Prelude Academy of Music

kinder beat

2008-07-06T04:10:00.000-07:00

Enrol Now!

2008-06-15T00:43:00.000-07:00

For more information please call us at 086-316051; 016-886-2016

April Concert in KK and Miri

2008-04-17T16:43:00.000-07:00

There will be Violin & Piano Recitals by 2 Australians on Wednesday 16 April in KK and at GCM Miri on Thursday 17 April which are supported by the Australia-Malaysia Institute. Please click here for more detail.

Student Concert at Prelude Academy of Music

2008-03-31T23:06:00.000-07:00

The response was good. A successful student concert indeed. Very encouraging.

Launching of new music program - "Kinder Beat"

2008-03-31T20:15:00.000-07:00

Kinder Beat in progress:

Looks like everyone is having a good time while learning!

Admin clerk wanted!

2008-02-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Prelude Academy of Music, a fast-growing music education provider in Bintulu, is looking for an admin clerk to facilitate the growing in business. The candidate should have at least SPM qualification, 1 to 2 years related experience and willing to work odd hours.

Interested candidates, please call 016-8380966 to arrange for an interview. Alternatively, email your resume to preludeacademyofmusic@gmail.com.

Notice

2008-02-15T05:25:00.000-08:00

Dear All

With effective from 16th Feb 2008, I quit as the the manager of Prelude Academy of Music, Bintulu Sarawak. This blog, therefore, will be maintained by Mdm. Grace Lee, the owner of Prelude Academy of Music.

Any matter concerning Prelude Academy of Music, please email to her at preludeacademyofmusic@gmail.com.

Thank you very much!

Thomas Hii Chun Kiet

Li Fei & Lau Boung Hoo Cello Recital

2008-01-27T21:21:00.000-08:00

The organisers and the performers

(Left to right: Thomas, Boung Hoo, Li Fei & Joseph)

During the performance

Li Fei and Boung Hoo in action!

We have successfully organised Li Fei & Lau Boung Hoo Cello Recital on 27 January 2008 at New World Suites. We thank teachers and students for pushing the tickets and also staffs of New World Suites (namely Richard Kueh, Mike, Wellson and Christina) for helps.

We are looking forward for another concert to be held at the same place soon.

Cello & Piano Recital

2008-01-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

We will have a cello and piano recital on this coming 27th January 2008 (Sunday), 7:15pm, at New World Ballroom of New World Suites. The performers are none other than our cellist, Mr Li Fei and Mr Lau Boung Hoo, the pianist.

Mr Li Fei graduated from Jilin University, China, with a degree in cello performance. He is now the cello teacher for Huai An Methodist Church (Sibu), Prelude Academy of Music (Bintulu) and Chicago School of Music (Miri).

Mr Lau, on the other hand, holds a Master of Art (MA) and Bachelor of Music (BM) in piano performance and music composition from Chicago's DePaul University, USA. He was the winner of music talent award by DePaul School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Currently, he is the music director for Chicago School of Music.

Tickets will be available at RM25 and it is limited for 100 pax only. For more information, please contact Mr Thomas at 086-316051, 016-8862016 or email to preludeacademyofmusic@gmail.com.

Similar concert will be held in Miri and Sibu. Feel free to contact Mr Lau at 013-8388126 (Miri) and Mr Sii at 012-8861305 (Sibu).

Welcome new teachers

2008-01-07T06:21:00.000-08:00

I would like to that this opportunity to welcome our new teachers at Prelude Academy of Music:

