As the President of the Classical Guitar Society, I feel that I have a responsibility to enlighten the public especially the classical guitar enthusiasts, the invited guest performer and the sponsors as to what is misleading in the above organised concert entitled 'Bel Canto de Guitarra'.

What is misleading? Apparently, this concert is presented by 'Classical Guitar Community'...!? I received 2 complimentary passes with an accompanying letter on the Classical Guitar Community letter head addressed 'To Whom It May Concern' Re: Invitation To 'Bel Canto de Guitarra' Concert Yours sincerely, Chua May Ling.

'Classical Guitar Community'? Isn't this an incomplete name or sentence? Is it a name of a group of guitarists? If so, what group? Wherefrom? Is this an organisation or a business concern? 

It is definitely something incomplete. Why is that so? It should read as Classical Guitar Community of a place (like Subang Jaya, KL etc.). Presently, Classical Guitar Community would represent all those involved with the classical guitar in the whole world! This is laughable - a joke! In a sentence, it will only be descriptive of a group of people interested in the classical guitar which still needs to be referred to in a particular situation or place. As an organisation, it is not registered as a company nor is it a society - so, the usage here is misleading everyone to think that there is such an organisation. There is no such organisation registered. 

From what I know, the first appearance of this 'Classical Guitar Community' was on a poster in a concert organised by Music Walk and Dylan Choo some years ago for Antigoni Goni. Its appearance was not a hindrance to the fact that the concert organised was by Music Walk and it was a Music Walk event. (Music Walk is a private company - a music shop/school located in Taipan, USJ). The second time 'Classical Guitar Community' was used again by Music Walk was for a concert they organised for Anna Vidovic. As I was invited to Anna Vidovic's concert as well, I was already curious about its usage which I had mentioned to my students, committee members as well as to members of the KL Guitar Ensemble II. When I spoke to John Ho, proprietor of Music Walk, he mentioned that he would help his teachers as well as help promote the classical guitar by supporting the organising of such concerts and 'Classical Guitar Community' is representative of these guitar teachers. But, nevertheless, whether it was the Antigoni Goni's concert or Anna Vidovis's concert, 'Classical Guitar Community' appearance on the posters did not detract nor hide the fact that it was a Music Walk event. So, the audience at large was not misled in any way at all. Here in this 'Bel Canto de Guitarra' concert, it is not a Music Walk event although Music Walk is one of the sponsors.

My invitation on 'Classical Guitar Community' letter head has 'yours sincerely, Chua May Ling' with no designation and was not signed. What does it mean? In order for me to clarify matters, I spoke with John Ho of Music Walk, and he mentioned that he had told Chua that anyone could use 'Classical Guitar Community' as it did not belong to him (although it has been used by his teachers before) when she asked for permission to use it He also mentioned to me that the teachers who had used it before were upset and complained to him that she had taken upon herself to use it as 'presents'. It is obvious that it has been taken and used in a wrong misleading manner - intentionally or otherwise. In my opinion, the usage of 'Classical Guitar Community' is pretentious as it can never represent what it intends to - the community of classical guitarists! 



Simon Cheong

15 August 2009