Category: People

I can be better

Bernice Khai Ern Ooi is all for practice and perseverance as she scales for greater heights in a talent- driven music industry.
By Foong Pek Yee
Aug 2, 2024.
Bernice Khai Ern Ooi  has what it takes to be an international violinist.
With her impressive academic achievements and track record in the talent-driven music industry , she says she needs to practise more to strengthen her skills.
It is about getting better and better, and be prepared and ready to take up every opportunity that comes her way.
” Be open and professional and take up opportunities. And practice to give my best performance ,” says Bernice who has Master of Music in Violin Performance, Highest Distinction from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
The 38- year- old Malaysian violinist took up violin at the age of six.
She  had her primary education and early secondary education in  Yuk Chai Chinese Primary School, Taman Megah and  Catholic High School, Petaling Jaya respectively and went abroad to study when she turned 15.
After completing high school at Wells Cathedral in Somerset, United Kingdom, she proceeded to the United States to do violin in Indiana University Jacobs School of Music from 2007 to 2010.
Bernice did studies with Mark Kaplan and Federico Agostini and she is a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and the Music Faculty Award.
She got her Bachelor of Science in Violin Performance and Mathematics, High Distinction in 2007, Master of Music in Violin Performance, Highest Distinction in 2009 and Performer Diploma in Violin Performance in 2010.
Bernice is now  a  Second Violin with the Royal Swedish Orchestra in Stockholm, Sweden.
It is a full time job with a tight schedule since 2017,  with an average of 15 performances a month, she says.
She rides a bicycle  to work (about 8.5km one way) and this is her exercise to keep fit!
World Renowned: Bernice with part of the Royal Swedish Orchestra. 
Bernice has also performed as a Guest Assistant Principal Second Violin at the Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra, which is about 160km southwest of Stockholm.
Distance is certainly  no barrier for Bernice’s musical pursuit.
She returns to her home in Malaysia  about twice a year for her concerts and to be with her parents.

Home grown : In Malaysia, Bernice is the Concert Master, Malaysia Bach Festival Orchestra since 2016.

All ears: Ensemble Virama with Bernice (left ) performing for students in Yuk Chai Chinese Primary School in Taman Megah. 
She also co founded  Ensemble Virama  (in Malaysia) and is a core member.
This July is her latest trip to Malaysia where she has a line up of concerts, including one in Taichung, Taiwan before she returns to Stockholm on Aug 4.
Ensemble Virama performed in Taichung, Taiwan on July 27, 2024
Ensemble Virama performed in Kuala Lumpur on July 23 – 24, 2024
Bernice’ s orchestra experience since 2005 saw her performing in United Kingdom, Japan and the United States and in Malaysia’s Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra..
Among others, she was a Core Member, Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra  in Japan between 2011 and 2014.
Applause: The Hyogo Performing Arts Centre Orchestra performing at the Hyogo Prefecture Parliament in Japan.
Bernice is into Chamber Music and Teaching since 2006.
In Stockholm, she does Lunch Chamber concert series, the Golden Foyer, Royal Swedish Opera since 2018.
On Festivals, Beatrice took part in about 10 Festivals in United Kingdom and United States between 2006 -2016.
This is just part of her list of accomplishments in the last two decades, and is still counting.
While the road is not exactly smooth all the way, she sees beauty in everything she does.
Bernice who had more than  20 auditions  – an exercise that comes across as difficult and  impersonal – says there is  always something to learn from it.
Vibrant and bubbly, Bernice who studies, works and stays abroad for over two decades is active in  church work and has her circle of friends.
She is one of the leaders of the Women’s Ministry in Calvary Stockholm.
Photos and videos: courtesy of Bernice Khai Ern Ooi.
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Celebrate each and every milestone

Lee Jae Phang at the Symphonic Finale Concert at Wells Cathedral in July 2012. He won the prestigious annual Concerto auditions at the Wells Cathedral School (WCS). 

