WHEN I WAS A STUDENT WITH SIMON TRPCHESKI: SOME THOUGHT THAT I WAS A NERD. I WORKED HARD BUT I ALSO PLAYED HARD

Simon Trpcheski surely had no dilemmas as to whether he should enroll at the University of Music Arts. It was perfectly natural for this high school musical education of this virtuoso to continue his musical education at the music academy. Given that he graduated with an average grade of 10 or cum laude, then it is no problem to assume that the professors were more than happy to have him present on their lectures. He says: My professors know best what type of student I was.

-However, even if it seems a bit immodest I will tell you that I was always the professional type. As the first in my generation and in high school, at FMU as well I was a student with honors, grade 10. I was the youngest docent in the history of the University, at least this is what they told me-Trpcheski says.

He studied a lot for his harmony test

He does not really remember the entrance exams but says that for him it was very natural to have yet another performance as his entrance test because the prom test was shortly before that. He remembers that in returning from the competition in Moscow he was not too worried about the piano exam but studied for his Macedonian language exam in order not to mess things up. He always wanted to complete his commitments properly and on time, not just because anyone asked him to but just because he wanted to. He admits that there were times when he wanted to skip class because of the nature and the weight of his job and the successes that he had already started accomplishing.

-Just like any other human being, I had times when I had had it but still, I always finished my obligations. I remember that I studied a great deal (constantly for 5 days) before my harmony exam because I liked the class and second, I did not wish to embarrass myself in front of the Prof. Zhivojin Glishic whom I respected and admired a great deal because of his knowledge and reputation he had with the other students. And five days before that I was with Prof. Romanov with an exceptional piece such as the Goldberg Variations of Bach. My head was spinning but it was really fun. And the class was done and I scored best in my group and I was proud and happy for getting the answers correctly-says Simon.

Psychology was one of his favorite classes

The piano lessons were the most important ones for him and occupied a special place during his studies. He liked the class harmony as well, solfège was fun and he enjoyed also the classes with Prof. Blagoj Canev.

-At the harmony lessons I sometimes attended and after the classes I would analyze some of the works and Glishich would check them. I did it with a great deal of joy. I would sit at home by my bed and I would eat sweets and I would do harmony analysis of Chapin and Rahmaninov. It is a good thing I did not turn into a pig. Prof. Glishich wrote Preludium and Pajdushka inspired by me and became the most performed composer from Macedonia with almost 120 performances of his work throughout the world.

He also had fun at his history of music lessons and he liked the sense of humor of Prof. Sotir Golabovski.

-There was a great deal to be learned from the modern thinking of Prof. Dimitrije Buzharovski and his class on music forms and in general from his visions that were not conservative some of which, unfortunately he could not see through due to reasons known only to him-Trpcheski says.

Our piano master also says that he has special appreciation and respect for his psychology professor, Tatjana Takashmanova-Sokolovska.

-I respected her a great deal and her class, psychology and unfortunately this class is not yet put on a pedestal to be one of the first ranked classes in our education and social living, a fact that has deteriorated human beings and has made Macedonians worse than they are. I would like to refer to my pedagogy professor, Snezhana Adamchevska and Denko Skalovski the philosophy professor.  It was fun being at their classes. People knew what they were doing and teaching and were professionals in their field. The methodology class of Prof. Todor Svetiev was also a very good class and I would also like to mention Prof. Tome Manchev who we knew from the high school from his lessons on form and counter punctuation who always made everything fun. With his knowledge and his Gevgelija disposition and the special motivation from the Polish composer and conductor Witold Lutoslawski he motivated us to be created-Trpchevski reminisces.

He added that he is a bit sorry that he did not choose ethnology but folk music and all of it was always inside him and he never lost interest in it. On the contrary, my new project Makedonissimo is the result of it! –he asserts.

-He says that he did not care about the grades but that he tried to learn but that the results came with this desire. He admits that in cases of injustice he would protest and he explains this “with his revolutionary blood that he has from two important sides of Macedonia”.

We motivated him to remind us of some jokes from his studies.

-Well, there was a moment when Prof. Glishich asked a question about tertiary accords and when I stopped to think in order not to get the answer wrong and I just muttered something and he asked me: Excuse me? “I replied-No, no, I am just thinking out loud professor. And he replied with his cynical tone: Wow, this is how Sime thinks is it now?-and this made everyone laugh and made me nervous. However, on the other hand it was ok for me because I knew how to channel this. Three out of four answers I got right and the fourth one was always the answer I would stop to think about and I do not even remember if I said this but solfege was my enjoyment. I always had my hand up to answer when Prof. Canev would ask us something about some questions and he would ask me to put my hand down. When Prof. Golabovski taught music in the ancient ages he told us how the trumpeters of the time would receive an award or respect when they would announce an event or victory of some sort. And he turned at me and said –Aren’t you a bit sorry you play the piano now, colleague?

