It's a song you've heard a lot, right?
It is performed by composer and pianist Yuki Kuramoto who is loved for its lyrical melody.
He wasn't a professional musician to begin with.
He majored in applied physics and worked as an amateur player before releasing his first album and making his official debut at the age of 35.
He was a world-famous tenor Ian. He taught history at Bostridge University, but later switched to a full-time career as a professional singer.
If so, where is the boundary between professional and amateur?
If last year was the year of the Chopin Competition, this year is the year of the Van Cliburn Competition.
It is a competition held every four years in Texas, USA to commemorate the legendary American pianist Van Cliburn.
He has a deep connection with Korean musicians as he won the Seonwoo Ye-kwon in 2017 and the runner-up in Sohn Summer in 2009.
However, another Van Cliburn Competition hosted by this foundation is held in October.
It is an amateur competition.
A total of 3 rounds will be held for a week, and the final round will be held in concert with the orchestra like a professional contest to determine the winner.
Only people whose main occupation is not music can participate, but there is another condition that stands out.
You must be over 35 years of age.
[Jacques Marquis/President of the Van Cliburn Foundation: Around the age of 35, you have a career as a professional.
Also, when I was 17 (when I was young), I was able to distance myself from the days of studying piano and look at life anew.]
This year, 48 participants from 19 countries, including 3 Koreans, went through the preliminary trial, the oldest being 72. is the age.
This person, who devotes himself to practicing at the local piano academy after work every day, is one of three Korean participants.
I stopped playing the piano in middle school and started learning it again 8 years ago.
Isn't that great?
[Jeong Yeon-wook (53 years old)/Van Cliburn Amateur Competition Participant: It is great to have an opportunity to perform with a good orchestra, but in essence, to be able to perform a little better than today, that is the goal.]
Professionals and amateurs are professions .
Distinguish between yes and no.
But why is it often used in the negative sense that an amateur is clumsy or lacks skills when working with amateurs?
But that's not the original meaning of the word amateur.
The etymology of the word amateur comes from the Latin amare, which means to like, to love.
Many people are joining the ranks of the amateurs they love to play, starting over with instruments they left off when they were young.
Even in the Corona era, the world of amateur music is getting richer.
Adult music academies with practice rooms and small stages are especially popular these days.
You learn the songs you want to play, the songs you like, not at a set pace.
[Lee Nam-kyung / Office worker: The piano is my escape!
If you say that you can't stand working overtime, come here, play for just an hour and go back to work.]
More than 250 orchestras are active across the country, and the stages where amateurs stand are also diversifying.
The passion of amateurs, purely for their liking, is a virtue that even professionals envy, apart from their skills.
Passionate amateurs are breathing new life into the music world.
(Video coverage: Kim Gyun-jong·Kim Tae-hoon, video editing: Park Chun-bae, CG: Kang Kyung-rim·Lee Jong-jeong, VJ: Oh Se-gwan, Venue: Sojeon Seorim, screen source: The Cliburn · Credia · Warner Classic · Soa Vero · Gyeonggi Art Center)