MP3rio
Yap Ling (叶凌), violin
Jonathan Oh (胡万兴), violoncello
Loo Bang Hean(卢邦贤), piano

About the MP3rio…

Formed in 2002, the Malaysian Piano Trio originally comprised Fung Chern Hwei, Jonathan Oh and Loo Bang Hean. After Chern Hwei left for the US to further his music studies Yap Ling joined in as the group’s violinist in 2005, and MP3rio continues to give chamber music performances around the country. They are also members of the Malaysian Ars Nova Ensemble.

After obtaining his LRSM in 1986, Yap Ling was awarded the Sarawak Foundation Scholarship and Royal Academy of Music’s Alec Templeton Scholarship to study with Clarence Myerscough at the Royal Academy of Music, London. While in London he was the Concert Master for Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, Chelsea String Quartet, The London Chinese Ensemble as well as a member of a piano trio under the Amadeus Quartet’s tutelage. Yap Ling was conferred the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM) in 1997 for his contribution towards developing the standard of classical music in Malaysia. He is the conductor of Sabah Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO).

As a much sought-after violin tutor, Yap Ling was invited by the ABRSM to conduct violin seminars as well as masterclasses around Malaysia in 2004. He conducted the Miri Orchestra and Choir (MOC) in January 2005. Yap Ling has performed widely both locally and overseas as a violin soloist and in chamber music. His performances have taken him to Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Moscow (Russia), China and USA.

Loo Bang Hean - Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, Bang Hean’s teachers in Malaysia include Serena Chow and Rickie Oui. He was the 1^st prize winner of the First National Mozart Piano Competition in 1987, and following his success in the LRSM performing diploma in that same year the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music awarded him a four-year scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music, London.

In England Bang Hean studied with Yonty Solomon, John Blakely and Dennis Lee. He won numerous prizes at the RCM and was chosen to appear in a Royal Gala Evening at St. James’s Palace attended by Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. Awards from the Anthony Saltmarsh Prize and the Countess of Munster Musical Trust enabled him to undergo a year of postgraduate studies with the Hungarian teacher Professor Ilonka Deckers in Milan, Italy.

Back in Malaysia since 1995, Bang Hean regularly appears in solo recitals, chamber concerts and concerto performances. He has appeared in concerto performances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Penang Symphony Orchestra, Penang State Symphony Orchestra and PJ Youth Band. Bang Hean also works frequently with various instrumentalists including members of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, giving chamber music performances. Apart from Malaysia he has also performed in England, Italy, Brunei, Singapore and Korea.

“..mastery of his instrument is astounding…his tone, power and musicality are superb..” The Sunday Mail

Jonathan Oh started learning the cello at the age of 10. Currently studying with Simon Cobroft of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Jonathan's other teachers include Nasran Nawi and Laurentiu Gherman. Jonathan has participated in various music camps all around Malaysia, and was recently invited to be the tutor of the Penang State Symphony Orchestra at their music camp in November 2004.

He was awarded a scholarship to attend the chamber music festival and academy in St. Geniez in France where he had the opportunity to study the cello with the renowned French cellists Valerie Aimard and Jean Marie Trotoreau. He is an active chamber musician, performing in various chamber music concerts all over Malaysia. In 2002, he was the highest scorer for the Trinity College ATCL diploma examination in Penang. In 2003 he was the cellist for the sound track of a German silent film with newly commissioned music from Malaysian composer Adeline Wong. This film was shown as a part of the 2004 Berlin Film Festival. As an orchestral musician Jonathan has performed with the Penang State Symphony since he was eleven years old. He was the principal cellist for Penang Symphony Orchestra from 2000-2001, and has been a regular guest player with the National Symphony Orchestra since 2002. He has also been invited to perform with the Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra and the Simfoni Orkestra Negeri Sarawak.

HSBC Classics Festival of the Rising Stars - Concert at KLPAC on Thursday 16 July 09

MP3rio was invited by Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC) to perform for the festival.

