The Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II was formed by Simon Cheong sometime in March 2002 with the objective of giving concerts as well as performing at functions.
Due to the members' busy teaching schedules, KLGE II had very little
time to practice nor give performances. In 2004, the Ensemble
gave a preview in a short performance at the 2004 Guitar Camp
organized by the Classical Guitar Society of Malaysia.
In 2005, the Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II
activities started with a performance on Malaysia Hari Ini , a TV3 programme, as well as at a wedding function that was graced by Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi, the Prime Minister of Malaysia and his Deputy, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
The ensemble also received a write-up in Harian Metro.
In July 2006, KLGE II was invited to perform at the Ordu International Guitar Festival, Turkey. At this festival, KLGE II in its inaugural performance played
two concerts and was interviewed live on ORT (Ordu Radio & Television Station).
On December 3, 2006 KLGE II presented An Evening with the Classical Guitar in Kuala Lumpur graced by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism Datuk Dr Victor Wee and a very special guest Tan Sri
Abdul Rashid Hussain.
Further on, in 2007, in the concert organised by the Classical
Guitar Society entitled Tanah Pusaka, KLGE II
premiered 'Tanah Pusaka', an arrangement for guitar quartet by Simon
Cheong. This arrangement is on a Malaysian nationalistic song and
the concert entitled Tanah Pusaka was in celebration of
Malaysia's 50th anniversary of independence. In this concert,
Duolisme from Holland was the guest performers with the Dutch
ambassador, His Excellency, Mr Lody Embrechts gracing the concert.
This concert, at the same time, is a celebration of 50 years of
Malaysian-Dutch diplomatic relations.
In 2008, the Classical Guitar Society organised the world
premiere concert entitled Gubahanku on 9 & 11 December with
KLGE II guest Isabelle Heroux from Cananda. In this concert , the
late John Duarte's Variations on an Indonesian song (Gubahanku) op
124 was given its first performance by Simon Cheong.
Today, KLGE II is made up of Ernest Thomas, See Sew Hong, Ong Peng Yang and Simon Cheong.
Historically...
The name Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II was specifically chosen in memory of the original KLGE of which Simon was a founding member. The original KLGE came into being in
An Evening of Music and Dances held in Dewan Tunku Chancellor, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur on 31 March 1978. This concert was organized by The Selangor Vocational Guidance Association in collaboration with The Malaysia Conservatorium of Music and The Federal Academy of Ballet , under the patronage of YAB Dato' Hormat bin Rafei, the then Menteri Besar of Selangor. It was the first performance by a group of guitarists brought together by Mr Andrew Chye, the principal of The Malaysia Conservatorium of Music.
The original KLGE went on to give numerous concerts that were highly acclaimed, creating a strong following for their concerts. Unfortunately, as the members of the ensemble went on their way to pursue their careers in various fields, the ensemble faded away after three years.
The original members of KLGE were Victor Wee (leader), Daniel Chan, Deborah Tan, Yong Mei Yuen, Dr Vincent Chong and Simon Cheong. Later, as Daniel left for London to pursue his studies, Jimmy Tan joined us and then later still Eric Eng.
Former members of Kuala Lumpur Guitar Ensemble II
were Fung Tong Sen, Richard Siaw, Chua May Ling and Adee Ariffin.
e-mail: klgeII@cgs.net.my or simoncheong@cgs.net.my |