At 13, Lee Jae won a full scholarship to study as a specialist pianist at WCS in Somerset, England, UK.

He got his first diploma in piano at the age of 11.

By Foong Pek Yee
Aug 1, 2024
Lee Jae says learning and playing music is a journey with new and interesting discoveries – an enriching process that goes a long way.
He has a Master in Music Performance with Distinction  from the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester in 2017 and admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Schools of Music with Distinction.
Under expert guidance: The conductor was Christopher Adey. Lee Jae the pianist with the Wells Cathedral School Symphony Orchestra.
A Malaysian concert pianist, teacher, accompanist and chamber musician, Lee Jae has performed in many countries, including the United Kingdom (UK),  Germany, Austria, Italy, Beijing, Hong Kong, Cambodia and Malaysia.
Lee Jae won the ‘1st Beethoven Performance Award of the BPSE & Beethoven in Altaussee Festival 2016’ prize in Austria.
His deep love and fascination for Beethoven’s music saw him recorded almost all of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas and published them on his YouTube channel – these sonatas being ranked amongst the highest Himalayan peaks of a pianist’s repertoire.
Lee Jae who was in the  UK for more than a decade saw him receiving many awards, scholarships, funds and winning many competitions.
And performing in orchestras and the many masterclasses Lee Jae had with world renowned  musicians  have been proven to be  invaluable in his musical pursuit.
A great start: A young Lee Jae with his professor at Wells Cathedral School (WCS)
At 13,  he  won a full scholarship to study as a specialist pianist at WCS.
Musical skills can be acquired in stages with the  teaching and coaching of a good teacher/mentor.
While learning music requires hard work and perseverance, Lee Jae describes  it as  a journey to be enjoyed as we learned new things, made discoveries and progress.
Playing music can be likened to doing a jigsaw puzzle in a way.
There is a sense of purpose in our pursuit.
Every completed picture, be it a ten-piece or 1,000 piece puzzle gives us a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
And the same for music.
Recently,  Lee Jae has completed a series on the ABRSM  Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 1 to 8. The series will be updated in this post.
Enjoy!
Making progress: Lee Jae doing a series on ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026
Photos and videos: courtesy of Lee Jae Phang.
ABRSM  Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 1 
ABRSM Piano  2025 & 2026 Grade 2
ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 3
ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 5
ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 6
ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 7
ABRSM Piano 2025 & 2026 Grade 8

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.

 

An extraordinary man and his TCM story

Eu Tong Sen made his fortune in tin and rubber in Malaya. Cheated death on at least two occasions, he went on to lead a luxurious lifestyle with his 11 wives, 13 sons and 11 daughters,  and give back to society at the same time.  During his life time (1877 – 1941) he owned many properties including mansions in Singapore and Hong Kong. But his lasting legacy turned out to be a gift from his father Eu Kong when he turned two.  Photos courtesy of Phang See Kong from Gopeng Museum.

