(Previously on WYKAAO Forum)
admin Aug 15th 2008 edited
Excerpt from messages sent to WYKAAO from Mr. Hsueh's pupils and friends:
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(Class of 65, Vincent Lee Ping Chueng)
No doubt all of us are very sad to have lost such a dedicated fine teacher. I am just glad that I got to see him when I passed through Toronto few weeks ago, Thank you Andrew, Jimmy, and Ernest for accompanying me. He will live in my memory for ever, as that cheerful, robust, knowledgeable music teacher whom we nicknamed "Pork Man". He must have known that nickname, and I don't think he minded at all. This tune he taught us, in P.6 ( ?): "d d m m r r m, d m r t. d.........." (依啦啦) When I sang this song on stage, Adrian and I were the same height.....! Rest in peace, our beloved Hsueh Sir
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from James Tong (1965) in LA:
He symbolizes the best of Wah Yan -- that education is not only for academics, but taking the arts and whole person development seriously. I take immense pride that we staged 4 Gilbert and Sullivan operas (Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Mikado, Yeoman of the Guard) when we were in Wah Yan. No other high school in HK then, probably ever, has produced a single full opera in any language. And I don't think any of the 7 universities in HK has ever done so either. It requires a great commitment from Mr. Hsueh who would stay after school for 4-6 days a week for practice and rehearsals, and the actual week-long performance. In other years when we were not producing operas, there were also practicing for the HK Music Festival and join concerts with the Maryknoll Glee Club. As students, we just took these for granted.
I owe all my basic music education to Wah Yan, mostly to Mr. Hsueh, and also to the church choir, although less so. Now I can still read simple music scores, go to concerts, have friends who are composers, went to Juliard and Curtis, and play for the Cincinnati and Hong Kong Philharmonic. I have been invited to dinners to meet the musical director of Curtis, with the lead opera singers of "Dream of the Peony Pavilion" and with Bai Xianyong who produced the Kun opera, and hosted a banquet to honor Li Yundi, his parents and his teacher Dan Chaoyi. Tonight, I will dine with a colleague of Lang Lang. I am by no means the music elite. But my Wah Yan music education has prepared me well to associate with them. Much of this is the work of Mr. Hsueh.
You will note that I still write about Mr. Hsueh in the present tense. I have not accepted the cold fact that he has passed away. Vol. II of the Mei Bo selection of famous songs, our Wah Yan song book, is still on my book shelf. More than the song book, Mr. Hsueh will also be near me.
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from Chan Yiu Kwok (65) in Ottawa:
Mr. Wilson Hsueh in memoriam, fare thee well and RIP--My last "Lunch-Time Music" for you: Chinese guqin music 陽關三疊 / 古琴彈唱：喬珊 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QVHeqLbp30 J. Massenet: Ele'gie, Yury Frolov (double bass) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JHb1SdHWI0 R. Schumann: Der Nussbaum, Richard Tauber (baritone) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40uPuWUvmrs Amazing Grace, Jessye Norman (soprano) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nriIwK40_xw JS Bach: Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring, Randy Dunn (trumpet) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UkkrSI0soM
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from Gilbert Chinn (61) in Vancouver:
So sorry to hear the sad news of Mr. Hsueh. I pray for Mr. Hsueh.
Thanks for getting the wreath and card on behalf of Class 61
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from Martin Li (61) in Toronto:
Pls convey my deep condolence to Mr. Hsueh's family.
Let's all pray or his soul asking for God's mercy.
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from Don Yau (65) in Calgary:
Sorry to hear the sad news about Mr. Hsueh. Bless his soul. Please offer our condolences to Mr. Hsueh's family members. I'll certainly treasure my memory when visiting Mr. Hsueh at Mt. Sinai Hospital last November in Toronto.
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from Gus Yeung (65) in Chicago:
Thank you for letting us know. Our deepest sympathy to his daughter. Please let us know where we can make a donation in memory of Mr. Hsueh.
