Published in Sunday People, New Sunday People
5th July 2009
Two sides of Wong Shuenda
MAX KOH
WONG Shuenda. Roll the consonants around. Sounds like a film star from Japan, doesn’t he? He’s an upcoming classical piano player, just back from London, for a performance in Kuala Lumpur.
I first encountered Shuenda when he performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in E Minor at the HSBC Classics Piano Competition last year.
I remember the crowd gave him a thunderous ovation after his heartfelt performance.
He beat 32 others to grab the first HSBC Classics Bursary Award. As his prize, Shuenda, now 23, will perform a solo recital at the HSBC Classics Festival Of Rising Stars on July 15.
Shuenda has studied under some of the best local teachers such as Lai Mei Kuen, Ng Chong Lim, and Loo Bang Hean, and has won numerous awards including the Arthur Lepthien International Piano Competition 2005 in Germany, the Malaysian Youth Music Festival 2007 and Royal Overseas League Music Piano Competition 2009 in London.
After the HSBC competition, Shuenda pursued his Master’s Degree in Guildhall School of Drama & Music in London supported by the Kobler Trust, the HSBC Bursary and the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation.
His solo recital for the upcoming festival will include intense pieces from Bach, Chopin as well as flowery ones like Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody and four preludes by Debussy.
“I chose these pieces for the programme as I felt it would bring out the two sides of my personality — the outgoing side, and the melancholic and introvert part,” says a soft-spoken Shuenda in a recent Skype interview.
“I will begin with Bach’s Prelude And Fugue In F sharp Minor. It’s a tragic and extremely religious piece. Then comes Schubert’s 2 Impromptus from D. 935. It’s filled with such sadness and regret.
“I chose to do Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie In A flat Op.61 as it is a difficult, tense piece which was written during a dark moment in his life. I think it’s a beautiful piece.”
After the intermission, Shuenda will showcase his gregarious side by performing the joyous flourishes of Debussy’s preludes, and Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody which allow him to exercise his “flashy, virtuosic moves”.
“I think it’ll really be an exciting night for the audience,” Shuenda adds.
His love for music began by chance, he says. He was four when he heard his sister playing the piano.
“After one of her lessons, I went up to the piano and started playing with the keys. Her teacher (who soon became his teacher), Lai, recognised my talent and told my father about it. I was promptly enrolled at a music school.
“Growing up, I also learnt to play the violin and cello. I played some jazz and pop too and composed some pop songs when I was younger,” he says with a laugh.
“However, classical music resonates well with me. I’m able to really identify with the composers and what they felt even though they’ve been dead for centuries.
“The piano remains my main instrument as I feel such ease and fluidity when expressing myself with the instrument,” says Shuenda who was recently nominated for Most Outstanding Solo Performance at the 2009 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
“Classical music speaks to my soul in such a direct and powerful way.”
Shuenda decided that he wanted to become a professional classical pianist and practiced hard at it. He entered many piano competitions — national and international — and took home many awards.
He then proceeded to do his music degree in Staatliche Musikhochschule Freiburg, Germany where he studied with Elza Kolodin and participated in master classes with V. Margulis, J. Rouvier, and I. Dumitrescu, among others.
He eventually graduated with high distinction in 2006.
Shuenda has given concerts in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Holland and the UK. Some of his notable performances were at the Opening of the British Commonwealth Games, concerts at Bunkamura hall in Japan, Kasteel Terworm in Holland, and the Philippines Centennial Independence in Manila.
“Growing up, I didn’t really click well with my peers. I was hypersensitive and would always over-think the motives behind people’s comments,” says Sheunda. “I found that music was the most honest way I could express myself.”
So what else inspires Shuenda besides music in his career?
“I would love to say that I am inspired by visual arts and literature but I believe I am most inspired by music itself.
“Music is, in fact, the most direct form of art which connects directly with the heart. When you look at visual arts, you need to use the mind in order to compute its meaning and what the artiste is trying to say, but music goes straight to the heart.”
He counts Chopin and Ravel as some of his favourite composers.
“Everything that Chopin writes is beautiful and refined without being too sentimental. There is strength behind his music, where his harmony is amazing and the modulation is simply moving,” says Shuenda.
“Ravel has such a pull on me as there is such an amazing world of sounds and colours in his compositions. Beethoven remains a mountain for me to overcome as he is a different person from who I am. He has a strong and definite way of expressing himself, as opposed to my more fluid and fluent style.”
Shuenda says he loves compositions by young Malaysian authors and modern compositions which push the boundaries.
Shuenda has been busy performing and studying in Guildhall and he loves the opportunities present there.
“Apart from completing my Master’s here, I have no definite plans yet. I am relishing the opportunities to perform in various places, from halls to churches, and attaining wisdom and honing my skills, thanks to the tutelage of Professor Joan Havill.
“But I do plan to return to Malaysia as I hope to share my experiences and skills with the younger ones. I believe it is important to share what you have learnt with others.”
Wong Shuenda will perform his solo piano recital at the HSBC Classics Festival Of The Rising Stars at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre on July 15 at 8.30pm. Other highlights in the festival include a chamber concert by the popular Malaysian Piano Trio comprising Loo Bang Hean, Yap Ling and Jonathan Oh. Visit www.klpac.org.
