Gallery
11th Guitar Camp 2009
11th Guitar Camp ( 11-13 December )
Documenting the camp in Photos
by
Christopher Cheong
Day 1
Day 1!!
11-12-2009, 12-12-2009, 13-12-2009… These were the dates every participant looked forward to. It was the date of our 11th guitar camp organized by the Classical Guitar Society (CGS) for 6 consecutive years and has been very successful!
The day started very early. By 8 a.m., most of the participants were already waiting at our pickup points ( PJ & Selayang ). Though there will be a small group of people who would arrive late due to the heavy traffic, we were able to leave for Fraser’s Hill on time. We arrived at Fraser’s Hill at noon and reached Shahzan’s Inn at 12.15 p.m. BUT, this year because Shahzan’s Inn was holding another camp that did not end and was still using the hall we usually use for registration, it made our registration into a mess! Anyway, for all of you to understand better, here are the pictures to explain our historical camp in a more enjoyable manner!!
After the ice-breaking session, it was time for our masterclasses with the artistes-in-residence, Adam Khan and Nutavut Ratanakarn. Adam took the intermediate and advance students while Nutavut had the beginner students.
It was an enjoyable session with our artistes-in-residence. We learned a lot from them. Thank you, Adam And Nutavut!!
After the masterclasses, it was tea break. We had curry puffs, some malay kuih, coffee and tea. We only had a half-hour break before it was time for our next programme which is very important to the participants – The ensemble practice! Why is it important? Because on Sunday we will be performing in our very own ensemble performance. Therefore, ensemble practice is very important in order to NOT make a fool of ourselves. So, after tea we headed to our respective groups to get started. Each group is guided by 1 commitee member and also our artistes-in-residence.
After the ensemble practice, we had our free time and dinner. After dinner, it was time for our Thai artiste-in-residence, Nutavut Ratanakarn, to give his solo performance. He was welcomed on stage with a huge round of applause.
4th Guitar Alive 2009
Documenting the Photos
by
Lee Ji Xuan
Guitar Alive became an annual event since 2006 for the Society. All through the years, the Society used Malaysia Tourism Center (MTC) as the center for our activities. It is a situated in the busiest center of Kuala Lumpur and is within walking distance to and from KLCC Twin Towers, previously the world’s tallest skyscraper.
There are two auditoriums located within – Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman and the Mini auditorium. As Auditorium TAR was booked we had no choice but to use the Mini Auditorium…but the day before Guitar Alive 09 we discovered that both the halls were under renovation. The management FORGOT about our event! Luckily there was still the Amphitheater that could be used – the Amphitheater was the first venue for the very first Guitar Alive. This proved to be both good and bad. First, had we used the Mini Auditorium, we would not be able to accommodate the number of people who had come for the concert. Guitar Alive 09 attracted a large number of people. Just as well, with the large number of people in the audience, the open air but sheltered venue became most uncomfortable. We had to switch off the fans as they were really noisy. The situation was such that we switched the fans on immediately after each item and then switched off when the performance is on. A sweaty performance for both the performers and audience…
Guitar Alive had 100 participant making up of 12 ensemble groups with a mixture of young children, teenagers as well as adults. The enthusiasm of these participant was not only infectious but totally commendable, sacrificing their precious time and energy for their beloved instrument shown in their performance. They had to bring out the time to practice together and have the cooperation as well as the dedication to make this concert as successful as one can imaging it to be. Of course, we must not forget the teachers themselves for bringing the students together, sacrificing their free time for this ensemble and not getting paid for it – all in the name of ‘love’ for our beloved instrument. No complaints as the teachers biggest reward is feeling proud seeing their students on stage.
The students and the teachers needed venues for their practice sessions and the music schools generosity in lending out their premises for these practice sessions only shows a responsible corporate entity supporting their industry and helping develop the enthusiast to attain the experience and knowledge that this activity generates. With this, we salute them – Hin Hua High School, Klang Music Center, Maestro Music, Metro Music & Art, Nakuho Music Academy, Sonata Music Art, Sri Irama, VE Education Centre, YC Music and Unversiti Teknologi Mara.
Putera 2009
Documenting the Photos
by
‘Putera’
CGS International Guitar Festival & Camp 2009
‘Putera’
featuring
Ng Kean Heng, Nutavut Ratanakarn and Adam Khan
9 December 2008, 8.30 pm
Tuanku Abdul Rahman Auditorium, Malaysia Tourism Centre, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
KLGE II in Chiangmai 2009
Documenting the Photos
by
Simon Cheong
KLGE II’s performance in Chiangmai, Thailand was in the AUA Auditorium, Friday, 7.30p.m., 20 Nov 2009 organised by Monti Guitar Society and Music College of Payap University. Despite the fact that Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II is made up of four guitarists, we are not named a quartet and have no intentions of changing the name to Kuala Lumpur Guitar Quartet. The reason is that our programme is made up of a mixture of solos, duets, trios and quartets. This gives us a variety that can create a more interesting programme as opposed to playing only quartets. Here we are with Ernest starting off the concert, followed by a trio of Ong Peng Yang, See Sew Hong and Ernest Thomas, Sew Hong ended the second half. In full force, the quartet comes out in the second half followed by Simon’s solo ending with all four playing KLGE II’s signature piece to end the concert.