By Foong Pek Yee

July 17, 2024
For the Eu family, July 23 is an auspicious date.
Eu Kong’s first born and only son, Eu Tong Sen, was born on July 23, 1877.
And on July 23, 1879, Eu Kong set up a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shop in Gopeng, about 17 km from Ipoh, to celebrate his heir’s second birthday.
Aptly named  Yan Sang ( meaning compassion and life) , the shop was aimed at helping migrant workers from China who arrived in Gopeng  and nearby areas by the thousands  to work in the tin mines.
It was the big tin rush in then Malaya.
But hardship, loneliness and frustrations soon set in for many of them who then took opium and got addicted to it.
Eu Kong used TCM to treat their addiction and debilitating health.
” Being grateful and giving back  to society is an integral part of Chinese culture,”  says Gopeng Museum founder and  curator Phang  See Kong.
Phang, 85, who is the author of a  book titled ” A Meander down Memory Lane: Stories about the Chinese Pioneers in Gopeng, Perak (1850 – 2000), beams with pride whenever he talks about Gopeng.
He says he is very grateful that the Eu family  has donated a row of single storey shoplots along Jalan Eu Kong in Gopeng to house the Gopeng Museum.
” This is a historical place and  is priceless.”
The site where Yan Sang shop was once located is walking distance from the  museum. It is now a modern concrete building and occupied by a bank.
 In the late 19th century:  these single storey units along Jalan Eu Kong in Gopeng were stables for Eu Kong’s horses .
In the 21st century: These single storey  shoplots along Jalan Eu Kong in Gopeng houses the Gopeng Museum.
Anything Gopeng: Phang See Kong, 85, was a teacher and headmaster in Gopeng. From the 1990s to 2008 he was the special assistant to Gopeng Member of Parliament and Housing and Local Government Minister  Tan Sri Dr Ting Chew Peh.
Against the backdrop of a turbulent era, the Eu family had its fair share of challenges.
In 1891, the 14 -year old Tong Sen survived a skin rash that killed Eu Kong( 1853 – 1891).
Two years later, Eu Kong’s second wife  Mun Woon Chang  (1857- 1893) died mysteriously on board a  ship while Tong Sen and her 10-year-old adopted daughter Zu Yi miraculously survived.
The trio  were on a visit to the Eu’s ancestral home in Foshan, China and had a farewell dinner  shortly before they boarded the ship to Malaya, according to a book by  Ilsa Sharp,  titled Path of the Righteous Crane: The Life and Legacy of Eu Tong Sen.
There were allegations of poisoned food.
But fate had it that Mun – a shrewd, sophisticated and well-connected  businesswoman- had already put in place her plans for Tong Sen to receive  English education.
She felt that the few years of classic Chinese education Tong Sen received from his fengshui master grandfather Eu He Song  ( 1822- 1886)in his formative years was not enough to prepare Tong Sen to navigate life and do  great things.
Tong Sen had his English education in Penang and Ipoh from 1892 to 1898
Turning 21 in 1898 and ready to inherit the estate from his late parents, only to discover that his paternal uncles had already depleted the business.
Fortunately Tong Sen and Zu Yi who had offered to  sell her jewellery to salvage Yan Sang managed to  do so.
His education and exposure to Chinese and Western culture had given  him an edge on life in the colonial era.
In his 20s, Tong Sen  rose to become a prominent tycoon in tin mining and rubber  and he continued to give back to society.
Among others, he and several tycoons  joint force to spearhead an anti-opium and anti-gambling movement.
Tong Sen also donated to education and the needy.
He played the pianola and a big fan of the Chinese opera.
In 1910, Tong  Sen renamed Yan Sang to Eu Yan Sang (EYS) and expanded it to Singapore.
While EYS might not be a big revenue earner for Tong Sen  during his life time,  EYS and TCM  is his lasting legacy.
From its early days as Yan Sang and then EYS, the company has evolved to be a leader in TCM,  and the company is  currently valued at RM2.8 bil (SGD808 mil).
Yan  Sang  or EYS  has played a vital role in the Chinese community since its inception 145 years ago.
Besides TCM services, the shop also doubled up as a place to help migrant workers, many being illiterate, correspond with their families in China and remit money home. The only means of correspondence then was by   letters.
EYS continues to dominate the TCM sector since its inception, and it is a household name and a trusted brand for its quality-control.
Its range of goods and services has also evolved to meet modern day living; from herbal/tonic soups packages, drinks to Chinese festive  hampers.
On June 5,  2024, Singapore’s ChanelNewsAsia (CNA) reported that  a Japanese consortium – Mitsui & Co and Rohto Pharmaceutical -has acquired Eu Yan Sang for SGD695 mil (RM2.4 bil).
This is 86% of the deal that values Eu Yan Sang at about SGD808 mil ( RM2.8 bil)
EYS operates more than 170 retail stores and 30 clinics in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia, according to the CNA  report on June 5, 2024.
Eu Yan Sang International chairman Richard Eu, also Eu Kong’s great grandson says the 145 year old company is looking forward to “continuing our journey with Rohto Pharmaceutical and Mitsui”.
While Tong Sen  was a tycoon with vast assets in Malaya, Singapore and Hong Kong via his business in tin mining and  rubber,  Eu Yan Sang remained close at heart for him and some members in his family.
Tong Sen  passed away in Hong Kong on May 11, 1941 ;  and  the Japanese troops descended on Hong Kong on Christmas Day that same year.
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It is about bringing out the character

