope.
As a performer, I do a lot of stuff in collaboration with others. Currently, I’ve taken a step back to focus on my studies with Charles, but I still do a few performances in a variety of settings, like solo, chamber music, and orchestra. I love playing the usual classical repertoire, but I also enjoy doing things in a more pop/rock setting, and sometimes I do contemporary avant-garde things. I guess I bring to the table a good energy for rehearsals and performances and spare no effort into making the music as good as it could possibly be.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Haha, it’s all a blur to me at the moment .. Hanging out with my childhood friends, I suppose the general memory of that would be my favorite.
Contact Info:
- Website: peterkocello.com
- Phone: 7607500486
- Email: peterko.cello@gmail.com
- Instagram: @minseokkorean
Image Credit:
Daryl Feehely
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