Day: July 19, 2024

The Winds of Change

 

Symphonic Beyond conducted by Dr Low Chee Meng sets the stage for a rousing, highly energetic, electrifying performance –  befitting the orchestra that turned 14  in January.  Founded in 2010 with a grant from the SiWu Education Trust Fund, the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO) has gone from strength to strength, observes Sook Mei who is a founding member of the orchestra that comprises people of all walks of life; mostly working adults and school or college students.  Photos by Sook Mei.

By  Foong Pek Yee

foongpekyee@gmail.com.

July 19, 2024

Themed Winds of Pop,  KVWO’s annual concert was all about the different kinds of pop music; from the 70s era to the  K-Pop wave.

From the 1980s Cantopop Medley , The Symphonic Beatles, Greatest Hits of Jay Chou , ABBA Gold, Puteh Ramlee  to K-Pop Feel So Good;   the  overwhelming response from the audience at the RTM Auditorium, Ipoh  on July 7 has again underscores the fact that music is borderless and transcends time.

The rest of the repertoire  includes Santana- A Portrait, Billie Jean, Coldplay Symphony, Say Shava Shava and A Song by Jacky Cheung (arranged by Mateo Ng)

 

Upbeat:  (from left) Hong Pick Sum, Natalie Liew, Sook Mei, Mateo Ng, Dr Low Chee Meng, Lean Lip Kok and Craig Fam

Looking back, Sook Mei says KVWO, the brainchild of the late Datuk KK Lim who wished to have a community band,  has come a long way.

The KVWO  was set  up by the Kinta Valley Symphonic Society (KVSS)  in 2010.  Both organizations are based in Ipoh, Perak.

KVSS  got a grant from  the SiWu Education Trust Fund to set up KVWO

“The last two years saw KVSS added three new groups under its wings;  KV String Orchestra, KV Chinese Orchestra and KV Symphonic Voices,” says Sook Mei who is into piano.

Like any organization, KVSS and KVWO have their fair share of ups and downs, but Sook Mei is glad that it has emerged stronger.

The good news is some  members of the orchestra  went on to  further their studies in music and rose to become professionals, including lecturers in colleges.

Sook Mei is also proud to note that  Natalie Liew,  one of the two conductors at the concert, joined KVWO about 10 years ago as a player.

Dr Low Chee Meng was the guest conductor for the event.

Natalie Liew conducting Puteh Ramlee.

Sook Mei says KVWO is  more active than before after the Covid- 19 movement control order got lifted.

It held its annual concert in July 2022, followed by an Outreach performance at the Imperial International School in Menglembu, Ipoh.

Year 2023 saw KVWO having a joint concert with KLPac in Ipoh’s SMJK Ave Maria Convent, followed by a performance in Ipoh Parade Shopping Mall in July,  annual concert in November and a Christmas performance in December.

The orchestra kick off  this year with a performance in DR Park.  The  Ipoh City Council had invited KVWO to do a Chinese New Year Celebration  at the park’s new amphitheater.

KVWO was also invited by elected government representatives Jenny Choi and Howard Lee to perform in SJKC Chung Tack, Kampung Simee.

“I would say that over the years KVWO has grown from strength to strength and has made a name for itself within the community of Ipoh and beyond,” says Sook Mei who was president of KVSS in 2015 and 2018.

Big thank you : Kinta Valley Symphonic Society KVSS president Jeffrey Cheong Kok Yew ( (far right) and the concert organizing chairman Keith Lwee (third from left) with guest performers on stage.

Part of Asian Dhol playing drums.

Billie Jean with Michael Jackson impersonator Mervin Yong

He lives and breathes music

A typical day for Eric Lee is an  hour of jogging in the morning followed by  three hours of music practice.  This distinguished conductor and trombonist sees perseverance, discipline and focus as not only a must in a person’s musical pursuit but also an integral part of character building.

By Foong Pek Yee
July 18, 2024
The 45 minutes audition over the phone that won him a scholarship to study in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) is still vivid in Eric’s mind.
It was in 1997 , and he  got a full scholarship to study trombone in HKAPA- Asia’s top performing arts centre.
The three -year- stint in Hong Kong saw him participating in Master classes with prominent figures like the American Horn Quartet, Luur Metals, Spanish Brass Quintet, Roger Bobo and James Da Sanol.
He also studied with renowned trombonists like John Swallow, Scott Hartman and Jan Mortensen and conducted with Mark Shanahan.
At 52, Eric was first introduced to trombone at age 13 when he joined the Catholic High School Symphonic Band.  He was a student at the Catholic High School in Petaling Jaya.
He never looked back since then.
In 1994, he founded the PJ Youth Symphonic Band as a platform for young musicians to develop their skills
For six consecutive years, starting 1996, Eric was selected to represent Malaysia in the Asia Youth Orchestra (AYO) that saw him performing  in 40 cities across 20 countries.
The tours include performing in prestigious venues  like the Royal Concertgebouw and the Sydney Opera House and the opportunity to perform under esteemed conductors and with renowned artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Mischa Maisky.
This  certainly is a dream for many young and aspiring musicians.
Eric subsequently founded the Philharmonic  Winds of Malaysia (formerly known as the Symphonic Winds of the National Symphony Orchestra)  and the National Band Director Association of Malaysia.
Upon his return from Hong Kong in 1999, Eric made his conducting debut with the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra for the production of “Johan and Si Belang,” which is Malaysia’s version of “Peter and the Wolf”.
Later that year he conducted a critically acclaimed local production of “The Sound of Music”.
 Eric is  currently the president of the  National Band Director Association of Malaysia and the principal trombone of the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia.

The leader:  Eric is the Band Director for the Catholic High School in Petaling Jaya and Sekolah Menengah Sains Selangor which won multi champion and gold awards in Malaysia and internationally. Eric  is also a recipient of Malaysia’s Anugerah Seni Negara (National  Young Music Director  Award) for young music directors in 2006.

To lead and serve : Eric who is currently the Artistic Director  and Resident Conductor of the Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia sees music as a platform to do good.

In harmony: Eric conducting a rehearsal for Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia.

The nation’s pride:  The concert themed ” Discover Malaysian Folk Song” by Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia.

 Music is borderless : Eric conducting the Austria upper army band.
Also a regular guest player with several orchestras at a regional level, Eric has appeared as a  guest principal with orchestras like the Macau Symphony Orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra,  Bangkok Opera.
Apart from that, Eric is  frequently invited to adjudicate international band competitions and conducts workshops and concerts across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Beneath all the glamour, education remains Eric’s enduring legacy in the music world – his dedication to performance and leadership training goes a long way in inspiring countless young musicians all around the world and elevating  the standards of symphonic music in Malaysia.
He is set to continue to help shape the musical journeys of students in Malaysia, ensuring the continued growth and excellence of the nation’s musical talent; testimony to this is his remarkable achievements in leading and developing wind bands, chamber music, and orchestras.
And Eric has a family orchestra together  with his wife Chew Yi Chien who is a pianist and violinist, and their sons  15-year -old Marques and 10-year-old Kyle who plays  the trombone and trumphet respectively.
Yi Chien, 44,  is the music department head at Mont Kiara International School.
Eric says Yi Chien’s unwavering support for him has enabled him to focus on his musical pursuit.