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acyho Aug 15th 2008
AndrewT and others, Thank you for visiting and the updates on Mr. Hsueh. I am inspired by how caring you are to our elderly teachers. May Mr. Hsueh rest in peace. HPK. (Hilary Lee, 65 from Vancouver)
acyho Aug 15th 2008 edited
Andrew,
Thank you for letting us know about this sad news. I am really sorry to see one of our greatest teacher has left us. Hsueh Sir definitely has influenced many of us in our lifes. His dedication has been an inspiring example to many of us. We will always remember him!
Larry Hsiung (65, from San Francisco)
acyho Aug 15th 2008 edited
I heard that Mr Hsueh, our beloved music teacher, passed away this morning (August 14). Please convey my condolences to his family members.
Mr Hsueh was one of the kindest and most approachable teachers I had met in WYK. He knew that I was not good at music (very weak indeed, for I am partially tone deaf), but he never gave me low marks. Thus he got me interested in reading about music instead of listening to music, and I believe that counted as music appreciation too. He was just doing what every true educator should aim to do.
We shall have a home-coming concert of WYK students and past students on 27 September. I shall mention Mr. Hsueh at the opening speech as a tribute to him. He was one of the most important founders of music education and activities in the school. I am sure he can rest in peace, for music is very popular among our students and they have gained international recognition too. Our school choir has been invited to give a public performance in Beijing at the "Xiaojudan" (Little Giant Egg) in late September. I hope Mr. Hsueh will be watching both events from Heaven.
Norman So (65, from Hong Kong)
acyho Aug 15th 2008
To Hsueh Sir - our beloved music teacher and friend - you taught us to sing and to appreciate music - you gave us precious ways to lick our wounds and nurture our souls along our paths. Tell us there is music where you are, and that you are in heaven listening to and making music! YK, thank you for your lovely and touching selections in this last "Lunch-Time Music"! Stephen Lee (65, from San Francisco)
acyho Aug 15th 2008
I remember him well as a good and caring music teacher. I particularly appreciated the lunch time music that he organized in the auditorium. May he rest in peace and in God's keeping. Let us say Psalm 23 together for him: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Amen JY (John Yu, 65 in Vancouver)
acyho Aug 15th 2008
I am no good at finding the right words. all i can remember after this many years about you is your crew cut hair and your round smiling face. actually i do not remember i ever see you without your smile.
i remember you standing facing us at the left front corner of the auditorium where we had our lessons. i kind of see you there still leading all of us on singing this and that song.
what songs i no longer remember. but i remember you.
andrew (chiang, 65 from York, UK)
acyho Aug 15th 2008
I am relieved that he no longer has to suffer the pain anymore . Although I am music deaf and tongue twisted in singing , I still enjoy his music class.
from CK Chan (65, in LA)
acyho Aug 15th 2008
Thank you for your email message about the sad passing away of Mr. Wilson Hsueh R.I.P. He was a gifted music teacher and Wah Yan was blessed having his generous service. He will be remembered by his many colleagues and students with appreciation and gratitude.
We will remember him and his family in our prayers.
Alfred J. Deignan S.J.
Hin-Shing Wong Aug 16th 2008
Mr. Hsueh never taught me, but through his guidance and help at WYK, our small group of classical music lovers (class year 1961) benefited a lot in our understanding of classical music.
Mr. Hsueh had lived in Toronto for many years and he was very keen on attending WYK functions. However, he lived quite far away from our favorite "WYK" restaurant - New World. He would have to rely on someone picking him up to attend the functions and afterwards driving him back home. For many years, I, among many other schoolmates, drove him either to the functions and/or drive him back home.
It pained me a lot during the years to notice how much frailer he got as years gone by. For those schoolmates who had attended the reunion dinners in the last few years when Mr. Hsueh was present, you would have noticed that Mr. Hsueh did not stand up straight. His body was more like half of a rectangle - his upper trunk was almost parallel to the ground. (He wasn't like that much earlier on.)
