Liu Xiaochen, 29 years old

刘晓晨，29岁

Occupation: Violin player and teacher

职业：小提琴演奏与教学

Experience: 24 years

拉琴时间：24年

When I first agreed to write this article for Anele, I wasn’t quite sure about how I should paint my story; I didn’t exactly know where to start and where to end. In the 29 years of my life, music is probably the thing that I’m most exposed with. In that case, I’ll tell you a story about my “Old Friend” and me.

当阿妮丽第一次跟我约这篇文章的时候，我并不知道如何去描述我自己的故事，从哪说起或者在哪结束。音乐也许是我这29年的人生里接触最多的事情了，那就来说说我和这位“老朋友”的故事吧。

When I was 5 years old, my mother pointed at a violin -which is now only as small as my forearm- and a sketchpad, asking, “which one would you choose?” Perhaps I am the type of person who doesn’t like sitting down all day, so I chose the option that requires less sitting and more standing: the violin. And this is how I got to know my “Old Friend”.

5岁时我的母亲指着一把现在只有我小臂大小的小提琴和一个画板问我：“你想选择哪一个？”可能我不太喜欢一直坐着，就选择了一直站着的小提琴。我和“老朋友”就这样相识了。

Then, after 15 years of intense practicing, I took the entrance examination to Shenyang Conservatory of Music, passed with the highest score and got enrolled in the Dalian Campus. After performing in an ensemble concert in my sophomore year, I realized that music is most likely the career that I’d like to devote my life to. I enjoy the feeling of performing music on stage, and I love every moment spent on creating wonderful melodies with my musical partners.

经历了15年苦练的时间我以专业课第一的成绩考入了沈阳音乐学院大连校区，在大学二年级的一场重奏音乐会后，让我彻底意识到可能音乐是我愿意为之付出一生去从事的职业。我享受在舞台上表现音乐的感觉，享受与伙伴一起创造出奇妙音乐的那一瞬间。

It’s been four years since I graduated college. I've got used to the company of this "Old Friend", and I want more people to know and understand it. For me, violin -or music- is no longer just a career path; it has become my way of life.

现在我毕业四年了，我已经习惯了有这位“老朋友”的陪伴，我也愿意让身边更多的人了解它，认识它。小提琴或者音乐对于我来说更多的已经不是我的职业，而就是我的生活方式。

There are names of meritorious teachers that I just have to mention: my first teacher, Teacher Su Dehai, my high school – college teacher, Teacher Shaowei. Also, the names of people who’ve helped me both in my musical and everyday lives: Xin Liang (the head of Dalian International Philharmonic Orchestra), Teacher Wang Haobing, and Teacher Guan Hongquan. I’d like you to know that you are all the best mentors and friends that I’ve ever had in my 24 years of musical journey.

I thank music for introducing me to you, and I thank life for bringing me to music.

从事音乐这24年，有几位不得不提到的老师，我的启蒙老师苏德海老师、我的高中大学老师邵维老师；还有大连国际爱乐乐团的辛亮团长、王浩冰老师、关宏泉老师，是他们给了我很大的帮助，不管是生活上还是音乐上，都是我的良师益友。

感谢音乐让我遇到了你们，感谢我邂逅了音乐。