Pianist returns to St Albans

Max Hatzoglou

International pianist John Surya was glad he could reunite with the St Albans community with his music for the first time in three years.

Surya, who is from Indonesia, visited Australia in 2019 to see his daughter who lives in Sunshine North.

During the visit, the 82-year-old played the piano on the street thanks to the warm welcoming the St Albans community gave him.

Surya, volunteers his time playing music during his travels.

“I try to play differently, I try to learn differently,” Surya said.

“So I play not from the notes, not from the book but any songs that I like to play, then I write it down and I play like that.

“The most important thing is that when you play, when people come and sit, they enjoy seeing me play.

“When I hear people enjoying it, that is the most precious words that I can hear, that they are happy.”

Surya also volunteers playing the piano in hospitals in Singapore and Jakarta.