I remember in the Toronto 2005 61 Grads reunion, we invited Mr. Hsueh, Mr. Ho, Mr. Mui and Mr. Tam to our Gala Dinner. I remember driving Mr. Hsueh both ways and he was very happy.
Then the next day came the shock. He fell down, badly. I don't remember exactly - he might have gone to the hospital for emergency treatment. I felt very bad that day. If we hadn't invited him to our Gala dinner, perhaps he might not have fallen down.
Anyway, with luck, Mr. Hsueh was still able to attend reunion dinners - until the last year or so.
Mr. Hsueh was a very kindly person and very easily approachable. On the phone, we talked a lot. He cared about me a lot. Since I lived alone, he worried about my not having enough to eat or not being able to take care of myself.
Mr. Hsueh, I miss you! May you rest in peace!
Your former student,
Hin-Shing
acyho Aug 16th 2008
We will all miss Mr Hsueh.
And I am grateful to WYK for the compulsory music lessons, which later proved invaluable to my life.
Christopher Leung (71, from Brisbane, Australia)
Larry Yip Aug 16th 2008
It was not long ago that I spoke to Mr. Hsueh on the telephone. Although he said he was wheelchair bound, he sounded cheerful and positive and he was very glad that a former student was actually doing household chores for him at his home. After all these years, Mr. Hsueh is still remembered and talked about as a wonderful music teacher. Thanks to him, I have won numerous compliments and singing awards everywhere I travel. Once in a while, when I coach other people to sing (oldies pop-songs of the 60's), I always inform them that their real Sifu is Mr. Hsueh Wei-Shiang of Toronto, not me.
Prof. James Tong has made some very valid comments about Mr. Hsueh in relation to WYK education in his Paragraph One. Well said, James. Amen to that.
In the golden days at Wah Yan, I have only seen the kind gentleman get mad once. A smart-alec classmate asked if he could borrow our music teacher's "pork knife" for usage. He got what he deserved -- detention. This classmate is now a Clinical Psychologist / Psychiatrist practising in the USA. Nevertheless, it sounded pretty daring and funny at that particular moment forty something years ago.
Mr. Hsueh has found eternal peace. No more pain and sufferings for him. He will always live in my heart.
Larry Yip (1967, Vancouver, BC)
acyho Aug 17th 2008
Thank you YK for your selections offered for Hsueh Sir's final "Lunch Time Music", and for your helpful Notes. Today afternoon, I found a quiet moment when everyone was out of the house to listen to them all. It brought tears to my eyes at the "...西出楊關無故人", although I am sure at the end of his lonely journey, Hsueh Sir would be in very good company of all his former colleagues, priests, and even students from WYK. After I finished listening to all your selections, I sat here in silence in front of my screen. Just like AndrewC said, "I remember......". I remember the very first lunch time music I attended. Hsueh Sir's selection for us on that occasion was the now very familiar "Peter and the Wolf". He took great pains to explain to us the story plot, the individual instruments, and the reason he picked that piece: because it has all the major instruments in an orchestra.
I had no spending money at WYK. After I came to Canada, as soon as I had some extra money (from part time work) while still in school, the very first "luxury" item I went out to buy was a large plastic recording of Peter and the Wolf. I kept it all these years. I went down to the basement, dug it out of my bookshelf, dusted it off, and played it......, on a record player I had not touched for unknown years. And I enjoyed the music, and the story, just like the first time I heard it. Unlike you and Jimmy, and may be a few others not known to me, most of us are not "musicians". But somehow from this great teacher, we learned to appreciate and love music, in one form or another. Just as the professor said, it's not just the music, it's the education and the "spirit" of the education that Hsueh Sir was, and still is, part and partial of, during that part of our lives at WYK when we needed it most. To the memory of our music teacher, our beloved Hsueh Sir: Thank you for the music. Thank you for the songs. Thank you for your love and your passion in opening our little ears to the wonderful world of music! Thank you for a job so well done! Rest now in peace in the glorious eternal music of the Lord's heavenly melodies! VincentPC (65, Edmonton)
Larry Yip Aug 18th 2008
The following is a song that Mr. Hsueh taught us back in the early 60's. It's called The Music Makers. I may not be 100 percent correct with the lyrics. Allow me to share this piece with you, my fellow Wahyanites:
Come music makers rouse up a song To set the echoes ringing A song of truth In the hearts of youth A song for the joy of singing Saying front the hill with heart of courage Till the long rough journey's done Till you join in that last mighty song The goal of your hoping won Then sing, sing, Music Makers A song for the joy of the singing For the joy of the singing
In his own unique way, Mr. Hsueh has inspired many of us through music. I am grateful.
