Veronica Leong of Joyous Music Centre with Eugene Pook, Executive Director of Ipoh Music Festival |
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 3rd 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 |
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 |
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 |
“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 |
“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.
“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 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) |
“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.
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