Let the music speaks: Concert pianist Lee Jae Phang at Yamaha Music Centre in Kelana Jaya on July 9, 2024.
By Foong Pek Yee
July 12, 2024
While each and every piece of music is unique and captivating , skills  are needed to bring out their character.
This applies to music at any level.
Thus, a grade one piece may appear easy,  but it is no less captivating  compared to pieces from higher grades.
To bring out the character of a piece of music requires, among others,  a combination of one’s acquired skills,  professional guidance, hard work and deliberate practice.
“It is about the communication, interpretation and delivery of each piece; the technical challenges,”  says concert pianist and music teacher Lee Jae Phang at an event in Yamaha Music Centre , Kelana Jaya, Selangor on July 9, 2024.
The event, jointly organized by Yamaha Music Centre and Harmony Music Centre, Damansara Utama,  focused on ABRSM pieces Grade One to Eight 2025 and 2026 pieces.
Lee Jae plays  pieces from each grade before highlighting  their character,  technical challenges, how to tackle them and bringing a level of deep connection between the audience and the piece.
Bringing musical excellence around the world : Yamaha Music Malaysia managing director Jin Katagiri speaking at the opening of  the event in Yamaha Music Centre in Kelana Jaya on July 9, 2024.
A passion for music:  John (left) who owns Harmony Music Centre  at the event in Yamaha Music Centre in Kelana Jaya on July 9, 2024, was seen sharing some thoughts with his friend.
Concert Pianist Lee Jae Phang.
Lee Jae is a Malaysian and he won the Audience Prize and the 1st Beethoven Performance Award in the Beethoven Piano Festival in Altaussee, Austria in 2016.
Getting  his first diploma in piano at the age of 11, he  went to the United Kingdom (UK) to continue his education not long after.
Lee Jae has Masters of Music in Performance (MMus) with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of  Music, Manchester, UK and a Fellow of the Royal School of Music (FRSM) with Distinction.

On the right note and enlightening

Internationally renowned Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra leads the way.
June 25, 2024
By Foong Pek Yee
FOR many, it is a walk down memory lane.
And for  music lovers, it is a performance by a world class orchestra not to be missed.
The good news is this  August will see the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO), established in 1977,   performing in Malaysia for the first time –  Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Debut Malaysia Tour 2024.
To date, the orchestra has been invited to perform at famous venues and festivals all over the world, including Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and the Arctic Circle.
The upcoming performance in Malaysia, organized by Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), will be held at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur on August 3 and 4,  and at the Dewan Tan Sri Loh  Boon Siew in Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology  (TAR UMT) in Penang on August 7.
Under the guidance of HKCO resident conductor Chew Hee Chiat, the  performance comprises two series.
Dynamism: Chew Hee Chiat who joined Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 2002, has a Master of Music in orchestra conducting from the University of South Carolina. He also holds a double Bachelors degree in cello performance and computer science from the Southeast Missouri State University.  He is  now HKCO’s  assistant artistic director and resident conductor (photo: hkco.org).
Chew says  the “Classic Series” on the August 3 performance at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in Kuala Lumpur  is from HKCO’s  reserved repertoire of Chinese classic  music and also works by Hong Kong composers.
The program (based on hkco.org) :
The Chorale of Spring Ng King-pan.
Essence (The sixth movement from Ji) Ng Cheuk-yin
Jing‧Qi‧Shen Chan Ming-chi , Sanxian, Narrative Singing and Orchestra
Song of the Black Earth  Sui Lijun. Lyrics by Shang Cunbao
Sanxian: Zhao Taisheng
Kampung and the City Chow Jun Yi (Chinese music without bounds international composition competition original composition- Best Orchestra Work)
Follow the Pagoda Tree to Trace the Roots of Our Ancestors  Zhao Jiping
The Yellow River Capriccio Cheng Dazhao
And the “Movie and Television Series”  includes some popular theme songs from Hong Kong will be held at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 4.
The program (based on hkco.org) :

