HONG KONG, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ask Hong Kong pianist Aristo Sham Ching-tao about the meaning of music, and his answer is as heartfelt as it is simple: "Music is the outlet of my emotions and a way to connect people and cultures across the world."

As sunlight poured through the windows at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Aristo Sham's fingers danced lightly across the piano keys. When the final note faded, he gently closed his eyes, hands still suspended in the air, lingering in the echo of the music.

In June this year, the 29-year-old made history as the first Hong Kong pianist to win the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Yet for Sham, the honor extends far beyond personal achievement. "It reflects a vital significance of music, connecting different cultures and people from all over the world."

Born in Hong Kong, Sham's musical journey began at the age of three, guided by his mother, a piano teacher. By six, he enrolled in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, studying under renowned piano pedagogue Professor Eleanor Wong.

"He was lively and active," Wong recalls of her first impressions, "but the moment he sat at the piano, he became a different person -- his eyes full of love for music." What stood out even more was Sham's uniquely synesthetic connection to music. He experienced music in terms of its color and temperature.

Wong remembers one occasion when Sham played a melancholic piece with rare emotional depth. She later learned he was immersing himself in a scene from an animated film in which a character was searching for his father. "He was infusing the music with more emotions through the visuals," she explained.

This deep, personal interpretation became a hallmark of Sham's artistry. "I feel the music is an extension of my expression; I can use the piano to say things I can't express in other ways."

This independent musical sensibility propelled him to early fame. As a youth, he clinched top prizes at several renowned competitions, including the gold medal in the 6th Chopin International Competition in Asia (Japan), the championship in Group A of the 69th Steinway International Children and Youth Piano Competition (China Regional final) in Beijing, and first prize in Category A at the Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists 2006 in Germany.

Looking back on the Van Cliburn competition, Sham viewed it not merely as a contest, but as a stage to showcase the learning of his 29 years. "I gradually adapted by adjusting my mindset -- focusing on being my best self and sharing music, rather than being trapped by the pressure to win or lose."

His path, however, was not always linear. He admitted that until he was 21, he played purely out of "enjoyment and fun." An insatiable curiosity led him to explore other fields, including business, which he studied at Harvard University.

"I love researching things, I love exploring, I have a strong curiosity about many things," he explained. It was there that he re-evaluated his relationship with music, realizing with growing clarity that it was his true calling. After graduation, he returned wholeheartedly to the piano, earning a master's degree in piano performance from the New England Conservatory in 2020. This cross-disciplinary journey has become a unique nourishment for his artistic expression. "Rich life experiences allow your expression to have more substance."

Sham's East-meets-West background allows him a profound understanding of diverse musical works. "Exposure to different cultures is very important," he said. "But my roots are always in Chinese culture." He credits the characteristically Chinese trait of "self-discipline and taking tasks seriously" as essential to maintaining focus during the high-pressure competitions.

He also highlights the crucial role Hong Kong played in his growth. "Since I was young, I could hear world-class masters perform and receive guidance from renowned teachers. Studying at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts laid a solid foundation for my career."

Professor Anna CY Chan, director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, elaborated on the city's artistic resources. "Leveraging its geographical and policy advantages, Hong Kong serves as a natural nexus for international artistic exchange," she said. She pointed to the Academy's youth training programs, designed to identify and nurture artistic talent from an early age, providing systematic training to help them embark on professional artistic paths. Aristo Sham, she noted, is a prime beneficiary of this very system.

Sham's vision of music as a connection continues to unfold on stages near and far. On June 30, during a ceremony celebrating the 28th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, he performed his award-winning pieces before an appreciative audience. "I deliberately selected pieces with a celebratory atmosphere, hoping to share the festive spirit with the audience through music," Sham said.

His calendar is now filling rapidly. In November, he will give solo recitals in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Shenzhen, with plans to reach more cities next year. "I am very happy to have so many opportunities to reach audiences in the mainland and share music with them," he said.

In August, he launched his Asian tour with a homecoming concert in Hong Kong. Looking further ahead, a world tour is on the horizon, with performances planned across the mainland, Europe, and the United States. "I hope to go to more places, perform on bigger stages, and collaborate with more excellent orchestras," Sham shared.

Through it all, he carries with him the lesson of his hometown: that art can build bridges. He hopes to promote the global reach of Chinese culture while fostering dialogue between traditions, helping audiences everywhere appreciate the beauty inherent in different cultures. "The magic of music lies in its ability to transcend all language and cultural barriers." ■