Miss Loh Ing Eng - She is a degree holder majoring in education. She has passed her Grade 8 Piano after 4 years of learning with Mr Thomas Ling in Sibu. She is currently teaching in SMK Bintulu. She will be teaching piano at Prelude Academy of Music on part time basis.
Mr Mark Wong - He is persueing upper six this year. He has passed his ALCM in piano performance and ATCL in violin recital in 2007. He will be teaching piano, violin, viola, flute and clarinet in Prelude Academy of Music.
Mr Yio Kheng Shii - He is now in final year in secondary school. He has passed his Grade 8 in violin in 2006 and is planning for ATCL in violin recital in 2008. He is very active in SM Kai Dee, a core leader in Chinese Orchestra. He will teach violin in Prelude Academy of Music
Mr Lionel Ling - He is entering his lower six this year. He has passed his Grade 8 piano and Grade 8 classical guitar. He will be teaching piano and guitar in this music school.
Mr Tan Yi Chong - He has passed his Grade 8 piano with merit in 2007, and is preparing for his ATCL this year. He will be teaching piano in this music school, the place where he ventured into music for the first time.
Mr Hwang Chyi Tao - He has passed his Grade 5 theory in a short span of 8 months. He is preparing for his Grade 6 piano and Grade 3 saxophone in year 2008.

At this moment, we have a total number of 12 teachers. Our existing teachers are Mr Andrew Hii, Miss Viola Wong, Mr James Lau, Mr Joseph Hiii, Mr Li Fei and Mr Thomas Hii. We hope all of us will work together to bring music to people of Bintulu and make Prelude Academy of Music the Number 1 music school in Bintulu.

Music Teachers wanted!!!!!

2007-09-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

Due to expansion, we are now looking for more teachers to join our team as music teachers.

Instrument:

Piano, Classical Guitar, Woodwind and Brass Instruments

Requirements:

Music Degree or Diploma preferred!

However, if you have at least Grade 8 in your instrument and at least Grade 5 in music theory (ABRSM or Trinity Guildhall), you are welcomed too!

Experience:

Fresh graduates are welcomed!

Other requirement:

Like to meet with kids, love to teach, passion for music!

Remuneration:

Based on your qualification and experience!

Interested candidates, please call Grace Lee at 016-8380966 or Thomas at 016-8862016 or drop by to Prelude Academy of Music located at 2nd Floor, No 26, Lot 3312, Parkcity Commerce Square, Jalan Diwarta, 97000 Bintulu.

Alternatively, you could also send in your resume to preludeacademy@gmail.com. Qualified candidates will be informed for an audition.

For more information, please log on to http://www.preludeacademyofmusic.blogspot.com/.

Thank you!

Young Conductor

2007-09-05T03:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v37nDF8I_I

A young boy conducting a children choir of over 30 people during 15th KK Music Festival. Fantastic!

KK Music Festival

2007-09-04T21:18:00.000-07:00

Good Harvest indeed! Our Prelude Academy of Music contingent has swept quite a number of trophies from the Kota Kinabalu Music Festival 2007 organised by the KK Music Society at the Pacific Sutera Harbour Hotel on 31 August 2007.

1st Price: Prelude String Quartet, Yio Kheng Shii, Wong Ping Hang

2nd Price: Alex Lim, Mark Wong

3rd Price: Ting Yoon Chuan, Michael Lau

Congratulation to all winners. These are the results of hard work and doing their best and not forgetting the support from the parents. Keep it up!

The team with Mr. Yap Ling at KK International Airport before leaving.

Li Fei & Yap Ling

2007-08-14T05:23:00.000-07:00

Li Fei is our cello teacher from China and Yap Ling (PAM Advisor)

Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley concert Bintulu

2007-08-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

Yap Ling and Geoffrey Pratley in action!
Another photo taken during Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley in action!
Pratley signing on Joe's antique violin!!
Yap Ling, Geoffrey Pratley and Thomas Hii (the organiser of the concert)

Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley concert was held in Ming Ong Methodist Church on 11 August 2007 (Saturday). The hall was packed with over 200 audience. Another successful concert.

Special thanks to all who helped in the sale of tickets (Mdm Ting, Irene, Mdm Chiu and Lily from Great Land Music, Roxana from Praise Music, Mdm Joanne from Do Re Mi Music and etc) and those who worked behind the scene (Joe, Vincent Law, Mark Wong, Mdm Lau Nguk Ing, Tiong Su Fung etc) .

And billions thanks to Ming Ong Methodist Church for renting us the hall. Also not forgetting Mr Ngo from Sin Chew Daily, Ms Kho from United Daily, Mr Jimmy Wong and Miss Shirley Ting from See Hua Daily and Patrick from Borneo Post for their publicity in the respective newspapers.

