Pianist and composer Ng Chong Lim currently lives and works in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Born in 1972, Ng began playing the piano at age four. Although neither of his parents were serious musicians, his father loved music and Ng grew up listening to "jazz, Latin, and a lot of oldies." He composed actively in his teenage years, representing Malaysia twice (1986 and 1988) at the International Junior Original Concerts held in Japan. In 1993 Ng won first prize at the Malaysian National Piano competition.
He went on to receive piano and composition degrees from the Royal College of Music in London (1994-97) and the University of Music and Fine Arts in Graz, Austria (1997). In 1994 he was a prizewinner at the International Newport (Wales) Piano Competition. The same year he also received the Philip Crashaw Memorial Prize for Outstanding Overseas Musician in the Royal Overseas League Competition held in London.
Ng currently maintains an active schedule as concert pianist, appearing as both soloist and chamber musician globally, including in Germany, Spain, Holland, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Solo and duo recitals are planned for 2008 in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. He is also a Visiting Lecturer in Piano at both the University of Malaya in Malaysia and at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, commuting regularly between the two countries. ....
... Ng credits many of the German masters as his inspirations-Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert-but also Ligeti, Boulez, and Kurtag. He also includes performers like Rubinstein, Lipati, Horowitz and Gould: "They inspire me with their distinctive personality, their individuality, and their dedication to music, whether new or 'conventional'." Ng credits the support of his family and friends for his successes and is candid in his assessment of his composing career and compositional style: "I won't say I have found my own voice or style yet. Each work I compose feels different in both approach and idea, but I continue to take risks in search of something close to my heart."
... Ng’s Two Preludes were commissioned by the National Piano Festival of Malaysia in 2000 to introduce new music to younger pianists, most of whom "do not tend to play music written after 1920." Six semi-finalists in the competition had one month to learn both preludes. Both preludes are accessible to a college-level performer. The first prelude is highly dissonant and in a free-flowing style. There are four main tempi: freely, presto, allegro maestoso, and lento. Ng weaves the various tempi throughout the short piece. The second prelude is more diatonic and more accessible harmonically. It is also lento throughout. It is clearly in the key of A Major, although various dissonances are still heard. The pianist has freedom to improvise in the middle section.
Ng writes, "I employ some new techniques and sounds, and use markings and symbols different from [what's used] traditionally. There are also mood changes affected by unexpected changes of tempo, dynamics, and a wide range of colors and textures.".......[end of excerpt]
> Part III - the music of Tazul Tajuddin and Tan Chee-Hwa
He went on to receive piano and composition degrees from the Royal College of Music in London (1994-97) and the University of Music and Fine Arts in Graz, Austria (1997). In 1994 he was a prizewinner at the International Newport (Wales) Piano Competition. The same year he also received the Philip Crashaw Memorial Prize for Outstanding Overseas Musician in the Royal Overseas League Competition held in London.
Ng currently maintains an active schedule as concert pianist, appearing as both soloist and chamber musician globally, including in Germany, Spain, Holland, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia. Solo and duo recitals are planned for 2008 in Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan. He is also a Visiting Lecturer in Piano at both the University of Malaya in Malaysia and at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in Singapore, commuting regularly between the two countries. ....
... Ng credits many of the German masters as his inspirations-Bach, Beethoven, Schumann, Schubert-but also Ligeti, Boulez, and Kurtag. He also includes performers like Rubinstein, Lipati, Horowitz and Gould: "They inspire me with their distinctive personality, their individuality, and their dedication to music, whether new or 'conventional'." Ng credits the support of his family and friends for his successes and is candid in his assessment of his composing career and compositional style: "I won't say I have found my own voice or style yet. Each work I compose feels different in both approach and idea, but I continue to take risks in search of something close to my heart."
... Ng’s Two Preludes were commissioned by the National Piano Festival of Malaysia in 2000 to introduce new music to younger pianists, most of whom "do not tend to play music written after 1920." Six semi-finalists in the competition had one month to learn both preludes. Both preludes are accessible to a college-level performer. The first prelude is highly dissonant and in a free-flowing style. There are four main tempi: freely, presto, allegro maestoso, and lento. Ng weaves the various tempi throughout the short piece. The second prelude is more diatonic and more accessible harmonically. It is also lento throughout. It is clearly in the key of A Major, although various dissonances are still heard. The pianist has freedom to improvise in the middle section.
Ng writes, "I employ some new techniques and sounds, and use markings and symbols different from [what's used] traditionally. There are also mood changes affected by unexpected changes of tempo, dynamics, and a wide range of colors and textures.".......[end of excerpt]
> Part III - the music of Tazul Tajuddin and Tan Chee-Hwa
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Ng won 1st prize at the Malaysian National Piano Competition in 1993 and was selected by one of the judges for a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London, after which he proceeded to study composition with Professor Beat Furrer at Graz, Austria. Chong has written a number of piano works that combines a bold, experimental approach to composition with a warmth and freedom more associated with Asian music aesthetics. He was one of the four finalists in the Forum For Malaysian Composers II in 2007.
Residence: Kuala Lumpur, FT
Residence: Kuala Lumpur, FT
