MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

The PSPA International Ensemble is back again come 15^th August 2008 after its sold-out concert last year. Music Of The Night will feature 8 musicians from South Korea (1), Hong Kong (2), USA (2) and Malaysia (3). They will play 3 of the more well-known chamber works of three composers of different nationalities – Dvorak (Czech), Tchaikovsky (Russian) and Adolphe Blanc (French):

Dvorak’s String Quartet Op. 97, “The American”

Tchaikovsky’s Andante Cantabile for String Quarter

Adolphe Blanc’s Septet for violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, bassoon and horn.

PSPA International Ensemble aims to provide easy listening and soothing classical music to people from all walks of life and also to inspire and motivate young local music enthusiasts. The ensemble plays the standard western classical instruments of strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass), winds (flute, clarinet, horn) and piano.

Call the office at 05-5487814 for tickets to a truly international musical journey that promises to be as good as its last sold-out concert!

DAVID LEUNG (Hong Kong) – Violin

Currently an adjunct professor at the State University of New York in the US, David Leung has performed and participated in music festivals and camps extensively throughout the world. He is a recipient of many awards and scholarships, including the Bloomberg Scholarship, Guinness Flight Music Prize, St David Lodge Music Award, amongst many others. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Master’s Degree & Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music in New York.

NARI HONG (Korea) – Violin

Nari Hong has performed with various orchestras and chamber groups in the US. She has also performed in master classes with renowned violinists. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the Eastman School of Music in violin performance. She was awarded various scholarships at Eastman and is currently a candidate for the Certificate of Arts Leadership Program there.. She is also working as an intern for Special Events with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.

FUNG CHERN HWEI (Malaysia) – Viola

Violinist and violist Fung Chern Hwei received his Bachelor of Music from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and was later sponsored by Yayasan Seni Berdaftar to further his studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music in Queens College, New York, where he received his Master’s Degree.

Chern Hwei has performed with various orchestras, both local and international. He has also won a chamber music scholarship to play his own recital at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. As a recording sessionist he has recorded for various best selling local films and most recently, for French director, Michel Gondry’s new indie short film ‘Interior Design’. Currently residing in New York City, he plays in various groups and projects of non-classical tradition (rock, jazz, hip-hop, etc) as well as in symphony orchestras and baroque ensembles, both on violin and viola.

CARA ELISE MILLER (US) – Cello

Cara is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in cello performance at Indiana University, USA, where she holds the Eva Heinitz Scholarship and is also an assistant instructor there. She has studied and taken lessons with many leading cellists and played in master classes.

As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras throughout Pennsylvania and played under the baton of such famous conductors as Benjamin Zander, Kurt Masur, Sidney Harth and David Effron. As principal cellist of the Alpha Omega Ensemble where she is its current Chamber Music Director, Cara has performed extensively throughout New York and Pennsylvania. She has also served as coordinator of the Ashlawn Opera Chamber Players and has held the position of principal cellist of the Ashlawn Opera Festival for the past three years.

EUGENE POOK (Ipoh) – Clarinet/Music Director

Ipoh born clarinetist and conductor, Eugene Pook, is an established and versatile performer. As a conductor, Eugene has conducted various orchestras internationally and has also studied with renowned conductors in master classes. As a clarinetist, Eugene has performed with the New World Symphony (USA), Northland Symphony Orchestra (USA), Toronto Philharmonic (Canada), Kansas City Philharmonia (USA), Eastman Wind Ensemble amongst others. Upcoming performances include a clarinet recital at the Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Eugene received his Performance Diploma (1^st Class Honors) from the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada), Master’s Degree and Artist Diploma (postgraduate) from the University of Missouri. He is currently a Doctoral candidate at the Eastman School of Music where he is the conductor of the Eastman Camerata, the musical ambassador of the Eastman School of Music which reaches out and performs at the most prestigious music institutions in the United States.

OH BENG YEW (Penang) – Bass

Oh Beng Yew has been selected to attend various music festivals in Japan, China and South Korea and has performed in master classes with renowned double bassists such as Owen Lee and Jacques Beaudoin.

Beng Yew has performed with orchestra throughout Malaysia and has been the guest player of the National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia since 2000. He is currently the double bass player of the wind ensemble ‘High Winds’, principal bass of the Penang State Symphony and Chorus (PESSOC) and Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO).

AIMEE MORRIS (USA) – French Horn

Aimee Morris received her early musical training at the Interlochen Arts Academy (USA) as an endowed scholarship recipient. Her musical growth has been further enhanced by attending various summer festivals in the US. She has performed with orchestras throughout the United States, including the Empire State Youth Orchestra and the New York Symphony Orchestra.

Aimee is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music in French horn performance at the Eastman School of Music where she has been the recipient of various musical scholarships. She is also very serious about her academic pursuits as she is presently also in a premedical program at the University of Rochester.

TIM LEUNG (Hong Kong) – Bassoon

Tim Leung has performed with various orchestras in Hong Kong, Macau and Germany and has played as a soloist in the Hochheimer Kammerorchester of Germany. He has also participated in festivals worldwide, including the Carinthischer Sommer Musikfestspiele in Austria in 2000 and 2001.

Tim studied on full scholarships at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts where he received his Performing Arts Advanced Diploma and Bachelor of Music. After graduation in 2003, he was again awarded full scholarships to complete his studies in Germany. Tim currently teaches at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.