~wow~

Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley concert is here.. 11 August 2007

2007-08-07T22:26:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, 11 August 2007

Time: 7.30pm

Venue: Ming Ong Methodist Church
(2 1/2 KM Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Bintulu)

Organised by Feeltone Classical

Presented by Prelude Academy of Music

(For tickets enquiries - please call 086-316051; 086-331621; 016-8862016)

Ticket available: RM25 for adult and RM20 for students

Geoffrey Pratley has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as one of Britain’s best known accompanists. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music he went on to accompany many world famous singers and instrumentalists in concert worldwide , especially the mezzo soprano Dame Janet Baker, the French cellist Paul Tortelier and the leading British violinist of his time, Ralph Holmes; others include Placido Domingo, Leon Goosen, Jack Brymer, Rita Streich, Takayoshi Wanami and many more. He has also broadcast widely on radio and television; especially notable were his appearances on BBC2TV as accompanist to Tortelier’s famous Cello Masterclasses.He taught Piano Accompaniment and coached singers at the Royal Academy of Music from 1965 till June 2005, and he has taught at Trinity College of Music since 1990. His publications from Kevin Mayhew Ltd include “Great Operatic Melodies” arranged for piano duet, “Great Orchestral Melodies for Violin” (1 book) and for Cello (2 books), all arranged with piano accompaniment, “Six Irish Folksongs” and “Six English Folksongs,” most of which were written for Dame Janet Baker’s recitals. Other publishers include OUP, Faber Music, and Stainer and Bell.He has performed and taught in many countries, especially the Far East. His two-piano and piano duet partnership with Anne Applin performs a wide range of unusual items as well as more standard duet repertoire: in particular composer’s arrangements of their own works for four hands, mostly 19th Century items. He has also had a busy schedule as ABRSM examiner and Festival adjudicator for many years.

Yap Ling is a versatile musician who performs, teaches, conducts, arranges music and organises concerts. He started the violin with Marcus Leong and piano with Chan Hui Ling in Kuching. After obtaining his LRSM in 1986, he went to the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), London and studied with Clarence Myerscough. Later he was awarded the Sarawak Foundation Scholarship & RAM’s Alec Templeton Scholarship. While in London he was the Concertmaster for the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra and violinist for the Chelsea String Quartet, The London Chinese Ensemble and the Piano Trio under the Amadeus Quartet’s tutelage. Upgrading and performances has taken him to Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Moscow (Russia), China and USA.

In 1990, he participated in the 1st World Youth Music Camp in KL and the 1st Pacific Music Festival in Japan (under the baton of Maestro Leonard Bernstein). He represented Malaysia as a violin tutor in the 1991 ASEAN Youth Music Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was a string tutor at UNIMAS & conducted their orchestra. He was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the 1st and the 2nd Sarawak Music Camp in Kuching and Sibu respectively for 1999 and 2001. In 1997 he was conferred the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition for his contribution towards developing the music standard and promoting music in this part of the world.Now he is the conductor of Sabah Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), Kian Kok Youth Orchestra (KKYO), the Tshung Tsin String Orchestra, Bintulu String Orchestra and the Guest Conductor for the Miri Orchestra and Choir Society (MOCS). As a chamber musician, his Duos partnership with Singaporean violinist Foo Say Ming has him performing on the viola too. Yap Ling is also the violinist for the MP3rio (Piano Trio), the Malaysian Ars Nova Ensemble (String Quintet with Piano) and the L’espressivo Trio (Vocal-Violin-Piano) which have performed regularly in various parts of Malaysia.Besides giving regular recitals with his wife Grace Lee, he has also appeared as soloist with the Monash Simfonia in Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, the Penang Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) from KL playing the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto. He also conducted the Violin Masterclasses for ABRSM in Malaysia and regularly giving violin masterclasses and orchestra workshops throughout the country. Presently he also teaches at UMS.

Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley concert on 11 August

2007-07-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

Date: Saturday, 11 August 2007
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Ming Ong Methodist Church

(2 1/2 KM Jalan Sultan Iskandar, Bintulu)

Organised by Feeltone Classical
Presented by Prelude Academy of Music
(For tickets enquiries - please call 086-316051; 086-331621; 016-8862016)

Music Appreciation Workshop

2007-07-03T03:08:00.000-07:00

Music Appreciation Workshop

Details:

Date: 21st July 2007 (Saturday)

Time: 9:00 am to 11:00 am

Venue: Prelude Academy of Music

Tutor: Jonas Brolin (Trumpeter)

Pianist: Ong Wan Ping

Ticket: RM 35 per person

(For group registration, every five person registered, the sixth person FREE!)

For more information, please contact Thomas Hii at preludeacademyofmusic@gmail.com, or 016-8862016.

Below are the biographies of the tutors:

Born in Sweden, Jonas Brolin had attended Ingesunds folkögskola of Sweden before pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Royal Academy of Music in Denmark. In year 2006, he has completed his Master of Music (MMus) at London College of Music & Media (UK).

In 2004, he was a member of “Orkester Norden” Symphony Orchestra consisting young top musicians from the five Nordic conservatories. In 2005, he was the Principal trumpet, English Symphony Youth Orchestra. In the same year, he was awarded as Medal winner of The Worshipful Company of Musicians in London. The following year, he was awarded with a scholarship from Carl Göran Adelswärdh Music Foundation of Sweden besides winning the John Packer brass prize. In addition, he was the Principal trumpet of Deutsch-Skandinavische Jugend-Philharmonie.

Since 2006, he is a freelance musician in Sweden, Norway, Denmark as well as London. Currently he is a member of Oslo Brass and Holmia Concert Orchestra, Norway and he plays frequently with West London Sinfonia, South Bank Symphony, Misbourne Symphony Orchestra. LSE, Christmas Spectacular, Royal air force band, Norway. Besides, he has been appearing together with Mathew Taylor, Richard Jacklin, Ole Edvard Antonsen, Patrick Bailey, Philip Hersketh, Thomas Blunt, Neil Thompson and Christian Lindberg.

In 2006, he had performed in Vibe Church and Jerne Church of Denmark as well as solo recital at Summer Music Festival in Åtvidaberg of Sweden. The major repertoire he had performed include Verdi Requiem, Shostakovich’s Symphony No 8, Mahler’s Symphony No 5, Beethoven’s Symphonies No 5, No 6 and No 8, Elgar’s Enigma variations, Scrabin’s symphony No 1, and Handel’s Messiah oratorio.

Ong Wan Ping currently studies piano under Mr. Loo Bang Hean, and voice under Miss Tan Khar Gee.

She has performed with and accompanied different instrumentalists and singers in various concerts and competitions, such as the National Chinese Art Songs competition (for the elderly), Youth Symphony Orchestra concert (organized by Istana Budaya), Refugee: Images (the musical), and a choir concert organized by the Singapore Choir Association.

She gained a postgraduate certificate in piano performance from the London College of Music and Media in 2005. In the same year, she was awarded the Giuseppe Terroni Prize and nominated best postgraduate student by LCMM. She was one of two pianists chosen by LCMM to perform in that year’s gala concert. She explored an extensive and varied repertoire by Jonathan Harvey, Khachaturian, Olivier Messiaen, George Crumb, Shostakovich and others.

Her former teachers include Dr. Michael Shreider, Philip Mead, Au Yang Yao Chih, Tan Boon Gee, Thean Kin Pin, Cecilia Yap Keat Chee (voice), Yong Yew Yean (voice), Mayya Musaeva (violin), Lim Fang Chee, and Lim Cheng Leng. She has attended masterclasses by Paul Roberts, Bryce Morrison, Mark Kruger, Julian Jacobson, William Fong, Irina Ossipova, Ruth Haigh, Fazliddin Husanov, Leonid Kontorovski, Olga Malisova and others.

She is very active in music activities and music teaching. She is the member of the PJ Youth Chamber orchestra (violin) and the Sound Blender (voice), and is accompanist for various choirs. Currently she is the principal of the Musical Talent Education Centre.

