{"id":4251,"date":"2024-07-19T03:22:31","date_gmt":"2024-07-19T03:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/?p=4251"},"modified":"2024-07-26T16:27:37","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T16:27:37","slug":"he-lives-and-breathes-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/he-lives-and-breathes-music\/","title":{"rendered":"He lives and breathes music"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>A typical day for Eric Lee is an\u00a0 hour of jogging in the morning followed by\u00a0 three hours of music practice.\u00a0 This distinguished conductor and trombonist sees perseverance, discipline and focus as not only a must in a person&#8217;s musical pursuit but also an integral part of character building.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div dir=\"auto\">By Foong Pek Yee<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"mailto:foongpekyee@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">foongpekyee@gmail.com<\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">July 18, 2024<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">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&#8217;s mind.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">It was in 1997 , and he\u00a0 got a full scholarship to study trombone in HKAPA- Asia&#8217;s top performing arts centre.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">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.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">He also studied with renowned trombonists like John Swallow, Scott Hartman and Jan Mortensen and conducted with Mark Shanahan.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">At 52, Eric was first introduced to trombone at age 13 when he joined the Catholic High School Symphonic Band.\u00a0 He was a student at the Catholic High School in Petaling Jaya.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">He never looked back since then.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">In 1994, he founded the PJ Youth Symphonic Band as a platform for young musicians to develop their skills<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">For six consecutive years, starting 1996, Eric was selected to represent Malaysia in the Asia Youth Orchestra (AYO) that saw him performing\u00a0 in 40 cities across 20 countries.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">The tours include performing in prestigious venues\u00a0 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.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">This\u00a0 certainly is a dream for many young and aspiring musicians.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Eric subsequently founded the Philharmonic\u00a0 Winds of Malaysia (formerly known as the Symphonic Winds of the National Symphony Orchestra)\u00a0 and the National Band Director Association of Malaysia.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Upon his return from Hong Kong in 1999, Eric made his conducting debut with the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra for the production of &#8220;Johan and Si Belang,&#8221; which is Malaysia&#8217;s version of &#8220;Peter and the Wolf&#8221;.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Later that year he conducted a critically acclaimed local production of &#8220;The Sound of Music&#8221;.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">\u00a0Eric is\u00a0 currently the president of the\u00a0 National Band Director Association of Malaysia and the principal trombone of the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia.<\/div>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4259\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?resize=500%2C461&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?resize=500%2C461&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?resize=1024%2C944&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?resize=768%2C708&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?resize=13%2C12&amp;ssl=1 13w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0005.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 85vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The leader:\u00a0 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\u00a0 is also a recipient of Malaysia&#8217;s Anugerah Seni Negara (National\u00a0 Young Music Director\u00a0 Award) for young music directors in 2006.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4253\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?resize=500%2C333&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0007.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 85vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>To lead and serve : Eric who is currently the Artistic Director\u00a0 and Resident Conductor of the Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia sees music as a platform to do good.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4254\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?resize=500%2C375&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?resize=500%2C375&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?resize=16%2C12&amp;ssl=1 16w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0004.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 85vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>In harmony: Eric conducting a rehearsal for Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4255\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?resize=500%2C333&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?resize=768%2C511&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0003.jpg?w=1080&amp;ssl=1 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 85vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The nation&#8217;s pride:\u00a0 The concert themed &#8221; Discover Malaysian Folk Song&#8221; by Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-4256\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0010.jpg?resize=486%2C500&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"486\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0010.jpg?resize=486%2C500&amp;ssl=1 486w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0010.jpg?resize=768%2C790&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0010.jpg?resize=12%2C12&amp;ssl=1 12w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/thevillagemyhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/IMG-20240711-WA0010.jpg?w=810&amp;ssl=1 810w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 486px) 85vw, 486px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"adL\" dir=\"auto\">\u00a0<strong>Music is borderless : Eric conducting the Austria upper army band.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Also a regular guest player with several orchestras at a regional level, Eric has appeared as a\u00a0 guest principal with orchestras like the Macau Symphony Orchestra, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra,\u00a0 Bangkok Opera.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Apart from that, Eric is\u00a0 frequently invited to adjudicate international band competitions and conducts workshops and concerts across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.<\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\" dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"adL\" dir=\"auto\">Beneath all the glamour, education remains Eric&#8217;s enduring legacy in the music world &#8211; his dedication to performance and leadership training goes a long way in inspiring countless young musicians all around the world and elevating\u00a0 the standards of symphonic music in Malaysia.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">He is set to continue to help shape the musical journeys of students in Malaysia, ensuring the continued growth and excellence of the nation&#8217;s musical talent; testimony to this is his remarkable achievements in leading and developing wind bands, chamber music, and orchestras.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">And Eric has a family orchestra together\u00a0 with his wife Chew Yi Chien who is a pianist and violinist, and their sons\u00a0 15-year -old Marques and 10-year-old Kyle who plays\u00a0 the trombone and trumphet respectively.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Yi Chien, 44,\u00a0 is the music department head at Mont Kiara International School.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\">Eric says Yi Chien&#8217;s unwavering support for him has enabled him to focus on his musical pursuit.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/DMt1V8Sucvg?si=1IVxQK-t_95pGrOP\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/DMt1V8Sucvg?si=1IVxQK-t_95pGrOP<\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/YrZWlVATVm8?si=-WskBM9Irk5q_4dm\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/YrZWlVATVm8?si=-WskBM9Irk5q_4dm<\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/_4HnfX1VY7U?si=WdN7D2yGW0ieKOV5\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/_4HnfX1VY7U?si=WdN7D2yGW0ieKOV5<\/a><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"auto\"><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/O5SDsFMurrc?si=LwYa8VJP9vpTzxsQ\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/O5SDsFMurrc?si=LwYa8VJP9vpTzxsQ<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A typical day for Eric Lee is an\u00a0 hour of jogging in the morning followed by\u00a0 three hours of music practice.\u00a0 This distinguished conductor and trombonist sees perseverance, discipline and focus as not only a must in a person&#8217;s musical pursuit but also an integral part of character building. By Foong Pek Yee foongpekyee@gmail.com July &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/he-lives-and-breathes-music\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;He lives and breathes music&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52],"tags":[417,413,415,416,414],"class_list":["post-4251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-people","tag-catholic-high-school","tag-eric-lee","tag-istana-budaya","tag-philharmonic-winds-of-malaysia","tag-trombone"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4251"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4347,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4251\/revisions\/4347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevillagemyhome.com\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}