Peco Chui: A Life Where Music Never Stops!

號角月報加拿大版 二零二五年五月

"AI can certainly create well-structured, decent-sounding frameworks, but it lacks soul and uniqueness. AI merely pieces together elements based on big data analysis, whereas humans possess limitless creativity bestowed by God. We can convey emotions through our voices, expressing a sense of warmth. Even though AI-generated works can enhance vocals through technology, they often lack the irreplaceable human touch."

For Peco, music is a gift from God, and he firmly believes in its profound ability to touch the soul and move listeners to tears. “That’s why, when I create music, I hope my work can truly move people, because music is undoubtedly a tool that can penetrate and soften hearts.”

His inspiration comes from listening to various musical styles, where he discovers distinctive elements—particularly melodies that evoke deep emotions and leave a powerful impact. He reflects, “The longer I create music, the more I understand that each composition process is filled with ‘unknowns.’ And this sense of ‘unknown’ makes me rely even more on God, asking Him to grant me inspiration. Looking back, whether it was writing songs for singers or performing gospel and non-gospel music myself, everything has been a blessing and gift from God—nothing to boast about.”

"Over twenty years ago, I was invited to play the keyboard at the Vitamin gospel gathering held at a high school. The event organizers selected a mix of pop songs and hymns, and one song—When You Reach the Point of Exhaustion—deeply moved and captivated me. During rehearsals, I couldn’t help but hum along. Eventually, they suggested that I perform the song that evening. From that day forward, the song gradually gained recognition and was later featured in Gary Lau’s Beautiful Legend （美麗傳奇）album. It touched many hearts, and I truly believe that all of this was orchestrated by God.”

Another one of Peco’s well-known songs, Never Say Never, also emerged from a special opportunity.

"It was for an evangelistic event jointly organized by churches in Hong Kong, held at the AsiaWorld-Expo, with Nick Vujicic—who was born without limbs—as the guest speaker. The organizers invited me to compose a theme song for the event. Nick’s powerful testimony of faith became my inspiration. The core message of the song is ‘Never Say Never’—as long as we don’t give up and believe that God is working, life will open doors beyond our imagination. Nick himself is a living testament to God’s incredible miracles.”

"Pop music exists within a commercial society. So, when creating songs, in addition to freely expressing what I want, I must also consider the audience’s preferences and market trends—does the song have enough elements to make it popular? Is the melody suitable for the singer? Will the general public accept it? However, when I compose religious hymns, I feel closer to my true self. The process allows me to strip away all pretense and purely express my innermost feelings, facing God without fear. This state brings an incredible sense of release and freedom.”

Before his trip to Canada, Peco was fully immersed in composing a musical. The first version of The Great Dragon City Heist （龍城大刧案）was completed in January, but later, an extended version was developed and renamed Dragon City Four Laughs, requiring additional songs to be written.

"The process of creating a musical follows a clear framework, which actually gives the songwriting more direction. Unlike personal compositions that solely express individual emotions, musicals revolve around various characters, each shaped by unique experiences and emotions. How these experiences influence their emotional transformations is the key to crafting both melody and lyrics. With a well-defined narrative, I can make the music align more closely with each character’s emotions and story development.”

For Peco, participating in the creation of Dragon City Four Laughs is meaningful not only because of the work itself but also because of the mission of the theater group, Art Options. The group offers special courses for individuals aged 55 and above, providing them the opportunity to sing, perform, and dance on stage. Through theatrical performances, they continue to celebrate life, making the experience profoundly significant.

Later, Peco performed in the musical Beyond—Here and There (Beyond-這裡那裡), which was structured around songs from the iconic band Beyond. The production competed in the first stage of a musical theater competition in Taiwan, where it secured third place, advancing to the second stage with financial backing for further development.

Looking back on his first performance experience in Taiwan, Peco describes it as an invaluable journey—one that broadened his artistic perspective and strengthened his passion for music.

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, he was actively performing in Matteo Ricci: The Musical （利瑪竇）and was initially unfazed by the uncertainty ahead. He assumed the pandemic would last no more than two weeks and saw the temporary pause as an opportunity to rest. However, as time passed and performances were indefinitely halted, anxiety set in. The fear of financial instability loomed over him.

"I could only sleep lightly for about an hour each night. The moment I woke up, my mind was flooded with worries and fears. The prolonged insomnia led to vocal damage, and despite seeking medical help and trying various remedies, nothing seemed to improve."

During that difficult time, Peco turned to God in prayer and self-reflection. He recalled, "It felt as though God was asking me: ‘If your emotions are so easily affected by external recognition, has the pursuit of approval become an idol in your heart?’"

That realization helped him understand that he had never truly confronted his inner insecurities. Now, whenever anxiety resurfaces, he reminds himself that it does not come from God. Instead, he sees it as an opportunity to deepen his trust in Him and experience the peace that only He can provide.

"What they showcase is not competition, but rather a radiant expression of their gifts. Every time they step onto the stage, it is an opportunity given by God for them to shine in that moment. This is vastly different from the highly competitive atmosphere I have witnessed in other contests. Even more moving is that they are not solely focused on their personal performance—they even bring fellow contestants to evangelistic gatherings, helping more people come to know Jesus. It is truly a beautiful picture."

Upon returning to Hong Kong, Peco must immediately immerse himself in rehearsals for Dragon City Four Laughs, while also planning two additional musicals. One of them, First Snow（初雪）, is set to be performed in Korea this November, thanks to the director’s connections with a Korean theater troupe. The other production, Beyond—Here and There, is advancing to the second stage of a competition and will be presented in a play-reading format in Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Helena Lee