The Malaysian Youth Music Festival 2007

2007-06-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

THE MALAYSIAN YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL

1st September 2007 9.00am-6.00pm

Patron Awards Concert 8:30pm

THE MALAYSIAN YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2007 is a music competition for instrument and voice. It will be an annual event starting from the year 2007. Jointly organized by The Talent Makers and the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation (MYOF), it is aimed to help increase the music awareness and standards for music students of all levels in Malaysia, especially among the average students.

This competition is open to all music students from preliminary levels to post Diploma level. In addition to that, there is also a solo voice performance category and a Junior and Senior Choir Category open to any choir group, singing songs from any language. All participants for this event will be awarded with a certificate of participation and trophies will be given to all 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizewinner in each category. There will also be special awards of scholarships for selected categories and levels.

The competitions will start at 9.00am on the 1st of September 2007 and end by 6.00pm on the same day. Special awards presentation & the Patron Awards Concert will be held at 8:30pm on the same day, featuring all 1st prizewinners from the highest level of all categories.

For more information or for festival entries bookings, please contact MYOF’s Programme Director at info@myof.org.my or 012 267 2717; or speak to any staff of The Talent Makers at 60 3 7877 2958

Competition Date: 1st September 2007 (Saturday) 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
Patron Awards Concert:1st September 2007 (Satruday) 8.30 pm
Venue: Palace of the Golden HorsesJalan Kuda Emas, The Mines Resort City,43300 Seri Kembangan, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Tel : 60 3 8943 2333

For more information, visit www.myof.org.my

KK Music Festival

2007-06-20T21:49:00.000-07:00

Aimed to give exposure to our students, Prelude Academy of Music will be sending students to participate in KK Music Festival, 26th August 2007 (Sunday). For more information, please contact Thomas at preludeacademyofmusic@gmail.com or 0168862016. Thank you.

Concert - Yap Ling & Geoffrey Pratley

2007-06-14T05:47:00.000-07:00

Yap Ling and Geoffrey Pratley

Geoffrey Pratley and Yap Ling will be performing in Bintulu on
11 August 2007 (Saturday), 7:30pm,
at Ming Ong Methodist Church.

For tickets and information, please contact Thomas at 086-316051 or 016-8862016 or email to preludeacademy@gmail.com.

Below are profiles of the performers:

Yap Ling is a versatile musician who performs, teaches, conducts, arranges music and organises concerts. He started the violin with Marcus Leong and piano with Chan Hui Ling in Kuching. After obtaining his LRSM in 1986, he went to the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), London and studied with Clarence Myerscough. Later he was awarded the Sarawak Foundation Scholarship & RAM’s Alec Templeton Scholarship. While in London he was the Concertmaster for the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra and violinist for the Chelsea String Quartet, The London Chinese Ensemble and the Piano Trio under the Amadeus Quartet’s tutelage. Upgrading and performances has taken him to Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Moscow (Russia), China and USA.In 1990, he participated in the 1st World Youth Music Camp in KL and the 1st Pacific Music Festival in Japan (under the baton of Maestro Leonard Bernstein). He represented Malaysia as a violin tutor in the 1991 ASEAN Youth Music Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was a string tutor at UNIMAS & conducted their orchestra. He was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the 1st and the 2nd Sarawak Music Camp in Kuching and Sibu respectively for 1999 and 2001. In 1997 he was conferred the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition for his contribution towards developing the music standard and promoting music in this part of the world.Now he is the conductor of Sabah Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), Kian Kok Youth Orchestra (KKYO), the Tshung Tsin String Orchestra and the Guest Conductor for the Miri Orchestra and Choir (MOC). As a chamber musician, his Duos partnership with Singaporean violinist Foo Say Ming has him performing on the viola too. Yap Ling is also the violinist for the MP3rio (Piano Trio), the Malaysian Ars Nova Ensemble (String Quintet with Piano) and the L’espressivo Trio (Vocal-Violin-Piano) which have performed regularly in various parts of Malaysia.Besides giving regular recitals with his wife Grace Lee, he has also appeared as soloist with the Monash Simfonia in Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, the Penang Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) from KL playing the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto. He also conducted the Violin Masterclasses for ABRSM in Malaysia and regularly giving violin masterclasses and orchestra workshops throughout the country. Presently he also teaches at UMS.

