Spotlight on one of Taiwan’s top orchestral conductors and his passion for cycling
Spotlight on one of Taiwan’s top orchestral conductors and his passion for cycling
2024-03-22
Now, we take a look at one of Taiwan’s rising orchestral conductors - and his passion for cycling. Tseng Wei-yung is a busy professional conductor with lots of prizes under his belt. But after a habit of working late led to health problems, he realized that something had to change. Now he spends 15 hours a week on his bike, and competes in major amateur cycling races. He says the flow state he enters while cycling is similar to how it feels to work with an orchestra.
The cyclist grips the handlebars, full steam ahead. The magnificent views all around Taiwan are part of what makes cycling a passion for Tseng Wei-yung. His career as a conductor is hectic, but he spends at least 15 hours a week training on the bike, maintaining his physical and mental health. In October 2023, he rode up to Wuling Pass on Mount Hehuan, winning the amateur trophy in the Taiwan KOM Challenge.
Along the way, he rode with fellow cyclists from many different walks of life, which spurred him on his way. He says that all the time spent alone in the saddle helps him to get to know himself better and provides inspiration for his creative work.
Tseng Wei-yung
Conductor
It feels just like when you’re up against a great piece of art. “How shall I interpret this orchestral piece?” It’s like when I’m cycling, and I think “How shall I interpret this competition?” So it’s very interesting, when you’re riding, it’s like you’re also conducting.
Whether it’s a conductor’s baton or handlebars in his hands, in the auditorium or rolling down a highway in the wind, conducting and cycling are one for Tseng.
Tseng Wei-yung
Conductor
When we travel to perform in townships all over the country, they’ve got to take their cellos. I only need to take my baton, so I can take my bike along. They have the cellos and I have my bike.
Years ago, Tseng frequently worked late into the night, and didn’t prioritize his health. That once led to disaster in an important international competition. It was a big wakeup call for Tseng. He spent prize money from conducting on a bike that cost over NT$200,000, and began to train every day. He realized that cycling brings him into a flow state, which is good for his health and, he says, brings him spiritual energy.
Tseng Wei-yung
Conductor
Cycling is very solitary. When you face a tough training session, or a difficult competition, you need enormous willpower to confront yourself. And it’s the same with conducting. When you face the orchestra, you’re alone with the score – it’s a conversation with yourself.
When he takes off his trainers and dons his suit, he’s ready to conduct another performance that’s full of life.
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上班握指揮棒下班騎單車! 指揮家奪登山王冠軍
2024-03-22
曾維庸平時身為樂團首席指揮家，私下卻熱愛騎單車，就算工作忙碌，每週仍至少維持15小時單車訓練，達到運動與生活的平衡。他還發現騎單車過程，總有源源不絕的創作靈感。印象中文靜浪漫的樂團指揮家，竟是臺灣自行車登山王挑戰賽冠軍!
握住把手不停採踏板前進，騎車環島沿路壯闊景色，是曾維庸熱愛騎單車的原因。雖然平常指揮家工作忙碌，不過每週至少15小時單車訓練，維持體能也調劑身心。2023年10月更騎單車登上合歡山武嶺，一舉拿下臺灣自行車登山王挑戰賽業餘組冠軍。
一路上與各行各業車友交流，都成為他的創作養份。也因為騎單車的獨處時光，更加認識自己、激盪出創作靈感。
[[指揮家 曾維庸]]
“其實跟在面對一首偉大的作品的感覺是一樣的，我在怎麼詮釋交響作品，也同時在想我騎車，我怎麼去詮釋這個比賽，所以很有趣，當你在騎車的時候，你好像也在指揮”
不管是手握單車龍頭，或手拿指揮棒，徜徉在公路上的追風指揮家，單車與指揮工作，已經變得密不可分。
[[指揮家 曾維庸]]
“我連出差就是我們去各個鄉鎮演出，他們背大提琴，因為我只需要背指揮棒嘛，我就是背腳踏車。所以他們背大提琴，我就背腳踏車”
曾經天天熬夜，不重視身體健康，而影響一場重要的國際比賽，讓曾維庸從此大澈大悟，甚至拿比賽獎金，去買一輛20多萬的單車，開始天天與單車為伍。他發現騎單車的過程，精神達到心流狀態，不但健身也讓心靈更有力量。
[[指揮家 曾維庸]]
“單車它很孤獨，當你在面對一個很難的訓練，或很難的比賽的時候，真的要很大很大的意志力跟自己去對抗。那在指揮其實也是，在面對樂團之前，我一個人在面對樂譜，是一個自己跟自己的對話”
換上西裝站上舞台，曾維庸繼續揮舞出，更多充滿生命力的樂曲。
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