Wednesday June 27, 2012
Orchestra wows the crowd in Taiwan with renditions of popular hits
By FONG KEE SOON
keesoon@thestar.com.my
THE Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO) not only put up a successful performance in Taipei recently, but also brought home wonderful memories of the place and the people there.
Led by New York-based music director Eugene Pook, KVWO performed at the Wang Fang High School in Taipei recently. It was also their debut performance overseas.
Eugene led the orchestra in presenting a programme, which included Bands Around the World, selections from The Sound of Music, ABBA on Broadway and Westside Story, I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, Nella Fantasia from The Mission and Waltz Time with Johann Strauss.
Performing alongside the orchestra was 12-year-old child prodigy violinist Verena Koay from Penang and multi-lingual singer Estee Pook.
Success story: KVWO members performing with Verena (left) and Estee in Taiwan. Verena, who started playing the violin from the age of three, sang a beautiful rendition of popular Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower while Estee had the audience mesmerised with a beautiful delivery of Teresa Teng’s romantic ballad The Moon Represents My Heart and P. Ramlee’s unforgettable evergreen Getaran Jiwa.
Clarinetist Ng Hooi Chueen said they had learned a lot from the Taiwanese when performing alongside with them, while KVWO vice-president Valerie Chan described the event as a good exposure for its members.
The event, aimed at enhancing Taiwanese-Malaysian bilateral cultural interaction, also raised funds for scholarships for Tamkang University.
It was jointly organised by the Chinese Society for Training and Development, the university’s Public Administration Department, the Aboriginal Elder Association of Taipei City and Taipei City Council.
Taking time out: KVWO members enjoying supper at the bustling Shilin Night Market. KVWO members also found time to relax after the show; visiting places such as the Thermal Valley and Hot Spring Museum in Beitou, Taipei 101, Shilin Night Market, Taipei Fine Arts Museum and Tamsui Old Street.
To finance the five-day trip, KVWO had raised RM50,000 and its 48 members chipped in another RM40,000 to cover for expenses such as flight tickets, insurance and transportation; while food and accommodation were provided by their host.
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