Teresa Yeoby Teresa Yeo and MK Ong
The Lions Club of Johor Bahru Metro organised a charity concert night on 23 November in conjunction with its 25th anniversary. The event was held at the Wisma Tiong Hua in Johor Bahru to raise funds for its coffers.
District 308 B1 Governor Lau Teng Chye was the guest of honour for the evening. In his speech governor Lau Teng Chye said that a concert night, is an auspicious occasion as music could improve a person by allowing him to increase the quality of his life. The governor added that it was also a chance to increase the public’s interest in culture and community affairs.
The evening provided room for people to take respite from their busy schedule and relax.
Last year, a small-scale concert had been organised by the club but this time it was in a bigger scale since this was the 25th anniversary.
Many varied and extremely entertaining items were included in the programme such as solo singing, harmonica and singing duet, acapella choir, guitar orchestra and Chinese orchestra.
The near pitch-perfect Johor Bahru Chamber Choir (also known as JBCC) kicked off the orchestra segment with two a capella numbers under the conductor Ms Fam Qing Rui. They were accompanied by Lawrence Liew on the piano.
Since its establishment in 1999, the group has won several awards, the most recent being three awards for runner-up, best interpretation of Renaissance song award and best stage effect award at the Taipei International Quartet Arts Festival and 2nd prize in the 2013 National Youth Choir Competition.
The Johor Bahru Chamber Choir made made an impressive showing and the South Front Art and Music House contributed several entertaining items.
The Qin Yu Ge duet from Singapore rendered two songs with Ms Liu Xiao Jun singing accompanied by Tang Yuen Wai on the hormonica, a unique combination.
The Rezonance Harmonica ensemble consists of younger members who played the harmonica and sang numbers such as Rhythm of the Rain and Rock Around the Clock.
According to Mr Tang Yuen Wai, they are based in the Whampoa Community Centre (Singapore) and usually play at community events.
It was one of the most enthralling items is the trio comprising brothers James (17) and Job Wong (10) and cousin Tan Yu Ling (15) who sang two numbers. Jaw-droppingly talented James is an accomplished musician who plays the piano, violin, cello drums and sings.
He plans to study ocean science in Seattle in the US.
During the evening, cheques were also handed out: RM 2,000 to the Philippines Typhoon Disaster Relief fund, RM 1,000 to the JB Lion Renal Care Foundation and RM 1,000 to the Lions Eye Clinic.
Beryl Kua, the Organising Chairperson, told CJMY that the purpose of the evening was to sell tickets for a project and educate the public. At the same time, they could garner funds which could be channeled to different NGOs. When asked for comments at the end of the wonderful evening, she said that she was pleased with the support of the public.
She added that there are some other groups who were not featured that evening and which were just as good and if included, would have made the evening a very long one.
The Lions Club of Johor Bahru Metro’s 25th anniversary Concert was truly a fascinating evening to reminisce with all the artistes belting out their songs or playing their instruments with equal passion and gusto.
Admin
Dr Keith Tan Kay Hin