Geoffrey Pratley has enjoyed a long and illustrious career as one of Britain’s best known accompanists. After studying at the Royal Academy of Music he went on to accompany many world famous singers and instrumentalists in concert worldwide , especially the mezzo soprano Dame Janet Baker, the French cellist Paul Tortelier and the leading British violinist of his time, Ralph Holmes; others include Placido Domingo, Leon Goosen, Jack Brymer, Rita Streich, Takayoshi Wanami and many more. He has also broadcast widely on radio and television; especially notable were his appearances on BBC2TV as accompanist to Tortelier’s famous Cello Masterclasses.
He taught Piano Accompaniment and coached singers at the Royal Academy of Music from 1965 till June 2005, and he has taught at Trinity College of Music since 1990. His publications from Kevin Mayhew Ltd include “Great Operatic Melodies” arranged for piano duet, “Great Orchestral Melodies for Violin” (1 book) and for Cello (2 books), all arranged with piano accompaniment, “Six Irish Folksongs” and “Six English Folksongs,” most of which were written for Dame Janet Baker’s recitals. Other publishers include OUP, Faber Music, and Stainer and Bell.He has performed and taught in many countries, especially the Far East. His two-piano and piano duet partnership with Anne Applin performs a wide range of unusual items as well as more standard duet repertoire: in particular composer’s arrangements of their own works for four hands, mostly 19th Century items. He has also had a busy schedule as ABRSM examiner and Festival adjudicator for many years.

Teachers at Prelude Academy of Music

2007-04-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

Sitting: Angel Ling (Piano, Flute)

Standing from left to right: Joseph Hii (String), Thomas Hii (Piano, Guitar), James Lau (String, Woodwind), Andrew Hii (Vocal)

Music Camp.. Oh Yes!!!

2007-03-18T03:26:00.000-07:00

Finally, the 1st Bintulu Music Camp is over. In fact, it was a great pleassure to be the organizer for the camp. Of course it was not a perfect one. But, at least, we did it. Bravo!!

Let me give you some reports on the camp. We had 83 campers all together, including those vocal workshop. And we had 5 tutors, i.e. Yap Ling, Grace Lee, Sook Peng, Bryan Leong and Joseph Hii. All together we have eaten 365 packs of rice (lunch for a year), buffet lunch for 240 people during the 3 1/2-day camp. Campers from Miri and KK had occupied 9 hotel rooms, while tutors occupied 3 rooms. In total, 44 nights of accommodation.

For the concert night, we have over 70 musicians performing and over 130 audience. The youngest musician was only 7 years old (Yap Qin) and the oldest was Josephine Ting, aged 50.
For media release, we were on Sing Chew once, Lian He twice, and See Hua Daily more than three times. Million thanks to all the reporters.

Campers had attended over 30 hours of lessons and practise. I think most campers had never done such practices before. A big applause to all the campers.

As for me, this is the first time i organised music camp, the first time i organised camp in Bintulu and the first time organising private camp in a church. Thanks to Eng Kwang Methodist Church, and Rev Ting Chu Yi.

Camp Concert

2007-03-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Bravo!! Camperss, you did a very good job for the camp and the concert!!

See you in next camp!!!

