Meet Sylvia Huang – a big concert, a first album and a great future

When the hall rose to applaud her on 24 September in Flagey, Sylvia Huang had stars in her eyes. And in her head, she already had a lot of images and snapshots that have marked her career as an artist. From her first contact with a violin, at the age of 3 under the benevolent eye of her father, a teacher, to this concert, one of the most important in her young career.

First album

“Playing in such a prestigious hall was a very special moment,” confides the young woman born in Etterbeek. “It was the perfect place to present my very first album, co-produced with my pianist colleague Eliane Reyes. It was very moving, because it was also in this room that we recorded it.”

The title of the album? ‘Lointain passé’. The first masterpiece by an artist whose future seems assured.

Standing on her own two feet

Sylvia Huang has been making a living from music since she was 18. After two years with the Belgian National Orchestra, she joined the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest Amsterdam in 2014, where she still plays the violin.

She is now starting to make her own way. Not least thanks to the support of Flagey, and its ‘Flagey, Entre Chien et Loup’ programme, which aims to give young artists a helping hand by offering them a stage, recordings or compositional assignments at a key moment in their career. But not only that.

“The first major turning point in my life as an artist was my participation in the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2019,” explains the winner of the two public prizes and one of the laureates. “It gave me confidence, helped me develop my musical identity, and opened a lot of doors for me.”

Always looking for inspiration

Sylvia Huang makes a point of constantly seeking new sources of inspiration.

“I love going to museums. I’m particularly fond of painting,” she says. “I also often go for walks in nature. It arouses my thoughts. But sometimes the best sources of inspiration are the men and women around you: a music teacher, a colleague, someone close to you... You have to listen to everything and everyone to keep improving.”

Any advice for young artists?

At 27, Sylvia Huang already has a lot of experience in the music world. What advice would she give to artists trying to make it?

“It’s a cliché, but true: they have to know that their journey will be made of ups and downs, and never give up. One of the keys to doing this, in my opinion, is not to compare oneself too much with others. Everyone follows a different path, at their own pace. To progress, you have to focus on the things you can control: giving your best every day,” concludes Sylvia.

Helping young artists to develop and become known is also what Positive Banking is all about.

Watch an extract from Sylvia Huang’s concert on 24 September in Flagey.

Find out more about BNP Paribas Fortis and culture.