Twenty-one-year-old Lokteng Pao is a remarkable cellist and Macao Conservatory graduate who won dual first prizes at the 2025 Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition in Vienna and Berlin this April. She was also selected by the artistic director to receive a special prize for her solo recital during the Winners’ Concert in Vienna and Berlin, and invited to give a solo recital at the Victoria Music Centre in Barcelona, Spain.
This is a remarkable feat for a local musician, as the Grand Prize Virtuoso is one of the most renowned international music competitions in the world. It attracted applicants from 71 countries this year.
In 2023, Pao was admitted to both the Cello Department of the Münster University of Music in Germany and the Stella Vorarlberg Privathochschule fur Musik in Austria, becoming the first person from Macao to be admitted to both German and Austrian music institutions.
Pao is currently pursuing her musical studies in Austria. Macao News reached out via email to get firsthand insight into the SAR’s rising star in classical music.
Answers have been edited for clarity.
How did you initially become interested in the cello? Why did you choose this instrument?
My initial artistic inspiration was actually ballet, and I later started learning piano. At my family’s suggestion, I tried playing the cello for the first time, which opened a new chapter in music for me. Although my start wasn’t in music, it was precisely this diverse experience that fostered a deeper curiosity and longing for the cello’s unique timbre and expressive power.
What was the turning point that made you realize the cello wasn’t just an interest, but a path you wanted to pursue seriously?
At first, I studied the cello in popular courses at the Macao Conservatory Music School. On the suggestion of a teacher at the Conservatory, I switched to full-time study, with my family’s support.
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Congratulations on your achievement in the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition. How did you prepare mentally and emotionally for such a high-level competition?
The first instrument is not the cello. First is your mind, then your body, and then the cello – they are the second instruments. For me, the key is to be free from distractions – maintaining high concentration, focus, and meditation. In daily life, I also focus on doing each task in front of me well. I pursue a state of being both relaxed and focused. During daily practice I simulate the focus required on stage, treating everyday practice as a formal performance.
What was the biggest challenge you faced on your musical journey? How did you overcome it?
Maintaining a [humble] state of mind is the biggest challenge on the musical path, but also the greatest reward. I always tell myself that the essence of performance is sharing music.
Looking to the future, what is your dream collaboration? Whether with famous conductors, other musicians, or artists from completely different fields?
It would certainly be with my teacher – he is a world-renowned, highly influential heavyweight, winner of five major international awards, lifetime principal cellist of the Cologne Philharmonic and Cologne State Opera, Tian Bonian. As well, there would be my two mentors – the world-renowned masters of cello performance and education, Professor David Geringas and Professor Frans Helmerson.
My teacher Tian Bonian was once an assistant to Professor Frans Helmerson, and Professor David Geringas was a student of the great cellist Mstislav Rostropovich. In the music world, these names are renowned. I feel deeply honored to be a part of this mentor-apprentice lineage. Professor David Geringas’s students are almost all international competition winners.
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When you return to Macao, what do you generally enjoy doing? What is your favorite thing to do with family and friends?
I am currently studying in Austria. Every time I return to Macao, what I miss most is the hometown food. As someone who grew up in Macao, reuniting with my family for a meal is the first thing I do when I get home. Gathered around the dining table, savouring familiar flavors, and chatting about life’s little details, that is the happiest time.
Besides classical music, what type of music do you most enjoy listening to in your free time? Who is your favorite singer or band? Why?
Generally, I don’t listen to any music outside of classical – except for contemporary [classical] music, which doesn’t fall under the classical category. My favorite orchestra is, of course, the Berlin Philharmonic – unmatched in quality and artistry.
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What do you usually do to relax when you have free time? Are you addicted to any TV shows, books, or hobbies?
I enjoy swimming, watching movies, shopping, or savoring delicious food with my family. I rarely get addicted to TV shows. As for reading, I prefer psychology, art, architecture, and literary works.
What is the most important advice you would give to someone from Macao who wants to become a musician?
The most important thing is to improve oneself while … broadening artistic horizons. Learn to get along with yourself during this process – everyone’s soul is unique. Only by using the truest self to touch the composer’s spiritual world can one engage in a sincere dialogue within the musical framework. Whether experiencing the sweetness and bitterness of life or contemplating elusive philosophical thoughts, only a performance poured out with genuine heart can resonate with the audience.
What are your future goals and aspirations?
I hope I can share better music with everyone.
