Blind Chinese viola player to attend top UK music college

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“Although I can’t see the world, I will let the world see my hard work,” said Wang Zian. Blind since birth, the 18-year-old from Guangdong Province was told he could only be a masseur, but chose instead to play the viola. His persistence has paid off as he was recently accepted to one of the most prestigious music colleges in the UK.

This autumn, Wang Zian will start his music education at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Now he is studying English and learning personal skills to help look after himself, including how to cook.

Wang Zian touched the leaf to feel the perception with his mother. ‍/Sinanews Photo

The expectations have never been high for him, especially from his teachers. When he was 10 years old, the teachers in his school told the group of blind students that being a "blind masseur is your only career option for your future." Defying this advice, Wang decided to bet on himself and focused on music instead.

Wang started playing instruments when he was just five, progressing from a keyboard to the piano and then to the viola. His parents always encouraged him, telling him that “you have the right to choose what you want to do and there is nothing can stop you to do.”

With the 88 black and white keys etched in his mind, Wang says he feels happiest when he's playing the piano.

While learning, whenever he came across a difficult song, his teacher would tape his hand to the keyboard. Sometimes his fingers bled, and he would cry, but never give up.

Wang Zian was playing the piano. /Souhu Photo

Though Wang did learn the skills of a masseur, he hated hearing the repeated message from his instructors: “Massage is your only way out in your future.”

In the atmosphere his parents created for him, Wang led a normal life. He fought with other children and took the subway, watched movies and went to the park, all of which helped drive his musical ambitions.

At the age of 13, Wang caught the attention of a viola teacher. When the teacher asked Wang what music meant to him, his answer was an emphatic, "my whole life!"

Wang Zian participated in viola competition in his middle school in Guangzhou. /VCG Photo

Under the teacher’s advice and training, Wang started his viola education. His poor vision actually made him more sensitive to the string instrument. Wang recorded each class so he could go back and listen to his progress.

According to the Guangzhou-based news website Dayoo.com, more than 200 students from China applied for the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire last year, with only about a dozen accepted, including Wang.

Wang hopes his experiences could inspire others to believe in themselves, rather than listening to others in deciding what to do with their lives.