We were not able to have photos taken for us in concert but had our video running, so the above shots are not too good as they were taken off the video. Great photos will be seen in the next page…
KLGE II’s performance in Chiangmai, Thailand was in the AUA Auditorium, Friday, 7.30p.m., 20 Nov 2009 organised by Monti Guitar Society and Music College of Payap University.
The banner and the poster outside the auditorium.
We were really very well taken cared of by Kae, Alessio’s wife. Here we are holding the lantern and when the lantern flies off into the sky, it is supposed to take away all your bad luck. Here is KLGE II taking a photo with our organiser Alessio Monti outside Khum Khantoke, a posh restaurant with great food and cultural shows. We had really great food all the time in Chiangmai, as Alessio and Kae loves good food, we have the good fortune to eat these sumptuous mouth watering dishes on their recommendation.
Before the concert – Simon giving Alessio our Society’s T-Shirt as well as the Society’s publications. How do you like KLGE II’s new costume – Batik! Well, it gives KLGE II an identity as we are the only home grown Malaysian classical guitarists in the international arena. Alessio’s shirt for the night matches our Batik…a colourful photo taken in the dressing room. Alas, time flies when one is having a good time…KLGE II at Chiangmai International airport waiting to board the plane.
Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II - Memories from Bangkok International Guitar Festival 2009 Thailand
Documenting the Photos
by
Simon Cheong
16 July 2009 – KL Guitar Ensemble II left for Bangkok from LCCT on an Air Asia flight less one member! I had a fright when Sew Hong told me on the day before that he was falling sick. That was the afternoon of 15 July (Wed)- immediately, I told him to cancel all his classes and rest so that he can be at the airport with us on the 16th. In the evening, I received an SMS from him saying that he is having high fever and will not be able to join us but will rebook his flight for the 17th. With H1N1 (swine flu) spreading and Bangkok was said to be badly hit, if Sew Hong gets on board the plane and at the Bangkok airport he is scanned with a fever, all of us on that flight will probably be quarantined for seven days! What a nightmare!
Nevertheless, the three of us crossed immigration without any hitches. Out into the arrival hall, we hoped to see someone there with a placard looking for us but there was none…we looked around for a while and suddenly appears Natarvut. The airport in Bangkok is really b…ig.
Natarvut took us to the hotel where the festival was held. It is called Phranakhon Grand View, situated in the historical setting of Thailand’s first Teacher’s Training Institute, Rajabhat Phranakhon, founded by King Rama V in 1892…
2nd Guitar Alive...is Alive! 2009
Documenting the Photos
by
Lee Ji Xuan
This is the second year the Classical Guitar Society (WP/Sel) Malaysia organized this wonderful event for the classical guitar teachers in Malaysia, so that they can have some activity for their students. Our objective is to provide a platform for ensemble performance and encouraging the guitar students in Malaysia to experience the joys of playing together whilst making new friends. A very healthy pursuit for the younger group of participants – rather than being at the computer the whole day or to mix with bad company. We approached the guitar teachers who are not part of the Society to take part in this event but, unfortunately, the teachers we approached did not show any interest, so, we had very poor response. Only six teachers were interested to participate in this years event. Why were the other teachers not interested – we really do wonder…!? Anyway, the Committee made do and made this concert happen with special appearances from Mr. Leong Yee Hoo and Mr. Ng Kean Heng.
Simon's masterclass for Singapore kids
Documenting the Photos
by
Simon Cheong
On 20 November 2008, I was invited to teach an ensemble from St Gabriel’s Secondary School from Singapore at the Grand Season’s Hotel, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur. Ms Pan Shiyun, the education officer was here with the school’s guitar teacher Mr Daniel Lim. There were 30 students who took part and they played 3 pieces for me to listen to. They played Child, Quizas,quizas, quizas and Summer’s Breeze. After hearing them, I asked them which piece would they like me to work on with them and they wanted Summer’s Breeze. I spent the whole two hours working on the piece with them. I hope that I had managed to help them improve on the playing of the piece and wish them a happy, and have a great, performance in the near future.
After the class, Ms Pan was on hand to give me a token of appreciation – their schools year book, T-Shirt and medal. In return, I gave to Ms Pan and Daniel our Society’s T-Shirt and copies of my arrangemnents of Tanah Pusaka (solo and quartet), Mak Inang (solo) and Putra Putri/Mak Inang (quartet) for their schools library.
Below are some Photos that has been very badly taken as my 14 year old son is really not a professional photographer but was on hand to help out while my 16 year old was taking the video.
