Kuala Lumpur July 21

A Chinese full-course banquet the night before the recital. Here are some of the lovely people that worked hard behind the scene (KL recital committee members).


After the dinner, with Dr. Sylvia Coats, James & Sheridan Taylor, my elder bro James and his wife Jasmine.


Performing at Kuala Lumpur Wesley, near Petaling Street. Nice acoustics and a good place to perform. Sleepy piano as it hasn't been broken in but a lovely voice and a nice concert instrument provided by YC Music.


The autograph signing... what fun!


All of us former students of Miss Wong Chiew Yoong. My sister and bro are in the picture. Also my piano duet partner from school is present in the picture. Great Kodak moment here!


With the KL committee after the autograph signing.

The Malaysian Review ..

Woman: "Gloria, Mr. T is SOoooo handsome!"
Gloria: Yes I know but he's married & his wife is here.
Woman: "But I'm also married and it was my husband that says he looks like James Bond"

"He sings without a mic!"

"AND he is going to sing without a mic"

"Sings like an angel and looks like James Bond"

"Not as fat as Pavarotti and younger and more handsome than Pavarotti"

"Wah.. he worked so hard and sang so many pieces! Without a microphone!!"

Do these statements explain why Mr. T was mobbed after every concert?

"Buy" One Get the Other Free

My younger brother and I went out to Kuala Lumpur yesterday. We had many things to do in the city but we had never driven in there by ourselves. It is very difficult to navigate this city. We found out that road signs were not to be trusted and polite drivers are a rarity.

We checked out KL Wesley where the recital will be and the acoustics will be great for us. We also went and visited the pastor. We needled our way through Petaling Street and found roasted chestnuts for about $2 a pound. That was quite a treat!

We headed to the airport to pick up Dr. Coats. We missed the correct junction to the airport and ended up looping around the suburbs. Thankfully we didn't miss her and the wait was nice. When she came out, I saw that she had someone else with her. Dr. Paul Stewart, MTNA President was at the baggage claim area at the same time. So we had another person unexpectedly.

We managed to get Dr. Coats to Crown Plaza Hotel before traffic got crazy. Dr. Stewart wanted to try the KL Monorail and we ended up having to use the monorail to get to his hotel, the Dynasty. I was supposed to pick out my piano that afternoon but we wanted to get him settled into the hotel. Little did we know that the piano shop is about 5 blocks from his hotel. We didn't waste too much time and managed to get everything done.

Before dinner, Justin and I helped them settle all the technology questions. Almost like another orientation session. Dinner was an outdoor steamboat/grill buffet at a restaurant called Talipon (Telephone). James and Jasmine took us there. I liked what we got to try: lamb, steak, sting ray, mussels, fish, cuttlefish, different tofu, and the lot. Made dinner a hands-on, communal affair. Hopefully we didn't drag Dr. Coats and Dr. Stewart around too much, but making them stay up a little would have helped the jetlag.

(Here's a picture of the restaurant, taken by one of my classmates Yee Tong, whom I ran into there. Arthur was also there.. what a surprise!)

We sent Dr. Coats off with tissue paper and Dr. Stewart with drinking water. ;) It was lots of fun having Dr. Stewart as our freebie! Somehow I forgot my business cards today. We navigated around a traffic jam and got home at 2 am. More later..

The Countdown Begins

Here we go, it's about 6 days to the first recital. My home is so noisy that I have resorted to practicing at my physician's home. They are in the UK so I can feel free to use their piano.

I have selected my weapon for the Kuala Lumpur recital. It's easy to get imitation everything in Malaysia (imitation Guess, Prada, Gucci, Dunhill.. you name it). The grand piano I'll perform on is a Steinway copy made by Young Chang, under license from some German company. Rather funny! I am playing on an imitation Steinway.

It's been crazy trying to get the logistics of the hall and pianos. Also most of the pianos need some work before they would be up to performing standards. My piano technician has been showing me the different actions of the pianos. I have examined pins and felts, and every nook and cranny of a piano. Pretty interesting and amazing! What a contraption!

Ticket sales and publicity is going on full swing. I am not quite ready for all the attention but I guess it's coming. There may be a mini press conference sometime but I don't know when. Just want to be presentable, this shorter hairstyle needs work :)

Malaysia Recital Preparations

I have 6 more days before I leave for Malaysia. I have all the gifts and stuff for people packed and ready. Now I have to get my junk together. I have not really done recitals in Malaysia before and I dunno where to start with my packing. I'm not a procrastinator when it comes to that but this year I can't start.

Last I heard the production company was going to dress us, do the makeup and hair and such. Hmmm.. so long as they do not dye my hair, not permanent anyway... :) and I choose my own shoes! I know that a professional film crew will be there at the recital in KL. I can't decide on which formals to bring home. Well, I'm thankful I have plenty to choose from.

Can't decide whether to take original copies of my music home or not. Dunno how I'm going to carry all that plus my laptop for carry on baggage. I would not send them to cargo in case they get lost. I also really want to drag my orthopedic seat cushion back with me.

As far as Malaysia goes, the CDs are in production and the first run is 5000 copies. They are selling for RM 50 each and concert tickets are $50 each too. We are prepared to autograph CDs after each concert, and I have a stack of business cards. I am not sure what piano I'll be playing on in Kuala Lumpur, but I'll have to deal with a Petrof for Ipoh and Teluk Intan. Don't remember that piano very well. My piano tuner back home will take care of the piano and my brother is handling the logistics of the moving.

Will have to continue my thoughts in another blog. It's late and I should not be blogging when I'm in the nice practice room at UA. :) Goodnight T-town!