The costume performance of the entire class of Prof. Romanov from the suite of Prof. Buzharovski at the hall of the Faculty is an event he will never forget. It was colorful and full of positive energy. At one point on one of the performances I appeared with my sunglasses because I was to perform the 20^th century attitude.

Congratulations from Prince Charles

In his second year of his studies he had a great success when he won the second place at the big international competition for pianists in London and he worked quite hard for it. It was at the beginning of his international career and normally, it affected his life as a student.

-Of course it was a great responsibility for me. I remember that the then PM Ljubco Georgievski with one word, in a very spontaneous and unexpected manner, helped me complete my travel expenses that my parents could not really afford. And my father was relieved. I will not forget this. I still remember that at the time I was about to check in at the reception in London the prices there were more than high and extreme to us. In any case, I gave everything I had to be professional and I had the support of my professor-says Simon.

The fact that he was one of the three finalists and that he was able to perform with the London Philharmonic at the Royal Festival Hall an institution he had only heard and read about before was as if he could fly-he says.

-My joy was more than obvious in the finals. I simply enjoyed and I took the opportunity to feel on the stage and to be on the stage with the orchestra. I did not really care whether I would win an award or not. I was just simply, happy. Imagine, from a small country….on that stage…Fantasy!!! The mixed feelings and the shouts of the audience for the second prize did not bother my pride or my joy. The fact that my father was there as the only member of my family was even greater joy for me-the pianist recalls.

Since then he started cooperating with the managing house and the first big international performances started. When the competition ended, Trpcheski met Prince Charles who admitted to him that out of the three finalists, Simon was his favorite.

-This of course, is a great honor, because he has been taught cello according to the royal protocol. I was more than thrilled with this comment and I am thankful to the Prince for it.

I am sorry I did not live in the dormitory for a while

After this big experience his commitments increased and he simply could not do many of the things that are normal for most students.

-Sometimes I am sorry I did not live at least a little bit in the student’s dormitory, not because of the conditions but because of the spirit and the socializing and because the conditions there were an inspiration to many of my colleagues. However, I never gave up on the pleasures of life. On the contrary, I worked hard but I played hard too. And the ones who know me, know this about me. Many thought I was a nerd and it is true, I did not go out for coffee every day after classes but this does not mean I did not live my life. I was going out when I wanted to. But always with a limit, as my father would say. I knew very well how to organize my time and my friends were great and I always managed to make a balance. It is the guideline and it is what I do today too. So in addition to my concerts, I live my life to the fullest and what is more, I enjoy its riches. I just came from Brazil via South Africa, but I drink coffee on rooftops in Sao Paolo and I attend samba lessons, I walk with coconut water along the Lake in Bello Horizonte and I am organizing a party in Amsterdam and a tour in Kyoto for eating sushi and drinking sake. I organize water entertainment parties for my kids in Switzerland and lunches in ethno restaurants throughout our wonderful Macedonia –Trpcheski says.

Of course, the question appeared as to how his colleagues reacted to his successes.

-Well I was congratulated. I was never a person that gave any meaning to certain expressions, even if they existed. For me it is poverty of the soul. A person should be happy to successes of any kind, it is how one feeds the soul-he said.

He graduated in 2002 and two years later he finished his masters.

-I believe that during the World Football Championship when Ronaldinio gave the fantastic goal I was preparing Tchaikovsky and within 10 days I had the two exams, the concert and the orchestra on very high temperatures. Every final phase in education was a sort of challenge for me due to various characters of some persons but it always ended well and this is due to the great support I had from my family. On November 9^th 2004 I had my masters exam, two parts in one at the Universal Hall. It was wonderful.  It was my premiere of Pajdushka I believe and I dedicated it to Prof. Romanov who learned to love Macedonian music and my peak was when they asked my father about giving a statement before or after the concert, I don’t recall: What are the first three words that come to mind tonight, at such a night? –my father said “I am Happy!”, to be honest, I would never think of an answer like that!-Trpcheski says.

He says that luck is always with him.

-I seek it and I create it and people notice it about me. In Brazil and in San Diego before that and in the aircraft with an African American flight attendant a people that is also as natural as we our and with the Egyptian at the reception in Essen in Germany when I gave him a card he was happy and all the Japanese that waited for me after the concerts and the tour-my point is is that we should be happy and embrace life, as much as we can! -Trpcheski says.

A thing that made him especially proud is the meeting with his student Izabella to whom Trpcheski taught methodology.

-I have good memories from the first lessons with the student Izabela who I saw about a month or so after many years. She managed to learn to play seven compositions at the first final concert of the year when we worked. She has turned into a beautiful young lady.