As a little boy in Hong Kong in 1960, Anthony Lau witnessed something new and unique.
The chromatic harmonica started to rise in popularity there around that time, and Lau was in the audience watching an orchestra play Mozart’s Flute Concerto No.1. Renowned harmonica player Lau Mok was among the performers.
“I was so impressed. I thought, ‘How can a harmonica play with an orchestra?’
“He’s a pioneer for the harmonica in Hong Kong. I feel indebted to him. He’s my inspiration.”
Members of the 100 Mile House and area community – especially in the art and music scenes – are probably familiar with Lau, a classical harmonica player with world-class ability who moved to the area in 2007 after immigrating to Canada in 1985.
Some call him “Mr. Harmonica.”
After living in Richmond, Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey – prior to 100 Mile House – Lau, along with his wife, Helen Lennox, are on the move again. This time they’re moving to Kelowna.
“Our feelings are mixed,” Lau says of the upcoming move.
“We made a lot of good friends here – lifelong friends, actually. They all expressed they’re sorry to see us move and we feel the same way, too. But, life has to move on.”
When Lau first picked up a harmonica in Hong Kong in the 1960s, the city had a population of close to three million people. Lau recently referred to himself as a “city boy.” However, in comparison to Hong Kong and even the Vancouver area, he says the small community of 100 Mile House was better for him with respect to his music career, as it allotted him many more opportunities to perform.
“In a big city, I’m just a small potato. In a little town like this, I feel fulfilment with my musical career. When I came over here, I was grateful people appreciated my music and accepted me as a musician.”
It wasn’t long before he was plugged in with the local music community after he first arrived. Dennis Tupman was the director of the Eclectica Community Choir in 2007 and asked him to join.
“I feel blessed to be here,” Lau says.
Lau’s involvement in the classical harmonica world extends beyond performing; he’s also been a teacher and writer of it. He speaks about his craft with a lot of enthusiasm and recites some historical and contemporary facts about a style of music and an instrument few have mastered.
For instance, there are many compositions for the chromatic harmonica, but Lau often plays music composed for the flute, oboe and violin. He says an advantage of playing it is you can produce sound by both breathing in and blowing out.
He adds there are other more practical reasons to pick one up, after all, it only cost him one Hong Kong dollar – “about 10 cents here” – when he first purchased one. Not to mention, unlike larger, clunkier classical instruments that require a case, he says it can be carried around so easily – “you can put it in your pocket.”
Lau adds it’s also an instrument you can put down for a while and pick up again without losing your touch, which is something he can attest to having not played for a 10-year stretch during a previous marriage that was “not good.”
However, 12 years ago, he was again inspired to play – this time when he and Lennox met.
“He wrote me a little song when we first met,” says Lennox who, like Lau, feels good about their time in 100 Mile House and torn about leaving.
“It’s been a great place for us. 100 Mile will always stay in our hearts.”
Lau already has a few connections to classical music circles in Kelowna, but just as he maintains a long distance connection with the man who first inspired him – Mok now lives in Cincinnati and they talk on the phone – Lau says his ties to 100 Mile House are not completely severed. He has plans on returning to perform with Eclectica on Remembrance Day and, weather permitting, plans on returning for their Christmas concert.
“My connection with 100 Mile House will still continue. If I’m requested to play here, I will come back.”