5th July 2009
Two sides of Wong Shuenda
MAX KOH
WONG Shuenda. Roll the consonants around. Sounds like a film star from Japan, doesn’t he? He’s an upcoming classical piano player, just back from London, for a performance in Kuala Lumpur.
I first encountered Shuenda when he performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.1 in E Minor at the HSBC Classics Piano Competition last year.
I remember the crowd gave him a thunderous ovation after his heartfelt performance.
He beat 32 others to grab the first HSBC Classics Bursary Award. As his prize, Shuenda, now 23, will perform a solo recital at the HSBC Classics Festival Of Rising Stars on July 15.
Shuenda has studied under some of the best local teachers such as Lai Mei Kuen, Ng Chong Lim, and Loo Bang Hean, and has won numerous awards including the Arthur Lepthien International Piano Competition 2005 in Germany, the Malaysian Youth Music Festival 2007 and Royal Overseas League Music Piano Competition 2009 in London.
After the HSBC competition, Shuenda pursued his Master’s Degree in Guildhall School of Drama & Music in London supported by the Kobler Trust, the HSBC Bursary and the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation.
His solo recital for the upcoming festival will include intense pieces from Bach, Chopin as well as flowery ones like Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody and four preludes by Debussy.
“I chose these pieces for the programme as I felt it would bring out the two sides of my personality — the outgoing side, and the melancholic and introvert part,” says a soft-spoken Shuenda in a recent Skype interview.
“I will begin with Bach’s Prelude And Fugue In F sharp Minor. It’s a tragic and extremely religious piece. Then comes Schubert’s 2 Impromptus from D. 935. It’s filled with such sadness and regret.
“I chose to do Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie In A flat Op.61 as it is a difficult, tense piece which was written during a dark moment in his life. I think it’s a beautiful piece.”
After the intermission, Shuenda will showcase his gregarious side by performing the joyous flourishes of Debussy’s preludes, and Liszt’s Spanish Rhapsody which allow him to exercise his “flashy, virtuosic moves”.
“I think it’ll really be an exciting night for the audience,” Shuenda adds.
His love for music began by chance, he says. He was four when he heard his sister playing the piano.
“After one of her lessons, I went up to the piano and started playing with the keys. Her teacher (who soon became his teacher), Lai, recognised my talent and told my father about it. I was promptly enrolled at a music school.
“Growing up, I also learnt to play the violin and cello. I played some jazz and pop too and composed some pop songs when I was younger,” he says with a laugh.
“However, classical music resonates well with me. I’m able to really identify with the composers and what they felt even though they’ve been dead for centuries.
“The piano remains my main instrument as I feel such ease and fluidity when expressing myself with the instrument,” says Shuenda who was recently nominated for Most Outstanding Solo Performance at the 2009 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
“Classical music speaks to my soul in such a direct and powerful way.”
Shuenda decided that he wanted to become a professional classical pianist and practiced hard at it. He entered many piano competitions — national and international — and took home many awards.
He then proceeded to do his music degree in Staatliche Musikhochschule Freiburg, Germany where he studied with Elza Kolodin and participated in master classes with V. Margulis, J. Rouvier, and I. Dumitrescu, among others.
He eventually graduated with high distinction in 2006.
Shuenda has given concerts in Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Taiwan, Holland and the UK. Some of his notable performances were at the Opening of the British Commonwealth Games, concerts at Bunkamura hall in Japan, Kasteel Terworm in Holland, and the Philippines Centennial Independence in Manila.
“Growing up, I didn’t really click well with my peers. I was hypersensitive and would always over-think the motives behind people’s comments,” says Sheunda. “I found that music was the most honest way I could express myself.”
So what else inspires Shuenda besides music in his career?
“I would love to say that I am inspired by visual arts and literature but I believe I am most inspired by music itself.
“Music is, in fact, the most direct form of art which connects directly with the heart. When you look at visual arts, you need to use the mind in order to compute its meaning and what the artiste is trying to say, but music goes straight to the heart.”
He counts Chopin and Ravel as some of his favourite composers.
“Everything that Chopin writes is beautiful and refined without being too sentimental. There is strength behind his music, where his harmony is amazing and the modulation is simply moving,” says Shuenda.
“Ravel has such a pull on me as there is such an amazing world of sounds and colours in his compositions. Beethoven remains a mountain for me to overcome as he is a different person from who I am. He has a strong and definite way of expressing himself, as opposed to my more fluid and fluent style.”
Shuenda says he loves compositions by young Malaysian authors and modern compositions which push the boundaries.
Shuenda has been busy performing and studying in Guildhall and he loves the opportunities present there.
“Apart from completing my Master’s here, I have no definite plans yet. I am relishing the opportunities to perform in various places, from halls to churches, and attaining wisdom and honing my skills, thanks to the tutelage of Professor Joan Havill.
“But I do plan to return to Malaysia as I hope to share my experiences and skills with the younger ones. I believe it is important to share what you have learnt with others.”
Wong Shuenda will perform his solo piano recital at the HSBC Classics Festival Of The Rising Stars at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre on July 15 at 8.30pm. Other highlights in the festival include a chamber concert by the popular Malaysian Piano Trio comprising Loo Bang Hean, Yap Ling and Jonathan Oh. Visit www.klpac.org.
