26.08.2000

Our nation this year has once again produced its finest young pianists during the annual National Piano Festival held on the 4^th August 2001 at the Prime College Auditorium in Summit City, Subang Jaya, Kuala Lumpur. The winners, who swept away the top three prizes from among the 36 pianists nationwide who took part in this competition, have been specially invited to perform in Kuching on the 26^th August 2001 (Sunday) at the Hilton Grand Ballroom.

This year’s champion is Gan Wui Ming (16 years old); and the second place are jointly won by both Wong Shuen Da (16 years old) and Joanne Tong (18 years old). After qualifying to be among the 6 finalists, they have successfully emerged as the winners. Their impeccable performance and supreme skills and talent have undoubtedly convinced the three judges that these three young pianists are simply champions. The three judges were Ms Toh Chee Hung, a well-known pianist based in England; Dr Peter Amstutz, a music professor from West Virginia University, US as well as Ms Lucinda Collins, a piano lecturer from Adelaide University.

Gan Wui Ming, born in August 1985, began his music education at the Yamaha School of Music at the tender age of three. He is now studying piano performance with Professor Snezana Panovska. He has thrice been selected to perform his own compositions at the Yamaha Asia-Oceania Junior Original Concert. Recently he was invited to Shenzhen, China, together with a group of seven other young Malaysian pianists, to perform as well as for masterclasses with Professor Dan Zhaoyi, who produced two prize-winners in the previous Chopin International Piano Competition (2000) in Warsaw. Wui Ming was a Finalist and a Diploma winner of the Fifth Vladimir Krainev's International Competition for Young Pianists (2000) in Kharkov, Ukraine. He intends to pursue a music career and hopes to rank among the world's top pianists one day.

Wong Shuen Da started his music education at the age of 4. He completed the AMEB L-Mus with high distinctions and has scored 144/150 for his ABRSM Grade 8. He has also obtained his Advanced Certificate for performing with distinction and has also recently sat for the LRSM performing diploma. Shuen Da is also a composer. His original compositions were selected to be performed in many concerts in Malaysia and overseas, such as the International Junior Original Concert held in Nemu, Japan (1995) and Tokyo, Japan (1999), The Philippines Centennial Junior Original Concert held in Manila (1998), The Asia Oceania Junior Original Concert held in Kuala Lumpur (1994) and the National Junior Original Concert held in Shah Alam (1997).

Shuen Da was also invited to perform in the opening ceremony of the Bukit Jalil Stadium and also for the guests of the APEC meeting held in Dewan Filharmonik Kuala Lumpur. He has also performed in numerous functions and charity concerts all over Malaysia. He won the Grand Prix Award for both the Junior Section in the National Electone Festival (1995) and also the Ensemble section (1997). He was a prize winner in the National Piano Festival 2000 and was also awarded the coveted "Special Award for Best performance of Malaysian Work" which in that year was "2 Preludes" composed by Malaysian composer Mr.Ng Chong Lim.

Besides playing the piano, Shuen Da also plays the Cello. His recent composition was once again selected to be performed in the Asia Oceania Junior Original Concert, which will be held in Taipei, Taiwan this November.

Joanne Tong was born in 1983 in Seremban. Her teachers include Miss Lai Mei Kuen, Mr Ng Chong Lim and Mr Loo Bang Hean. By the age of 17 she has obtained several Diplomas, including AMusA, LMusA and FTCL. Her success at the Grade 8 ABRSM exam prompted her to be invited to perform at the ABSRM Jubilee Celebration Concert in 1998. As part of Trinity College London's launching of the national office, Joanne was also invited to play at their concert.  

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