Some updates on the camp concert performers

2007-03-12T10:33:00.000-07:00

Phoon Sook Peng was born in Penang, Malaysia. She studied in Trinity College of Music, London in 1982 under Ms. Elizabeth Hawes, and obtained her certificate of teaching and vocal performance. She returned to Malaysia in 1988 and taught for two years in Penang and later at the Malaysian Institute of Art in Kuala Lumpur. In 1990, Sook Peng studied at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague with Woul Oosterkamp on Opera then the Hochschule fur Music in Dresden with Prof. Christian Elssner. Later, she was based in the Netherlands as a singer where she also conducted private lessons in voice and piano. She is associated with the Netherlands Opera and has participated in more than twenty projects with the Dutch Radio Choir including the opening of the Amsterdam Arena and the prestigious Prinsengracht concert in 1996. Sook Peng performed in a series of shows with the Dama Orchestra back in Malaysia in 1997 and then a second series of concerts and released a CD called Spring Kisses and Lovers Tears in 1998. She moved back to Malaysia with her family in 2000 and is based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. She had been a tutor in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) since 2000 until 2002. She has been very active performing in concerts with Yap Ling (Violinist/Conductor) and Grace Lee Sui Lin (Pianist) forming L’Espressivo Trio. In 2006, Sook Peng and a group of friends and students successfully organized workshops, performing the famous “Yellow River Cantata” with 100 singers.

Grace Lee obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Auckland University, where she studied piano under Tamas Vesmas. She also had conducting lessons with Uwe Groud and Karen Grill. While there, Grace conducted the Auckland Chinese Choir and served as pianist for several choirs. Besides giving solo performances she plays chamber music and serves as an orchestra pianist. She also accompanies several prominent musicians and choirs from time to time. These have taken her to England, Australia, New Zealand, Brunei and all over Malaysia. In order to upgrade herself, she also took up consultation lessons abroad with professors including Jeffrey Pratley and Tamara Smolyar. In 2000, she has attended the Professional Development Program for Music Teacher conducted by the AMEB in September in Melbourne. And during that time she also attended a special short-term upgrading program at the Monash University. In 2005, she performed the Mozart Double Piano Concerto with Thomas Ling and the KKSO for the New Year Concert in Kota Kinabalu. She played the orchestra reduction of the “Yellow River Cantata” for Concert with the choir on 12th May 2006 in Kota Kinabalu and later in October accompanied the “Duos” of violin and viola played by Foo Say Ming & Yap Ling for concerts in KK and Miri. Recently, she has performed with three prominent KK musicians in “Friends in Concert” in aid of charity in Kota Kinabalu. As a conductor, she is now conducting the children choir for Penampang Song En Methodist Church. She also regularly teaches and gives masterclasses in Sarawak and Sabah.

Yap Ling is a versatile musician who performs, teaches, conducts and arranges music. He started the violin with Marcus Leong in Kuching. After obtaining his LRSM in 1986, he studied with Clarence Myerscough at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), London. He was later awarded the Sarawak Foundation Scholarship & RAM’s Alec Templeton Scholarship. While in London he was the Concertmaster for the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, the Chelsea String Quartet, The London Chinese Ensemble and the Piano Trio under the Amadeus Quartet’s tutelage. Upgrading and performances has taken him to Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Moscow (Russia), China and USA. In 1990, he has participated in the 1st World Youth Music Camp in KL & the 1st Pacific Music Festival in Japan (under the baton of Maestro Leonard Bernstein). He represented Malaysia as a violin tutor in the 1991 ASEAN Youth Music Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was a string tutor at UNIMAS & conducted their orchestra. He was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the 1st and the 2nd Sarawak Music Camp in Kuching and Sibu respectively for 1999 and 2001. In 1997 he was conferred the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in recognition for his contribution towards developing the music standard and promoting music in this part of the world. Besides giving regular recitals with his wife Grace Lee, he has also appeared as soloist with the Monash Simfonia in Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, the Penang Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) from KL playing the “Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto. He also conducted the Violin Masterclasses for ABRSM in Malaysia and regularly giving violin masterclasses and orchestra workshops in Sarawak and West Malaysia. Recently, he has performed with “Il Divo” and the soprano Cecilia Yap in Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands respectively. He is the conductor for the Kian Kok Youth Orchestra (KKYO), the 3rd KK Girls Brigade Company’s Band and the guest conductor of Miri Orchestra & Choir (MOC). He is the violinist for the MP3rio (Malaysian Piano Trio) and the guest Concertmaster of the Sinfoni Orkestra Negeri Sarawak (SONS). Besides teaching privately, presently he is also a violin & viola tutor at UMS.