 

Theme from Laputa Joe Hisaishi Arr. by Chew Hee Chiat

Malaysia Pop Songs
Getaran Jiwa P. Ramlee  Arr. by Kong Su-leong

Dikir Puteri   Pak Ngah Arr. by Chew Hee Chiat

Sinaran       Azlan Abu Hasan      Arr. by Tan Kah Yong

Impossible Medley    Arr. by Ng King-pan

Vocal and orchestra Light of Life lyrics by Kwok-Kong Cheng, Chelsia Cheng  Arr by Chan Ka-wing.

Sam’s Songs in the Movies    Sam Hui    Arr. by Ng Cheuk-yin

Love of the Past   Joseph Koo  (Gu Jia Hui)    Arr. by Tan Kah Yong

Time We Have Gone Through Together    Wu Wai-lap     Arr. by Ng Cheuk-yin

A Medley of Themes from Television Drama Series   Joseph Koo (Gu Jia Hui).

The program (based on hkco.org)  for the performance at  the Dewan Tan Sri Loh Boon Siew, TAR UMT in Penang on August 7:
Theme from Laputa　Joe Hisaishi　Arr. by Chew Hee Chiat
Malaysia Pop Songs
Getaran Jiwa　P. Ramlee　Arr. by Kong Su-leong
 Dikir Puteri   Pak Ngah  Arr. by Chew Hee Chiat
Sing Sing Sing  Louis Prima   Arr. by Ng King-pan
A Medley of Themes from Television Drama Series　Joseph Koo (Gu Jia Hui)
Follow the Pagoda Tree to Trace the Roots of Our Ancestors　Zhao Jiping
The Yellow River Capriccio　Cheng Dazhao
Celebrating Milestones:  Music is the bridge. UTAR  president Datuk Prof Dr Ewe Hong Tat during a press conference on HKCO  (photo: utar.edu.my).
Updating details of the event at a  press conference on June 6 , Dr Ewe  highlighted its significance as” an event in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China”.
“It is more than promoting the appreciation of Chinese orchestra music.
 ” It is  a platform for cultural  exchange, appreciation  and networking .”
Works from famous  Malaysian composers; Chow Jun Yi’s Kampung and the City , Azlan Abu Hasan (Sinaran) and P Ramlee (Getaran Jiwa) will also be featured at the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra – Debut Malaysia Tour 2024,
Double celebration: Puan Sri Chelsia Cheng (third from right)  and  Dr Ewe (third from left) at the press conference on the HKCO ‘s upcoming performance in Malaysia in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Malaysia China diplomatic relations. 
And it was also 50 years ago  (1974) when she  as Chan Chau Ha then went into showbiz (photo:  utar.edu.my)
 Puan Sri Chelsia  -an  award winning actress, singer and songwriter – will be special guest performer on August 4.
Winner of the Golden Horse Award for Best Actress in 1976 , Puan Sri Chelsia  remains a household name and influential figure with her charm and charisma.
Joining force to bring in Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra -Debut Malaysia Tour 2024 are the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, the Professional Cultural Center Orchestra, Pertubuhan Hui Yin Seh Ayer Itam and media partners- Sin Chew Daily, Guang Ming Daily, Mango Media and Star Media Group.
For further enquiries on the event, contact Ms Hee (016-3312561) Mr Lim (016-4150325)

More and more young South Koreans opt to remain single.

