I listen to all kinds of music. I have been classically trained, but I also grew up with Canton Pop but have been exposed to good old American Christian Rock and alternative. I have listened to all kinds of music from all around the world, especially while I was doing my music degree at SC - Fight on! So I think my influence is pretty wide.
But I think I am most influenced by contemporary art music, and especially minimalist music as they lend very well to improv that I do.
I love playing improv cause it’s freeing. It is always new, always original and never the same. I do revisit my classical roots from time to time, pulling out good old Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. But in the end music is alive and now for me. It’s about the moment. The best way to capture the moment for me is just play what’s in my mind at that moment.
I just don't like to say I sound like someone else. I just play what I think and make music the way I feel. That's all. Nothing else matters after that for me.
Labels in music is meaningless for the most part for me. I'll sound like whatever I feel like sounding when I'm playing or writing the music. I'll leave others to say who I actually sound like. I feel if I start thinking like that, I will lose me and my intimate connection to music. Hence I only play what I want, and only make music the way I want it.
FILMS:
(The following videos are all directed by me)
ACTOR
Paul is also very active on stage, radio, television and film. He has also been in a co-star in the primetime network NBC's show Scrubs, the TLC show Untold Stories of the ER, a prinicple role in MTV's Triple Threat Show, and various feature and short films including Naked Run and The Stolen Moments of September . He has also had the opportunity to work with directors such as James Robinson, Kelly Ward, Cheung Ching and Steve Burrows. Since 2003, Paul has also been a monthly guest movie critic on Chinese radio station AM 1430 in Los Angeles. In 2005, he acted in the premiere of William Whitehurst's and Robert Gross' 'American Dreams: An In-Yer-Face-Musical' at the Eclectic Theatre in North Hollywood. He has recorded voice-over jobs for MacDonald's, Honda, Wal-mart, PG&E and East-West Bank, and appeared in commercials spots for Verizon, Hyundai & Washington Mutual Commercial plus a Public Service Video for First Five California. He is currently represented by Baron Entertainment and managed by MMPR Group in Los Angeles. Paul's IMDB
DIRECTOR/WRITER
Paul has also had the privilege to director for both film and theatre. Among his achievement is the direction of Metamorphosis Theatre Company's production of his original full-length play The Sun No Longer Rises in the East. Inspired by real events that occurred during the Cultural Revolution in China, the story is an exploration of intolerance and the need of love and faith in the post-modern era. He has also had the pleasure to direct a live Shakespeare performance in the virtual world of Second Life, the inaugural performance of the SL Shakespeare Company that was very well received by the Second Life community. He has also directed, wrote and edited various other film and theatre productions.
COMPOSER
As a composer, his piece Nanking 1937- recieved the Jimmy McHugh Composition Prize, Endowed by Lucille Meyers at USC. The piece also was placed among the top seven by the New York Youth Symphony's 2006 First Music Competition receiving a special recognition. Also in 2005 Paul's Ancient Sacrament for the Organic Machine was placed among the top seven by NYYS's 2005 First Music competition. The piece led him to be a finalist in the 2004 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composers Awards . Furthermore, ERM Media's has awarded his Ancient Sacrament for the Organic Machine to be included in their 'Masterworks of the New Era' Volume Ten, recorded with the Kiev Philharmonic to be released in 2007. Even while he was a senior in Gabrielino High School , Paul was given the opportunity to provide the arrangement of the Alma Mater for the Band. His symphonic poem Maganddore was accepted by USC's New Music for Orchestra concert in 2006. His music was also performed at the Society of Composer Inc. Region VI Conference at Rice University Syzygy Concert (New Music at Rice) 2006, and his solo piano work Surge has been performed by Chenny Gan at Wintergreen Performing Arts on February 25, 2006 at Wintergreen, Virginia, and has been recorded and released on her 2006 Solo Piano Album.
PIANIST
Paul's career as a pianist has allowed him to perform several of his own compositions at various venues. In addition, he has performed under the batons of Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Larry Livingston, Robert Reynolds, Carl St. Clair, Shelly Berg, Don Crockett and Timothy Su, and alongside Yo-Yo Ma and Chinese singer Wei Wei. He is also very active as a pianist and teacher in Southern California. He has also taught students of all ages for over ten years on piano and is currently a member of the Music Teachers Associate of California (MTAC).
OTHER
Paul has also been a conductor of various choirs and chamber ensemble in the Southern California area. Aside from conducted premieres of his own works, Paul has also conducted Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus' at various functions including Global Evangelical Mission Choir's Easter Function in 2003. During Easter and Christmas of 2005, Paul was the rehearsal conductor of Timothy Su in Los Angeles for the Multi-Church Chinese Choir concerts.
Paul's passion for the performing arts has allowed him to successfully direct theatre productions such as his multilingual play 'Behind Closed Doors' in 2002, 'Greener Grass' in 2003 and his short film 'Practice' in 2006. In 2005, he founded Signature Players in San Gabriel, California producing Dennis Clontz's 'Night Breath.' He is also the Artistic director of Faith Hope Love Chinese Baptist Church in El Monte, California and has made a twenty-minutes documentary 'Pathway to the Cross' for the organization. He has also written a few short and feature films.
EDUCATION/BACKGROUND
Born in Hong Kong, Paul Kwo moved to the United States at the age of eight where he continued his education. He eventually recieved his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California in 2006 as the most outstanding graduate of the Composition Department. He also earned a BM Cum Laude in Piano Performance with double minors in Theatre and Musical Theatre from the University of Southern California in 2003, and was also named the most outstanding graduate of the Keyboard Department. In 2003, he attended Wintergreen Music Festival in Virginia as a pianist. As a composer, he has attended Ernest Bloch Bay Music Festival in 2004 and California Summer Music in 2005. He has also attended various workshops and classes to advance his skill as an actor.
Paul has studied composition with Frank Ticheli, Tamar Diesendruck and David Fick; piano, with Norman Krieger, Lucinda Carver, Francois Regnat and Charles Fierro; Jazz voice, with Matt Falker; Jazz piano, with Russ Ferrante. He has also had the opportunity to work with Bernard Rands, Steven Hartke, Menachem Wiesenberg, David Tcimpidis and Chen Yi. Paul has also studied acting with Joseph Hacker, Jack Rowe, Michael Keenan, Palmer Fuller and Jan Hennigan, and playwriting with Velina Houston.
As an Artist, Paul has been featured by Folks Magazine in their May 2006 issue.
Professional Affliations
ASCAP - American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
ACF - American Composers Forum
MTAC - Music Teacher Association of California
SAG - Screen Actor's Guild
Just wanted to drop by and say thanks for being my friend on myspace! Also wanted to invite you to my next show Friday, 10/16/09 in Santa Monica @ TRiP!!! Only $6 w/the flyer and we're giving away free stuff at the show! For more details, please visit http://...com/krlp4u - looking forward to rockin' the night away with you! Lots of Love, Joyce
It was lovely meeting you at George's birthday party. You are multi-talented :-) I finally had a chance to listen to some of your music and I enjoyed it. When you have some time, please listen to mine and let me know what you think!
hey you! been thinking about coming to the US in nov......... so i might just get the chance to give u a little pinch and if ur lucky a hair ruffle (a noogie.... look it up haha) :P
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Indeed!!! I am at college doing communications. my brain hurts from it you look like you have ur finger in many pies. Short films...... good work :) You're so cute I could pinch ur cheek :D
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