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.