Coping with modernity:  Younger generation of South Koreans are at the crossroads. (photo taken in Myeongdong on Feb 3, 2024).
May 2, 2024
By Foong Pek Yee
The streets in Songpadong in Seoul are quiet on a winter evening.
We enter a cafe packed with young people, much to our relief  we spotted an empty table for two.
Chloe , 31,  says the cafe is her favourite,  and that its roof top section commands a panoramic view of the city skyline.
That was in February this year.
It is a matter of  choice : The lifestyle of many young South Koreans today is very different from that of their parents. (photo taken in Songpadong on Feb 8, 2024) 
That evening at the cafe came to my mind recently – prompted by screaming headlines: the number of single – person households in South Korea have exceeded the 10 million mark for the first time in history!
Two million out of the 10 million single-person households are in Seoul, and Chloe is  one of them.
This is because she is single and staying on her own.
Her parents who stay together  come under the two-person household category.
According to official statistics,  the 10.02 million single – person households is  a whopping 41.8% of the 24 million households in South Korea.
The rest include  5.9 million two – person households and 3.1 million four person households.
The country’s population is 51 million.
The Korean Herald on March 17, 2024,  reported that only 50%  of South Korea’s adult population are keen to get married, quoting  findings by the presidential committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy .
For instance, Chloe loves music and travelling while her mother was already married in her mid 20s.
Many young South Koreans today have the means to live life on their own terms, and  marriage and starting a family before one turns 30 is increasingly rare.
With extended family no longer common in South Korea today, many elderly also fall into the single-person household category  when their spouse passed away.
And South Korea is set to be a super ageing society next year (2025 ); meaning those aged above 65 comprise more than 10 million and the figure is over 20% of the country’s 51 million population , reports The Korean Herald on April 23, 2024.
As time goes by: Many traders in traditional markets in Seoul are middle age or elderly people. (photo taken in Namdaemun on Feb 6, 2024)
Keeping a tradition :  Traditional Korean cakes are still a must during festive season like Seollal ( Lunar New Year) and for  ancestral prayers in South Korea.(Photo taken in Namdaemun on Feb 6, 2024)
Economic considerations, increasing life challenges and uncertainties  and choice of lifestyle are among factors that influenced South Koreans’ thinking on marriage and family.

Different journey, same destination

Significance: Trio Mastro’s recital titled Visions in Petaling Jaya on April 7, 2024 highlights the musical journey of renowned composers -Joseph Haydn, Antonin Dvorak and Vasyl Barvinsky.

By Foong Pek  Yee.

foongpekyee@gmail.com

April 12, 2024

Joseph Haydn ( 1732-1809)  was a court musician for the very wealthy and influential Esterhazy family near Vienna.
It was certainly more than a prestigious job for the Austrian composer whose talent and potential was recognized and admired by the head of the Esterhazy family, Prince Nikolaus.
 Thus, the gifted Haydn,  who was under the employment of the Esterhazy for 30 years,  found himself a conducive environment to develop and excel in his music.
His works like the piano trios, string quartets and symphonies set the stage for later development of the genre by renowned composers including Beethoven.
 Meanwhile Antonin Dvorak’s composition “Dumky” trio is an unusual format of five interconnected movements, and the Czech composer  (1841-1904) is also known as the  master of melody.
Unlike Haydn and Dvorak who were  from humble background and had to fend for themselves in the early part of their career, Ukrainian composer Vasyl Barvinsky (1888- 1963) was from an older aristocratic family.
Barvinsky’s father was a public figure,  while his  mother who was a pianist and singer was his first music teacher.
He drew heavily in Ukranian folk influence for his piano trio.
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Choice compositions:  The works of Haydn, Dvorak and Barvinsky played by Trio Mastro at their recital titled Visions in Yin Qi  Music,  Petaling Jaya, on April 7, 2024.
In harmony:  Trio Mastro and their audience on April 7, 2024.
In  Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on April 7, 2024,  Trio Mastro showcased the works of Haydn, Dvorak and Barvinsky in a recital titled Visions: Works by Haydn, Dvorak and Barvinsky.
“The recital showcases music by visionary composers,” says Lee Jae Phang, Trio Mastro’ s pianist.
The other two members of Trio Mastro are cellist Lyubomira Stankova and violinist cum composer Hank Su Ren Han.
Lee Jae is Malaysian, Lyu a Bulgarian and Hank a Taiwanese.
The three award-winning musicians  have chalked up many years honing their skills and performing abroad.
They first met in Kuala Lumpur end of 2022, formed Trio Mastro not long after and currently based in Malaysia.
Lee Jae says Trio Mastro will continue to have recitals at different venues in the Klang Valley to share their music as far as possible.

