This year’s Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival (APHF) holds special meaning for me. Ever since I first competed with a tremolo harmonica as a junior high student in 2006, this stage has been a nurturing ground for countless talented harmonica players across Asia—and it continues to grow stronger. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to perform and participate in events around the region, absorbing new inspiration along the way. But since the festival was held in Taiwan in 2016, I hadn’t had the chance to return—until now.
I’m truly grateful to the festival chairman and Mr. Kong from EASTTOP for inviting Sirius Harmonica Ensemble back to this meaningful stage. From the moment I stepped into the venue, I could feel how much things had evolved. Even just listening to contestants warming up around the halls, it was clear the level of competition had risen significantly—both in skill and in numbers. This growth is a testament to the solid foundation laid by the harmonica pioneers before us, as well as the dedication of today’s educators and organisers who continue to nurture the harmonica scene.
After a few years of working on DMing Studio as an online platform, I finally started to see some real-world results. At the festival, I had the pleasure of meeting harmonica players who came up to say hi after recognising me from the videos I’ve made. I also connected with outstanding ensembles from different regions and had some great exchanges with fellow musicians. It was a heartwarming and rewarding experience. I'm also thankful to the harmonica manufacturers who’ve placed their trust in me—I left the festival with six new or rare harmonicas to unbox and test, plus one that I’ll be customising. Stay tuned for videos coming soon!
The biggest challenge on this trip? Juggling 4+1 performances: our main concert in the grand hall, a featured concert in ZhuTang Town, the Young & Vibrant concert, the closing ceremony, and a massive joint performance with top players from across Asia. To make things even trickier, I had been under the weather in late July and early August—not only with a cold, but also a persistent cough that made practicing difficult, especially during the Seoul Harmonica Festival right before this one. Recovery came first, and I had to rely on rest and medication. Thankfully, by the time I arrived at APHF, my body was feeling much better and the coughing had eased.
Looking back, the APHF featured concert and the closing ceremony were where I felt the most in sync—and truly enjoyed performing. I even received positive feedback from several international players afterward, which meant a lot to me.But the highlight for me was the Young & Vibrant concert. Sirius opened the show, followed by a stellar lineup: the magnetic and emotionally rich sounds of Jang Li and Yao Rong, the imaginative original music from Magic Voice, the dynamic visuals and choreography of Fresco, and the subtle, expressive playing of Judy’s. These are all friends and fellow performers I’ve shared many festival stages with over the years. We’ve grown together, inspired each other, and pushed each other to improve—it felt like a reunion of kindred spirits. If you weren’t there in person, honestly, you missed something special.I’m also deeply grateful to all the friends and music lovers who came to support us, to every crew member who helped make the concerts possible, and to our sound engineer Ming Hsun—thank you for shaping a soundscape that allowed our ensemble to perform at our best.That said, between rehearsals and performances, I ended up missing a few shows I had really hoped to catch. It’s always a tough balance to strike—but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.