Larry Yip (1967, Vancouver, BC)
acyho Aug 18th 2008
I do remember sharing potato salad, lots of mayonaise, with Hsueh Sir in class picnics (I dont remember why he was there in the class picnic since he was never my class teacher). He told me it was his favourite dish (and mine as well).
One of my proud moments in WYK days ... when Hsueh Sir switched me from the boy section of the choir to the 'men' section ! Hsueh Sir passing triggers this... "What though the radiance which was once so bright; Be for ever taken from my sight; Though nothing can bring back the hour; Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower..." Yes, like Andrew said... I remember you Sir. Edwin Tse (65, Ottawa)
admin Aug 19th 2008
Mr. Hsueh taught me how to do the scaling and how to memorize key signatures in music class in Primary 6, 1961. I miss him when I learnt that he passed away. May God bless him and his family members.
Chuen Siu Shan
jmvsfung Aug 19th 2008
I had sung in two school choirs headed by Mr Hsueh between 1972 and 1975 at WYK. In 1974, he departed us for Canada, which I did not quite understand at the time. But after June 1989 I did it myself to Australia via New Zealand, I then certainly know why and believe neither of us will regret our decisions to quit our homeland.
I visited Canada for the first time in late 2006, including Vancouver and Toronto. However, I did not use that opportunity to see Mr Hsueh and perhaps other teachers who had migrated there. I regret that now, for I cannot see him again during this life, though he might not remember me, a student of many he had taught before, at all.
Anyway, I am sure that the late Mr Hsueh will find peace in Canada rather than in present China.
Bob Fung (1975, Sydney, Australia)
Bill Fang Aug 20th 2008
Mr Hsueh was always a big part of my life at WYK. Starting in p. 6, I was in the choir every year, acted in three of the Gilbert & Sullivan operetta, and an enthusiast of the lunch-time music sessions. For me, he was one of the hardest working teachers. Most of all, I remember him for his extraordinary kindness, friendliness, generosity and, not least of all, patience (in dealing with us bunches of monkeys).
The first thing that crossed my mind (besides sadness) when I heard of his passing was - this is a gentleman ! He was an integral part of the rare education experience we received from Wah Yan. On top of all the things, academic and extra-curricular, we had role models. Mr Hsueh showed us how natural and noble it is to be dedicated and considerate, tolerant and sincere, warm and personable.
He also trully treated us "kids" as equals. It still makes me smile every time I think of how he would plead with us to stop making jokes and seriously giving him a good performance and, because he was such a nice guy, we would deliver (eventually). Because of his gentle ways and understanding, we learned respect, both for others and ourselves. In the end, his character would deliver the tour de force results -- we, his students, became enriched by the beauty and joy of music. To this day, I am so blessed with the enjoyment of this element that moves the soul. And I know who gave me that blessing.
I was particularly disturbed when I heard of his physical suffering towards the end. I am relieved now, knowing that he has passed onto eternal bliss. I know this man is happy and exalted and, doubtlessly, bathing in divine harmony.
Sid Sir -- we all love you. Bill Fang 1967
acyho Aug 28th 2008
Remembrance of Mr. Wilson Hsueh
Mr. Wilson Hsueh was our beloved music teacher at Wah Yan. We called him 薛 Sir. We all remember him as kind, patient, and approachable, a gifted musician, but above all, an educator dedicated to teaching his students the joy of music, regardless of their musical talents.
