Wong Doe chose not to go to Europe for further studies, as many friends did, but opted for America, which seemed "a much more open place with a greater variety of schools and teaching".
He finally went to Indiana University in Bloomington.
Ultimately, Wong Doe would complete his doctoral studies at Juilliard, with a thesis and presentation based on the mechanical piano or pianola, a curious instrument that has attracted composers from Stravinsky to Conlon Nancarrow.
"It was such a challenge trying to find something to write about," Wong Doe confesses. "I'd been having limited success learning the Ligeti etudes and wondered whether these would work better on the pianola. I was convinced that a machine could do a better job. It wouldn't get excited, it wouldn't rush or have any problems of co-ordination."
His graduation presentation, in New York's Carnegie Hall, alternated his own performances with those of a mechanical instrument and there were revelations. "I played Ligeti's 14th etude, followed by the pianola version. Afterwards, people said that, even with my inaccuracies, it was the more enjoyable performance. An instrument playing itself isn't so very exciting."
Few New Zealanders have had as much experience on the competition circuit as this man. After coming sixth in the 2000 Sydney International Piano Competition, he was the audience favourite in Israel and Italy. Now aged 36, he can relax. "When you get too old to do them [competitions], it's almost a blessing," he smiles.
And winning is not the most important thing. "On one level you might be competing with other people, but you're really competing with yourself. And I was lucky enough to play with some terrific orchestras. Appearing with the Israel Philharmonic was one of the highlights of my life."
Wong Doe made his debut on Trust Records last year with an attractive collection of Gareth Farr's piano music.
Having used Farr's The Horizon from Owhiro Bay as "a little something to clear the palate" in his Carnegie Hall recital, he is now recording this and the 11 other Landscape Preludes recently commissioned and premiered by Stephen De Pledge.
"There are echoes of so many other things apart from the land in these pieces," he reflects, noting that Michael Norris' contribution, Machine Noises, has an unexpected connection with his fascination for mechanical music.
"I like the whole idea of pushing the performer's co-ordination to its maximum."
Performance
What: Auckland Chamber Orchestra
Where and when: Raye Freedman Arts Centre, 6 Silver Rd, Epsom, tomorrow at 5pm
