Tag: beethoven

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 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.

Beethoven is more than the piano

Concert pianist Lee Jae Phang(right) and professional cellist Lyubomira Stankova.

MENTION Beethoven (Ludwig Van Beethoven), the piano comes to one’s mind.

In the classical music world, Beethoven (1770-1827) who ranked among the world’s greatest composers, had also written several works for the cello and piano as a duo combination.

In his hands, the cello gained independence and assumed a more soloistic role in an ensemble context.

A piano and cello recital on March 2 and March 3, 2024 by  concert pianist Lee Jae Phang and professional cellist Lyubomira Stankova is set to be a very enlightening experience.

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A date in October

By Foong Pek Yee
foongpekyee@gmail.com.

Oct 12, 2023

MUSIC is central in every culture and transcends time.

It has profound influence on major aspects of  life; from character building to health and well being  while science continues to discover the many wonders of music.

And the musical journey of concert pianist Lee Jae Phang is testimony.

Lee Jae Phang

Getting his first diploma in piano at the age of 11,  he learned the importance of perseverance  and commitment at a young age.

Not long after, he went to the United Kingdom(UK)  to continue his education.

Under prominent mentors, Lee Jae has gained invaluable guidance, experiences and the many opportunities for him to excel.

Among others, he participated in master classes conducted by renowned pianists like Sir Stephen Hough CBE, members of the Julliard School Faculty and esteemed figures like Philippe Cassard and Michel Beroff.

Winning the Audience Prize and the 1st Beethoven Performance Award in the Beethoven Piano Festival in Altaussee, Austria in 2016 marked a major milestone for him.

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.

The accomplished Malaysian pianist’s  track record at home and abroad speaks volumes.

His influence extends to teaching, conducting lectures and master classes for advanced piano students.

Lee Jae who has ongoing recitals in Yamaha Music Malaysia is known for his impressive Beethoven Piano Sonatas Cycle.

He was a judge for the prestigious Chopin Society of Malaysia’s International Music Competition.

Earlier this year, the distinguished performer , teacher, accompanist and chamber musician was on a concert tour in Phnom Penh, Cambodia organised by the German-Cambodian Cultural Society.

The highlight of the tour was Lee Jae’s piano recital hosted by the German Ambassador .

His passion for Beethoven music is reflected in his comprehensive recording of the composer’s piano sonatas available on his YouTube channel.

He will be conducting a lecture recital in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 29, 2023.

For bookings, please call/whatsapp

017-2150900 (Roy)

012-2405016 (Joy)

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