In the Forum entitled Share Your Memories of Mr. Wilson Hsueh, some students described how his lunch time music program opened their ears. Others mentioned how his kindness and perseverence brought out the best in students’ music performances. We used to take the annual staging of a Gilbert and Sullivan opera for granted. In reality, it was 薛 Sir’s extraordinary dedication and commitment, doing many hours of after-school choir practice and rehearsals, that made it possible. Copies of student tributes are available for your keep-sake, or you can read the tributes at the wykontario website.
In Toronto, 薛 Sir participated in many of the activities organized by the Wah Yan Alumni Association. He was so happy in the midst of his students. Even when his health deteriorated, he made every effort to come to our gatherings. We shall all miss him so much.
薛 Sir, we love you. We know you are now in heaven, looking down upon us with your characteristic smile, encouraging us and blessing us to be the best we can be.
Raymond Kwong Class of 1966
acyho Aug 28th 2008
Wilson Hsueh Wei-Shiang (1924~2008) R.I.P.
Mr. Wilson Hsueh Wei-Shiang was born in Tianjin, China in 1924. He went to Hong Kong in early fifties and started his teaching career.
In 1958, he became the music master of Wah Yan College, Kowloon, a school run by the Irish Jesuits. Since music was a compulsory course in grades 6, 7 and 8, he taught singing and theory to over 400 pupils. Besides teaching, he conducted the intermediate and senior choirs. The intermediate choir consisted of 60 boys from grades 9 and 10; the senior choir equal number of boys from grades 11 and 12. All students were proud of their school choirs which always came in the top three places in the annual Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. To promote music education in school, he produced four Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Mikado, and Yeoman of the Guard. In the winter time, he introduced local artists to his weekly lunch time music programme which would attract students to fill up the 400 seats in the school auditorium. He was also active in the local music circle. He was a leading baritone and occasional conductor of the famous Barbara Fei Choral Group which was a popular feature at concerts, radio and TV shows.
To pursue his musical quest, he obtained F.T.C.L. from Trinity College and L.R.S.M from the Royal Schools of Music in England. He also studied under the late Professor Chao Mei-Pa. In September, 1967, he took a 2-year study leave to go to Mansfield State University in Penn. and graduated with a master degree in music education. He then furthered his studies at Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, where he received diplomas in music history and singing performance.
Upon his return to Hong Kong in 1969, he resumed his teaching post at Wah Yan College. He became more active in the local music scene. He was a host of a Chinese programme at the Radio Hong Kong introducing classical music. He had a weekly column in Sing Tao Evening News, which was the most popular evening newspaper. His writings were well received by music lovers.
In 1974, he settled in Toronto and became a teacher with the Toronto Board of Education until his retirement in the nineties. He continued his music affairs with his church choirs and appeared often as adjudicator for music competition. In 1990, he was invited back to Hong Kong as an adjudicator for the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.
In July, 1999, his former students had another chance of hearing their former music master singing again at the Gala dinner to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Wah Yan Kowloon. They felt once again the warmth of music coming from their teacher.
During his last lap of his journey in this world, whenever I visited him at Gibson Long Term Care Centre, he would ask me to tune in to FM96.3. With music floating in his room, he was more comfortable and relaxed. May he rest in Peace.
