Write an article about Autistic and gifted, She Jun Wei touches hearts with his violin .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from She Jun Wei, who has Asperger’s syndrome, is a talented violinist who plays with emotion. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
PETALING JAYA: She Jun Wei, now 25, was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome when he was in Standard 1.
Asperger’s – a neurodevelopment condition within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – is commonly associated with difficulties in social interaction and repetitive behaviours.
Another defining trait of someone with Asperger’s is the presence of intense, specific interests, sometimes described as “obsessions.” For Jun Wei, this obsession is music.
FMT Lifestyle spoke to Jun Wei and his mother, Veronica Ang, at the FMT office, where they shared his journey to becoming a violinist.
“His teachers said that he would often walk out of the classroom. He could not sit quietly, and he was hyperactive,” Ang said of her son’s early years in school. “They suggested we take him to a doctor and that’s when he received the diagnosis.”
Although he wasn’t the most conventional student in school, his talent shone in other areas.
Jun Wei’s mother, Veronica Ang, is incredibly proud of her son’s achievements. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
“He, himself asked to learn the violin at just eight years old,” Ang said of her son. So, she enrolled him in Mirado Music where he learnt how to play the violin under a teacher named Jared.
Jun Wei performed for the first time while in primary school and went on to complete Grade 8, the highest level in music. Since then, he hasn’t stopped performing, continuously honing his craft.
“In the beginning I felt nervous to perform. Now, not anymore,” Jun Wei said, wearing a broad smile.
In fact, this violinist can listen to a piece of music just once, and play it by ear later. “Most of the songs that he likes, he will learn very fast,” Ang said.
Jun Wei not only plays the violin, he also loves to dance – often breaking into a few Michael Jackson moves.
Jun Wei showed an interest in the violin at age eight, shortly after his diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. (Andrea Edmonds @ FMT Lifestyle)
FMT Lifestyle first spotted him during a performance at the Inner Joy Art Gallery in Petaling Jaya, where an exhibition was held to celebrate neurodivergent artists.
His violin performance had the crowd cheering. One of his favourite songs, which he plays at almost every show, is “Jambalaya (On the Bayou)” by The Carpenters.
The audience that day watched as he bobbed along to the music, confidently moving around the entire stage. He ended with a dramatic flourish – looking up, violin raised high – before taking a deep bow.
The crowd, made up mostly of parents to other autistic children, clapped in unison, many visibly moved by his performance.
“Everybody was so proud of me. Not just my mother, but everybody,” Jun Wei said.
“When he plays music, he becomes a totally different person. He can really concentrate and do well. If he doesn’t play music, he will be talking by himself,” Ang said of her son.
When asked if it was difficult to care for her son, Ang remained positive.
“You just have to be able to understand his character.” She said patience is key. “I give him all of my attention every day, because even having a conversation takes time.”
The 25-year-old violinist aspires to perform at major concerts one day. (Veronica Ang pic)
One of the standout moments Ang shared was when he was invited to perform alongside his keyboardist brother at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes (OLL) in Klang last year, in conjunction with World Autism Awareness Day. He also took part in the 2019 “Special Music & Art Festival” in Korea.
As a mother, Ang shared that she hopes people will be more understanding of her son’s condition. She said that with the existing challenges in the music industry, it hasn’t been easy for her son to earn a steady income.
“I just want to let people know that my boy is a bit different. I hope they don’t mind,” Ang said.
And as for her hopes for his future?
“I would like him to make more friends, so that his life is happier, not lonely. I want him to better himself so he can further his studies in music and get more performances in the future.
“I hope that he can take care of himself, working as a performer,” Ang concluded.
No matter the challenges both mother and son face, they have never let anything dim their spirits as Jun Wei continues to play every note with soul.
Interested in booking She Jun Wei for a performance? Contact Veronica Ang at 016-219 6981
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