The power of music

Beethoven and the Cello: Lee Jae Phang (left) and Lyubomira Stankova in Kuala Lumpur on March 3, 2024

By Foong Pek Yee

March 14, 2024
THE recital – Beethoven and the Cello : An epic musical journey – by concert pianist Lee Jae Phang and cellist Lyubomira Stankova is certainly more than beautiful music.
It saw Lee Jae and Lyu setting a new record in classical music for Malaysia!
“Complete cycles of Beethoven’s works are occasionally performed in Europe and the United States, but seldom presented in Asia.
“Our research shows that our project to perform all the cello and piano works(five sonatas AND three variations) has never been done in Malaysia,” says Lee Jae of their  two-day recital on March 2 and 3 in Kuala Lumpur.
At Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall last August, Lee Jae says Altenburg Arts presented cellist Yibai Chen and pianist Boyang Shi performing the complete works over two recitals as well.
Beethoven and the Cello – In Kuala Lumpur on March 2, 2024
Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2 (25 mins)
Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102, No. 1 (17 mins)
Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69 (27 mins)
Beethoven and the Cello – In Kuala Lumpur on March 3, 2024
12 Variations on “See the conquering hero comes”, WoO 45 (13 mins)
Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 5, No. 1 (25 mins)
12 Variations on “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen”, Op. 66 (10 mins)
7 Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen”, WoO 46 (10 mins)
Sonata No. 5 in D major, Op. 102, No. 2 (16 mins)
No ordinary recital: Lee Jae and Lyu performing in Kuala Lumpur on March 2, 2024.
Lee Jae points out that to play a complete cycle of any genre of Beethoven’s works (the piano sonatas or the string quartets for example) requires a performer to be simultaneously  a master of their instrument and also a mature musician.
Beethoven seldom repeats himself musically, preferring instead to continuously push the boundaries of musical expression and possibility; each of the five cello sonatas are therefore individual creations with distinct musical characteristics.
This means that a performer who performs the entire cycle has to effectively and convincingly switch between musical characters on stage.
A performer who is less skilled and experienced will be less successful at communicating vividly the different characters and shades of meaning found within each of the pieces.
Lee Jae  and Lyu also conducted masterclasses on March 3.
Young and talented : Lee Jae (far left) and Lyu (far right) with their students at the masterclasses on March 3, 2024.
Each of the four students performed their choice of works by Beethoven.
Lee Jae and Lyu gave them musical and technical feedback to help them improve in their playing.
A special element of the masterclasses was the opportunities that the students were given to play either with Lyu or with Lee Jae.
Important insights: Lyu with a student at the masterclasses.
Talented and confident : Lee Jae with a student at the masterclasses.
Apart from playing a movement from a piano sonata of their choice, the students also chose a section of a piano and cello work to play with Lyu.
This allows them to experience and learn the art of playing chamber music.
The cello students had the opportunity to play a cello and piano work, accompanied by Lee Jae.