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Talent and class
Daron Letts
Serenade features Duong's recordings of classical pieces from around the world, including works by Vietnamese, Spanish and Italian composers.
"Music is kind of like an international language," Duong said. He is donating all the profits to the Canadian Cancer Society. "A family member of ours has breast cancer and a close friend of the family had colon cancer and died after three months of knowing," he said. "After that I decided the money would go to the Canadian Cancer Society." Hip hop artist and DJ Aaron "Godson" Hernandez recorded and mixed the 14 tracks. Duong said the rapper's patience and attention to detail helped make the CD happen. "He was like family to us," he said. Duong received a grant from the NWT Arts Council to help with recording costs. The CD will debut during a release party on Oct. 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. at William MacDonald school. At 13, classical guitarist Lyndon Duong has accomplished more than many musicians achieve in a lifetime. More importantly, he's having a great time doing it. At age seven, Duong spied a guitar in the window of Fiddles and Stix and asked his dad, Bac-Ai, if he could get it. That December he received his first guitar, along with a beginner's book. Within two years, the self-taught musician was playing for audiences at his school and church. At age nine, Caribou Capers provided his first big audience. Duong has played at Raven Mad Daze, Festival of the Midnight Sun, the Aurora Festival, Canada Day celebrations and twice at Folk on the Rocks. "After each performance I feel that I have shared with the people something enjoyable that I have learned," he said. The highlight of his career, so far, came earlier this summer when he appeared on CTV's Canada AM. It wasn't his first national audience, though. Last winter, his music played on Jurgen Gothe's CBC radio program, Disc Drive. For any solo musician, playing on stage can be intimidating. With the support of his family and friends in the music community, however, Duong is learning to love the creative pressure of the spotlight. "I'm a bit nervous on the drive there, but when I finally get on stage, it's like there's nothing there but me, the guitar and the microphone," he said. "When it's over, it feels like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and someone lifted it off you. You feel like you accomplished something." Visiting teachers Although there aren't any classical guitar teachers in Yellowknife to guide him, he's benefitted from visiting instructors over the years. He took private lessons from Spanish flamenco guitarist Juan Martin when the musician visited Yellowknife for last year's Folk on the Rocks. This year the festival connected him with Brazilian virtuoso Celso Machado for a private lesson in Duong's home. He continues to acquire more guitar books and download sheet music off the Internet, practising for an hour every day. When discussing his music, Duong never fails to thank the people who help him along, including his family, friends, fellow musicians and the organizations that sponsored his upcoming CD. It's his positive attitude, as much as his musical talent, that makes this young man a star in our community.
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