From Fulton County to the Far East, the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra made history in Vietnam. In light of the 30th anniversary of the U.S. and Vietnam’s diplomatic relations, the local orchestra was selected to perform at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi—an incredible milestone and honor for the organization.
But what made this experience so special was that Mount Pisgah’s very own orchestra teacher, Nicholas Wheeler, was among those playing across the world.
“Two years ago, some JCSO members recommended that I substitute in the viola section for a performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, as I’ve played with those members in other orchestras. I’ve been playing with them ever since,” explains Wheeler.
As one can imagine, performing on a global stage requires extensive preparation. However, the challenge was more on the logistical side than musical.
“The hardest part was getting our travel Visas and passports, as there were over 70 musicians. On the music side, our music was emailed to us, and we practiced independently. So when we got to our first rehearsal, we were all prepared,” says Wheeler.
The orchestra performed various musical classics, including pieces from the 1972 film The Godfather and the Phantom Of The Opera alongside Vietnam’s most popular male singer, Tung Duong, and former Voice contestant, Mikaela Ayira. They also performed some of Vietnam’s cherished cultural and national music. When it comes to playing these high-level pieces, however, Wheeler wasn’t nervous in the slightest.
“Once you get to that professional level of music playing, difficult music and nerves don’t even faze you. You just start playing and enjoy the process,” he explains.
Many others enjoyed their music abroad as well. In fact, Wheeler and the symphony’s performance reached some very notable ears.
“During our second performance at the Opera House, there was a noticeable rise in security presence. We later found out some of [Vietnam’s] top dignitaries were present: The President, the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General, and the Leader of the Party. It was definitely eye-opening and a little intimidating,” said Wheeler.
It was truly an honor for the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra to perform in front of such important audiences. Even more so, seeing many people with different cultural backgrounds enjoying the same music impacted Wheeler, showing the power of music in its rawest form.
“It definitely reinforces that music is a universal language and connects so many different people and cultures,” he expresses.
Now back in the U.S. and at Mount Pisgah, he’s taking his experience and lessons learned with him. He plans to continue sharing the details of his trip to Vietnam, using it to teach others about music and culture.
“We have many blessings, rights and freedoms in our country. I encourage anybody to travel internationally at least once in their lifetime—you’ll really appreciate what we have in the United States,” Wheeler exemplifies.
His experience also authentically highlights music’s influence and capabilities. His gratitude and appreciation for music are clear, and he will never forget having the opportunity to share his talents on such a large stage.
“I never would have imagined this when I first picked up a viola and violin as a 5th grader at a DeKalb County public school.”
