Chapter 72

072. Mentoring (1)

Royal Classic, a classical music label with a 40-year history, has gathered the team (Team) responsible for the new album project of Professor Celine Palmer, considered one of the world's top violinists.

"Have you discussed the album concept with Professor Celine?"

Heather, the team leader, who had been rolling her pen while checking the agenda for today, asked the team once everyone was seated.

The communication manager, sitting diagonally across, nodded in response.

"Yes. She wants to create an album of Celine as a performer, not as a specialist in someone else's work."

In classical music, a specialist refers to someone who can closely reproduce the performance of a particular composer.

For example, some of the best performers of Bach's works are called Bach specialists.

And Professor Celine was a Mozart specialist in her youth.

"She mentioned that she wants to fill the album with pieces she has enjoyed during her recitals."

"Sounds like a playlist of Professor Celine's favorites, then?"

Another team member chimed in, and Heather nodded.

"Seems fine. Honestly, with Professor Celine's reputation, anything she does will be fine."

She has long been considered a master in her field.

In a market where only the listeners matter, there is nothing more directly linked to sales than her name, so she has nothing to worry about.

The discussion then moved on to the venue for the showcase, and these topics also progressed smoothly. This was possible because Professor Celine had already released several albums with Royal Classic.

After wrapping up the easy discussions...

"Alright, let's move on to the tough part."

Heather, who had brought another cup of coffee, sat down and set the tone.

The topic was a rising star.

Although limited to the classical music world, it has been a long time since such a prodigy has appeared.

Han Seoho, who is praised for his world-class performances on the two most popular melodic instruments.

The meeting continued with a discussion about distributing his new album.

"What's the general reaction to Han Seoho's album?"

"Definitely, filling the album with original compositions is a double-edged sword. The reactions have been extremely polarized since the album announcement."

"How so?"

In response to Heather's question, the team members added their thoughts.

"His image as a prodigy who can handle both instruments is not well-received by some classical music enthusiasts. They say he would have been better off focusing on one and that he is too greedy."

"Music critics are even harsher. There's a certain level of racial bias. They say it's the result of the Eastern obsession with excelling in everything. Some even mention that there have been a few prodigies who burned out and disappeared, and some even criticize the Tchaikovsky Competition."

"It seems arrogant. For a teenager to compose classical music."

"Still, the general reaction is one of anticipation. The release of the White Night Festival video was a big factor. After the video of his street performance in Moscow went viral, many people who were uncomfortable with the idea of a debut performer composing original pieces have disappeared."

Such reactions are not surprising. After all, in the field of art, it's rare for everyone to praise something.

However, Heather couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

"I can't understand it. Everyone must have seen his performances. They were far from what people are saying."

The company might have approved this project for its buzz, but she pushed it because of its potential.

To see people try to stomp out a budding sprout just because it doesn't suit their taste...

"This is why the classical music world is... sigh."

She shook her head, letting out a heavy sigh.

She has been in this industry for a long time. Could she not bear some responsibility?

"Since the songs are all ready and recording will start soon, Peter, start scouting for the showcase venue, and Olivia, go to Korea and check on the progress. Also, check the songs."

"Yes!"

Watching the team members respond enthusiastically, Heather thought to herself.

Ultimately, we'll have to wait and see what the album reveals.

Whether it will be the birth of a true prodigy like Mozart.

Or the birth of another media sensation.

#

"Someone from Royal Classic is coming to discuss the album production."

Team leader Park, Kim Yun-ju, and I gathered in the meeting room to discuss the album production.

"Is he here to check on the progress?"

Kim Yun-ju asked, and Park nodded.

"Probably. So, we should start setting the recording schedule soon..."

Park, looking slightly excited, clicked his pen.

I recalled his recent comment about feeling like a new employee after focusing on film music for so long. His close colleagues had laughed so hard, asking if he was a new hire, during a late-night work session.

I smiled and waited for Park to continue.

"Since all the instruments are ready, we need to select the performers. What's the largest ensemble we'll need?"

"We need 23 instruments for the piece titled 'Family.'"

"A small chamber orchestra, then."

Park nodded and jotted down notes in his notebook.

Kim Yun-ju added with a smile.

"The two pieces with the theme of 'Family' are quite different. One is an orchestra, and the other is a solo violin."

Indeed. It wasn't intentional, but the atmosphere, instrumentation, and arrangement ended up being quite different.

The theme of family is the same, but the motivations were very different.

"Then, how should we select the performers? We could choose about twenty from the ones who performed in 'Soprano.' If it's too difficult to select individually, we have data and can choose the best performers."

As Park spoke, I vividly recalled the performance from that time.

I seem to have an exceptional memory for music. After all, my memories of music from 200 years ago are this clear.

I shook my head and expressed my intention to choose the performers myself. Selecting performers for a concerto based solely on skill would be problematic, and it's my composition, after all.

