TRANSCRIPT
A lunchtime concert is underway at a hospital in Melbourne.
“I normally come out at lunch and just sort of sit here quietly and I enjoy my music so it's calming, it's beautiful. I feel as if it's my own personal concert.”
But this is no ordinary concert and the pianist is no ordinary musician. Yoshie Komatsu works in food services, and until recently no one knew of her secret life as a concert pianist in her homeland, Japan.
“The truth is I didn't tell anybody. And secretly, when I have a time, I come to piano just practicing secretly and maybe so in that someday some sort like my coworker, colleague, might find and make a surprise. That's what I wanted.”
“Playing my piano, that’s just an exciting moment how people react to me - make me feel good. And then because I realized I made the audience feel excited.”
Ms Komatsu grew up in a small town 150 kilometres from Japan’s capital Tokyo, and piano lessons began as a young child.
“When I was three I want to play piano, I want to be pianist. And then my parents - ahhhh – but then they bought a small piano. And then when I grew up and then when I made a decision I'm going to be pianist, I bought grand piano.”
As a top student Ms Komatsu won a scholarship to study music at a prestigious university. She graduated in the late 1990s and dreamed of becoming a professional musician. But a car accident left her badly injured.
“Just bang, bang - I was maybe fell down on the top of the car and then bonnet and then fell down on the centre of the road. One gentleman, he was a doctor and he stopped the car and he called the police and ambulance and I was carried to the hospital. After that I got a back injury for months, months. I had a corset from neck to the bottom and couldn't move I think it six months.”
At this time, she turned to classical music as a source of comfort
“Just everyday pain, so I was just listening music just to feel relaxed, calm down. So, I was always with my music.”
After visiting Australia with her family, Ms Komatsu decided in 2006 to make Melbourne her home. But she couldn’t afford the cost of transporting her beloved grand piano.
“I talked to export company and they said sending one piano is cost 10,000 dollar, so it's no use. Since I was a child always I was with piano, so without piano, something missing in my life.”
After taking a job in food services at Monash Health last December, Ms Komatsu noticed a grand piano in the foyer.
“When I saw it, I was really excited. I want to touch as soon as possible. And I saw nobody was around the piano. I straight away I go to the piano and I opened the lid, and then touch - the sound really beautiful. I was practicing piano but I didn't want other to know!”
Monash Medical Centre food services manager Romela Felton was among those caught off guard to find a concert pianist plating food in the kitchen!
“It was a big surprise because Yoshie's actually a very shy lady. So, everybody actually said to Yoshie, can you play music for us? And I actually encourage Yoshie to continue on and as I said, we are happy to support her, whatever she wants to do.”
For Monash Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Anjali Dhulia supporting Ms Komatsu’s hidden talent is a win-win!
“Hospitals can be a really, really busy place and can be really anxiety provoking for the people who visit here and even for staff for that matter. So its lovely to have someone like Yoshie and her talent to give up her break time and playing the pian for people.”
With the blessing of Monash Health, Ms Komatsu is regaining confidence at the grand piano, and dreams of one day performing again on stage.
“I wish, if I could I want to play small joint concert to make other people happy. Everybody likes music and besides, the music, the sounds echo in people's heart. Maybe I believe invisible power is floating from the piano or instrument or even voice. So, the sense is going to the people's heart and healing - that I believe.”
