Ipoh Music Festival 2017

Veronica Leong of Joyous Music Centre with Eugene Pook, Executive Director of Ipoh Music Festival

The recently concluded Ipoh Music Festival organized by talented Executive director Eugene Pook and supported by Joyous Music Centre was an astounding success. 

The two days of the Festival consisted of the competition offering categories of Piano solo, solo instrument, Chamber Ensemble and choir with attractive cash prizes. The first prize paid Rm8000.00, Rm 6,000.00 and the 3^rd prize Rm3000.00. 

24 Season Drums gave a thunderous impact at the Opening of the  Gala Concert

The adjudicators for the competition were all renowned and accomplished musicians  who doubled up to perform on the first night’s Opening Gala Concert.

Artiste and adjudicator. Dennis Lee and wife Chee Hung Toh both accomplished pianists.

Artiste / adjudicator. (l-r) Toko Inomoto (Violin, Japan), Rena Cheung (Piano, Hong Kong) and Dr Karen Lonsdale (flute, Australia) 

Artiste / adjudicator. (l-r) Brian Larson (Violin,Canada), Loo Bang Hean (piano, Malaysia), Leslie Tan (cello, Singapore) Dr Andrew Filmer (viola, Malaysia)

On the second day saw at the Closing Gala Concert where the first prize winners from the various category’s performing allowing them a platform to show their talents.

Soh Wei Qi, First prize winner Piano Category

It was an international event as the competitors consisted  of Singaporeans and Thai and the adjudicators and performers consisted of Japanese, Canadian and Chinese to name a few.

Eugene Pook the Festivals Executive Director said Joyous Music Centre approached him at the beginning of the year to organize a competition with attractive cash prizes.

“I agreed but since the judges who were coming were professionals I suggested to turn it into a festival. Besides it was also Visit Perak Year. And that was how it was the first Ipoh Music Festival came about”

Finalists for the Solo (Open) Category

We had over 200 applicant’s for the preliminary round. They each sent their video and a panel of fourteen judges filtered down to 100 competitors and selected the finalists to come to Ipoh.

In the Chamber Ensemble category we set a minimum of three and a maximum of nine players.

Overall the event being a higher level of competition attracted a competitive crowd consisting of graduates and even professionals partly due to the cash prizes.

Above - Finalist in the Chamber Music Category

Pook who is Ipoh born when asked why did he want to have it in Ipoh said unlike in KL Ipoh does not have the quality musicians

“I’ve brought this festival home so our student don’t have to travel far to be inspired and motivate them”

First prize winner, UiTM Chamber Choir, Choir Category

PSPA Singers. Choir category

deVokalis@UPSI Choir

Veronica Leong the Chairman of the Festival and Principal of Joyous Music Centre said the event was to cultivate young talent and more musicians.

“The Festival aims to provide a platform for budding young talents to be inspired and broaden their musical horizon.

“Playing to an audience in a concert and to an audience is totally different to showoff ones skill and technique. We want to allow student a platform to give their all out to perform”  

Joyous very generously put up the cash prizes which amounted to Rm70,000.00 excluding other expenses.

Joyous Music Centre started in 2009 and to date has 4 branches. Besides music education it also sells music products and organizing concerts.

Dr Andrew Filmer on Day 2 at a workshop, Purposeful Practice; Strategies and Approaches

First prize winner in the Piano category Soh Wei Qi from Singapore described the competition as unique.

“I learnt a lot. It was very competitive and international, mixing with other musicians and exploring music. It was a unique experience”

For Stephen Tseu Tze Jie (cello), Keng Xin Tian (violin) and Wong Hui Yun (piano) winners of the Chamber Music category from Kuala Lumpur this was their first time ever they had played together in a competition.

First prize winner Chamber Music Category, Keng Xin Tian (violin) Stephen Tseu (Cello), Wong Hui Yun (Piano)

“For chamber musicians this is a great platform as it gives us an opportunity to show our skill. Other than that the prize money is very motivating” said Stephen Tseu who declared that the trio had just started playing together as a group at the beginning of this year.

First prize winner Jirajet Thawornsiri (Tenor Trombone)

Jirajet Tharwornsiri the first prize winner in the solo category playing Tenor Trombone said in Thailand the competition was confined to similar instrument.

“Here the solo is open to all instruments and is much more challenging. The prize money was good and it was of international standard. I will come back again.”

It looks like the Festival is going to be a permanent feature for Ipoh. Will it. Time will tell.

JAG.