Thinking of the seat numbers on the recording studio table, I asked:

"Can I get the list of performers from that time and the seat numbers they occupied during the recording? I remember the performances, but not their faces or names."

"Of course. But will that be enough?"

I nodded lightly.

"Yes."

It's sufficient.

#

The next day.

I immediately handed Park the list of performers for the recording.

He tilted his head for a moment but then nodded and began checking the schedules of the performers.

The album production preparations began to progress smoothly.

And during this time...

The teacher from my father's alma mater, Hwawon Arts High School, sent me the details and lecture materials for the mentoring program.

Firstly, the mentoring program isn't that complicated. It will be held three times over three weeks before the end of the summer break, with each mentor taking a limited number of mentees on a first-come, first-served basis.

The school has already outlined the general content of the lectures, so I just need to prepare by incorporating my experiences into the topics.

But even the topics themselves...

'Am I really confident?'

What started as a potentially interesting task became even more exciting as I realized I could do it well.

'I think using PPT would be convenient for the lecture...'

With that thought, I turned on my computer and quickly created a PPT.

A layout with only the key points, clean fonts, and round glasses... minus the glasses.

Kim Yun-ju, glancing at it, was impressed.

"Let's see... Oh, Seoho has a hidden artistic sense? It's well done and clean."

I completed it, recalling the time I made a PPT for a manager. While my musical talent is largely thanks to Brinner, I, Han Seoho, also have my own skills.

"But Seoho, isn't preparing for the mentoring program a bit much? Teaching your peers might be stressful. There will be older students, too."

I just smiled at such questions.

I'm not really a peer... but, of course, I can't say that.

As I prepared the lecture, my anticipation grew. The mentoring program, as the name suggests, isn't just a lecture but also a time for free discussion, which I found exciting.

I wondered if I would see the passion and thoughts of these young, enthusiastic musicians.

Humor is important in lectures, so how can I make some jokes?

Haydn often visited my home...

He would probably say, "What, that dog joke?"

Anyway, as I prepared for the album recording, practice, and lectures, the date that seemed so far away quickly approached.

[Hwawon Arts High School.]

A spacious campus.

Looking at the unique buildings, I thought, as if the school was trying to show that it is an arts school.

Indeed, it lives up to being a private... no, the best arts high school.

The school was quite empty. It was summer break, and the students who signed up for the mentoring program were already gathered in a classroom.

I entered the building and headed straight to the faculty office. There were four faculty offices, so I was a bit confused. I arrived at the music department office.

"Is Mr. Kim Kihoon here?"

I asked the teacher sitting closest to the door as I entered.

He was tapping his shoulder with a small wooden stick and suddenly gave me a fierce look.

"Are you here for the mentoring program? What time is it now? And what's with that outfit..."

As I got closer, his fierce look softened, and his eyes flickered like a traffic light. He quickly straightened up, put down the stick, and gave an awkward smile.

"Oh! I didn't recognize you. I'm sorry. My eyesight is a bit poor... I really enjoyed your competition performance. It was amazing."

"Thank you. But where is Mr. Kim Kihoon?"

"He's at the far end. Mr. Kim! The mentor is here today."

I followed his gaze and turned my head.

All the teachers in the office were already looking at me. Some stood up, curious, and greeted me.

Among them, a noticeable mustache caught my eye.

I approached the teacher with the mustache, and my father's classmate, Mr. Kim Kihoon, greeted me with a smile.

"It's been a while."

"Hello."

"Was it difficult to get here? If you had arrived a bit later, I would have come to pick you up."

"It's fine. I came by bus."

"Is that so? Anyway, I knew you would become great after hearing your composition back then, but I didn't expect it to happen so quickly. It was a good decision to ask you to visit the school."

He smiled and muttered, "I should have invested in stocks..." while tidying up the files on his desk.

"This is the attendance sheet. I've already set up the materials you provided. I wasn't anxious, just curious, and I saw that you did a great job organizing them."

He was anxious. I understand. Park was anxious, and my parents were anxious about me mentoring students of my own age.

"I'll be in the back, so don't be nervous and just do what you prepared."

"Understood."

We then went up one more floor to a classroom in the middle of the hallway. I couldn't see the grade and class number on the door. Does this school have extra classrooms?

As I looked around curiously, Mr. Kim Kihoon tapped my shoulder lightly.

"I'll introduce you, so just come in and start."

He opened the front door and went into the classroom.

The classroom, well-decorated like a university lecture hall, was filled with students.

I wasn't nervous, but I was a bit tense. I stood where Mr. Kim Kihoon had been and gave a brief greeting.

Glancing back, I saw my PPT on the large screen.

<Traits and Practice Methods of Past Composers>

Seeing the large text, I couldn't help but smile.

It's a topic I'm truly confident about.

I turned back to the students and finally began.

"I'll start the lecture now."