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Bryan Charles Wilson is known as a cellist, film composer, educator, and author of the books Cello Chords, Beginner String Jams, and Advanced String Jams, from New Jersey, USA. He performs cello in a variety of musical styles, from classical and rock to hip-hop and electronic music. He has composed and released three solo albums: Oso Perezoso and Inner Peace. and Kaia.
"What I'm trying to convey is a sense of healing, empathy, and compassion through my playing," Bryan Charles Wilson said.
Speaking to Travellive, artist Bryan Charles Wilson said: "You can hear and feel my music in films, commercials, dance performances, puppet shows, stage productions, and animated films... As the founder of Bryan Wilson Cello Studio, I teach students classical cello technique, improvisation, composition, and music production. My books are used by professionals worldwide and serve as a resource for creative cellists."
Recently, Bryan Charles Wilson, a Vietnamese son-in-law, performed alongside many Vietnamese artists at a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership, organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi on the evening of July 26th. He performed many Vietnamese musical pieces, accompanied by the sounds of the zither, the bầu lute, and electronic music.
His special love for Vietnamese culture took root since he married his Vietnamese wife, Bui Tuyet Minh, a pioneer in introducing dance movement therapy to Vietnam.
American cellist Bryan Charles Wilson (in blue shirt) and Vietnamese artists performed at a concert celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Partnership, organized by the US Embassy in Hanoi on the evening of July 26th.
Travellive had a conversation with American cellist Bryan Charles Wilson.
Reporter (R): What led you to the cello? What has kept you pursuing and persevering with the cello until now?
Bryan Charles Wilson: My grandfather was a saxophone player, and when I was little, I often watched him perform and dreamed of becoming one. When I was in third grade, the school gathered students in a studio to try playing three different instruments. The teachers watched and evaluated our performances, even though none of us had ever played before. I decided to try the drums first, but felt the melody wasn't very good, so the teacher gave me another chance. Impressed with the cello, I tried playing a few notes, and the teacher highly praised my performance.
Bryan Charles Wilson is known as a cellist, film composer, educator, and author of the book Cello Chords, from New Jersey, USA.
Ultimately, I chose to try playing the saxophone because I genuinely wanted to play an instrument like him. However, when I played, my teachers were all displeased and advised me against it. This was very disappointing. After that, I decided to choose the cello instead, considering it my destiny.
PV: We understand that you've performed cello in a variety of musical settings, from classical and rock to hip-hop and electronic music. Were there any difficulties in combining these genres?
Bryan Charles Wilson:I don't find it difficult to blend different genres. Some people call themselves jazz cellists, classical cellists, or bluegrass cellists. I'm not any of those because I don't fit into any particular genre. All I try to do is be true to myself and use music to connect my inner world with others.
I've always felt the urge to break free and try to do something different. Besides playing classical music, I also learned songwriting, improvisation, music production... all of that has honed and shaped me into who I am today, and I try to instill that versatility in my students. These days, it's difficult to make a living as a musician, so you have to be adaptable and possess a wide range of musical skills.
PV: As a cellist, composer, music educator, and author of the renowned book Cello Chords, how many works have you composed to date? And what are your plans for the future?
Bryan Charles Wilson:I've released three solo albums and will soon be officially releasing "Tri Am," which includes musical pieces inspired by Vietnam, combining cello, electronic music, and various other traditional instruments. It's a tribute to Vietnam's diverse and vibrant cultural heritage, reinterpreted through the lens of the cello. The combination of traditional Vietnamese instruments with modern production techniques creates a unique and innovative take on ancient music.
This photo of Bryan Charles Wilson was taken while he was performing in Hoi An with ethnic minority musicians in 2019.
In addition, I have also published three books: Cello Chords, Beginner String Jams, and Advanced String Jams. These books are very accessible and widely used for creative string instrument playing. In the future, I hope to collaborate with many Vietnamese artists playing traditional instruments combined with the cello throughout Vietnam, as my family has recently moved here.
PV: Throughout your journey pursuing the cello, are there any memorable stories or experiences?
Bryan Charles Wilson:One of my most memorable moments was when I was 15, playing the cello for the first two melodies of Haydn's Concerto in C major. I spent a lot of time practicing before the performance. Although I played quite well, I still made some mistakes. After the performance, I left the stage and got into my parents' car, sobbing because I always wanted to be perfect. My parents were surprised and comforted me, saying, "We don't understand why you're crying; we only know that your performance was the best in the show." At that moment, I realized that striving for perfection was pointless and only caused me suffering.
Around that time, I began exploring other aspects of the cello, such as improvisation and music production. I realized that with all these elements, I didn't need to be perfect; I just needed to be myself.
PV: In the concert held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, you collaborated with other artists and traditional instruments to perform "Tri Am." What was special about combining multiple instruments to perform several Vietnamese musical pieces?
Bryan Charles Wilson:I feel that the cello and traditional Vietnamese instruments like the bầu and tranh zithers complement each other deeply. The album "Tri âm" (Understanding Each Other) aims to celebrate the connection and mutual understanding between people through music. We can connect with each other on a profound level without needing to express it in words.
Although these instruments originate from diverse cultures and appeared at different times, they seem to share a close relationship. By combining these instruments with the cello, I hope to create some unique and culturally rich musical pieces.
Born and raised in America, I don't have extensive knowledge of Vietnamese music. However, I can still feel and create in my own way. And upon returning to Vietnam, through my works, I want to bring a spirit of connection.
The family of artists Bryan Charles Wilson and Bui Tuyet Minh perform the dance "Dancing Flowers" at the 2023 Spring Festival in New Jersey, USA.
PV: How has music influenced your life? What is the most important secret you'd like to share on your journey of pursuing your passion for music?
Bryan Charles Wilson:When I was nine years old, music was a way for me to express my emotions and heal myself. With music, I didn't need to express myself in words; instead, I could play an instrument to balance my emotions. In my opinion, passion and making a living from music are two completely different things. You'll struggle a lot if you try to make a living from music, but when you play music with passion and from the heart, things will be much easier.
Thank you very much, Bryan Charles Wilson!