During rehearsal in the morning in Pentas 2.

































During concert - MP3rio in action!

After concert supper at Hokkaido Restaurant next to the Vistana Hotel where we stayed:-The "all boys gang" - Ahmad Azrai (Roy), Charles Wong, Yap Ling, Jonathan Oh, Wong Shuenda, Lim U Jin & Loo Bang Hean

Preparation for Concert in KK

Photo taken on 22 May after Bang Hean and Jonathan arrived from KL. We have to practice at our Soprano friend, Phoon Sook Peng's House because there is no electric current in Yap Ling's House (power cut). What a day! Thanks to Sook Peng for kindly offer her studio for us to practice.

Bang Hean and Jonathan rehearsing at the Dewan Resital, UMS after giving violin (by Yap Ling), piano and cello masterclasses to the UMS students in Sekolah Pengajian Seni (SPS), UMS on 24 May.

A Romantic Classical Evening Concert on 25 April 2009

The Mp3rio will be performing in Dewan Resital, UMS on 25th April 09 at 8pm. Tickets are available from Alice 016-833 3034. They will also be conducting masterclasses at Sekolah Pengajian Seni, UMS on 24th morning.

The Mp3rio will return to Kota Kinabalu for a chamber music performance at Dewan Resital, Universiti Sabah Malaysia on Saturday, April 25th 2009 at 8.00pm. The MP3rio has performed a few times here and this time the theme for the concert is "A Romantic Classical Evening".

The trio comprises violinist Yap Ling, cellist Jonathan Oh and pianist Loo Bang Hean. Yap is a well-known violinist, conductor and music educator based here in Kota Kinabalu. He has been conferred as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), London for his contribution towards developing the standard of classical music and promoting it in Malaysia.

Jonathan was awarded a scholarship to study the cello in France by the French Music and Dance Association 2 years ago. He was the highest scorer for the ATCL examination of the Trinity College in Malaysia three years ago.

Bang Hean is one of the most active pianists in the country, appearing regularly in solo recitals, chamber concerts and concerto performances. He is also involved in educational work, regularly holding seminars and workshops for music teachers around the country.

As a piano trio ensemble, besides performing abroad, they have performed all over Malaysia, bringing chamber music to different parts of the county. As the title suggests, “A Romantic Classical Evening” features works from the Romantic period, with pieces by Dvorak, Chopin, Rachmaninoff and Mendelssohn. These works were written by these composers still at an early stage of their compositional career, conveying much youthful ardour and passion.

There will be masterclasses conducted bythe MP3rio at the Sekolah Pengajian Seni on 24th April at 9.00am The classes will be at Bilik Payung Mahkota for piano, Bilik Bunyi Guitar for violin and Bilik Zapin for cello.

Further information and tickets at RM30 & RM50 can be obtained from Prelude Music (Tel: 016-833 3034) and Sri Pelancongan (Tel:088-232121). Tickets will also be sold at the door before the concert.

April Concert in KK and Miri

There will be Violin & Piano Recitals by 2 Australians on Wednesday 16 April in KK and at GCM Miri on Thursday 17 April which are supported by the Australia-Malaysia Institute. Please click here for more detail.

Concert Program in Hong Kong (22 - 26 January 2008)

Performance at the Hong Kong Club organised by the Hong Kong Chamber Music Society.

Performance at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology


Performance at Hong Kong Baptist University

After the concerts.....

Charles Wong and his girl friend - Angie treated us dinner on 25th night at Yung Kei Restaurant. It is famous for BBQ & Roasted Pork, Duck, "Pi Tan" etc.

With Charles waiting to go on board the ferry from HK Island to mainland HK. Charles, thank you for spending time with us.

With Carol Yu at Stanley Market, south of HK Island. Thank her for driving and bringing us around on 26th, Saturday morning.