Anthony Ho
acyho Aug 28th 2008 edited
追念薛偉祥老師 (1924 – 2008)
薛偉祥老師於1924年在天津出世。在50年代初來香港，先在灣仔端正中學任教，其後轉往九龍華仁書院任教音樂。他是一位資深和多才多藝的音樂家和音樂教師。他曾獲英國聖三一學院及皇家音樂學院頒授 F.T.C.L 及L.R.S.M 音樂專業銜。他又曾師事趙梅伯教授。又於1969 年往美國賓西尼亞州大學進修，獲音樂教育碩士。其後又往歐洲奥大利亞進修，獲音樂史及演唱專業文憑。
他是在1958年加入華仁書院為音樂科主任。他在九華的十六年間，為同學們的音樂造詣建立了良好的風範。
由薛偉祥老師指導下的九華合唱團的演出，在每年香港學際音樂節的比賽中都是名列前三名的。
每年冬季，他又組織午間音樂會，邀請名家在學校禮堂演唱，因為他當時活躍香港樂壇，與音樂界名家來往甚密。他是當年著名的中音歌唱家，同時亦曾為當年在廣播電台和電視演出的費明儀合唱團担任指揮。他又在星島晚報撰寫每週音樂專欄，極為當年讀者愛戴。
薛偉祥老師又為當年演出的四駒英國著名歌劇 Pirates of Penzance, Iolanthe, Mikado, and Yeoman of the Guard 的音樂指揮。當時薛老師在台前指揮歌唱，我則在後台帶着一班華仁美術社的同學担任佈景，燈光，化妝等幕後工作。因此我常有机会看薛老師指揮音樂。我非常佩服薛老師的音樂造詣和指揮工作。他對音調的感覺非常敏銳。他對歌唱的演出非常嚴緊。他對糾正合唱團團員的發声錯誤很有耐性，但他從不會用責備的語氣。所以同學們都很信服和敬愛他。
可能音樂與美術同樣是藝術科目，在學校時我和薛老師常在一起‧後來他移民往加拿大多倫多，我也常常往探望他。我們两人談起往事時，同樣鈎起與同學們一起活動時，陣陣愉快的回憶。他常對我說：在華仁教書的那一段時光，是他一生最愉快和難忘的日子。其实他在生時音樂教育所做的工作和貢献，留給我們美好回憶的事還多着呢！
今日薛老師息勞歸主，願他的靈魂獲主的恩寵得到安息。
Laurence Tam
acyho Oct 25th 2008 edited
Sunday, December 9, 2007
前天，难得母亲有自己的节目，趁机和女朋友约会，到多伦多市中心走走。培英和我不约而同决定去看薛伟祥老师。考虑到交通拥挤的问题，我们选择了坐地铁。 到医院时已经是下午两点半，薛老师正安详地睡着。 静静地看了他一会儿，把他吵醒，不如先喝杯咖啡吧！ 再回到1711房间时，已是3点15分，汤维强在和薛老师通话。 相信薛老师想休息会儿，他把电话推给培英。 老汤用尽法宝，从培英处套出许多私隐，并公诸于世，以后我会报复的！
手机刚挂上，邓伟燊又来了电话。随后，一位行动不便的冯老太太，在一个年纪较轻的女士陪同下来看望薛老师。半小时后，我们才能单独和薛老师聊聊天。话题不知怎样转到中学的音乐课，我便自告奋勇，唱一首从薛老师学来的赵梅伯选曲。 自两次声带手术后，我只能用假声唱。Nightingale 只唱了一句， "Last night， the nightingale woke me....."，薛老师便哭了。 他说不知那是欢喜的泪或是悲伤的泪。 我也隐含泪珠，不问究竟，就算是我俩共同分享过往的一刻所激发的甜酸苦辣吧！ 再唱 Juanita...... Soft o'er the fountain, ling'ring falls the southern moon....时，薛老师仍在流泪，因记忆所限，也不愿意使他太激动，我便让 "...lean thou on my heart." 终止这短短的回忆共享。
当天是薛老师第一次谈起他的两个女儿。他担心医院要他离开时，他不能回到自己的住处， 说他的女儿在替他申请进住疗养院。我说我和邓伟燊都有这方面的经验，愿意协助Susan 和 Gigi 办这事儿, 并把电话和电邮地址留了给他。 对电子空间薛老师不明所以，在我讲解后，他大叹世物的剧变，今非昔比！
临走前，薛老师让培英和我把要喝的水添满，报纸和其他常用物品放在应手的地方，才和我们道别。
敏康