Hearing the sudden news of his passing left me literally speechless.
Taiwanese conductor and flautist Mr Chen Yi-fu passed away suddenly at his home on the 26th. He was only 56 years old.
I first met Mr Chen eight years ago, and we had seen each other frequently ever since.
Known for his gentle and cheerful personality, Mr Chen was deeply respected and loved by many. Even as a foreigner, it was easy for me to see how popular he was just by looking at the crowds gathered around him and the warm expressions on their faces.
During rehearsals, he would carefully explain the background of the pieces to the musicians, devoting himself entirely to creating his musical world.
Whenever we met in person, he would almost always take a selfie, and by that evening, he would post it on Facebook alongside a thoughtful description.
Whenever I participated in workshops in Taiwan, despite his own busy schedule, he would always make time to drop by and greet me with a warm “Heichuan laoshi!” (Mr Kurokawa).
We had only just met in Saitama in February, and again last month in Taipei, to discuss upcoming projects.
Even as I read through the numerous tributes posted online, I still cannot fully accept the reality of his passing. Perhaps the reality will only set in when I no longer see his posts and comments on Facebook.
I offer my deepest condolences.
Thank you for everything, Yi-Fu laoshi
