Young violinist to mesmerise crowd at charity event

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WHILE most 10-year-olds are pre-occupied with the latest computer games, Ryan Lum is diligently practising playing violin to obtain a diploma.

“If I have the time, I would practise for about two hours on weekdays and more during the weekends. It really depends on how much homework I have,” said the bubbly boy during an interview at the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam) premises in Petaling Jaya.

Ryan is one of the Pianissimo School of Music students who will be performing at a charity concert to be held on Nov 29, titled ‘Romanze’ for the non-profit organisation.

The young violinist’s mother Evelyn Koh said she was a fan of classical music and he was exposed to it since he was in the womb.

Musical extravaganza: Ryan will be showcasing his violin skills at the concert. With him are (from left) Nasam chairman and founder Janet Yeo, Ho and Chew.

“I played Mozart through headphones on my belly when I was pregnant with him. When he was younger, I would put on classical music to calm him down whenever he threw tantrums,” she said.

She said he was able to recognise the classical pieces played on the Little Einstein children’s programme on the cartoon channel.

“He would hear a song on TV and would start playing on my piano. It was after awhile that I realised he has perfect pitch,” she said.

Ryan started off on the piano and after watching another character on television who played the violin, he was inspired to pick up the instrument and was sent for violin lessons.

When asked how far he wanted to take his music career, Ryan confidently answered: “I want to major in something else, like film-making. Maybe I will be minor in music.”

He will be performing with fellow student Johsua Ng, 13, and several teachers from the music school

Pianissimo principal Joyce Ho said the idea for the charity concert came about because her mother was involved with Nasam while another teacher, Ryan Chew’s grandmother have had suffered stroke twice.

“She could walk and talk again thanks to charity organisations such as Nasam so we want to lend our support to the cause,” said Chew.

Ho said that besides contributing towards a good cause, the audience could look forward to a night of good classical music at the concert.

Tickets for the Romanze concert can be purchased at the KLPac box office (03-4047 9000), the Actors Studio Lot 10 (03-2142 2009), or through www.ilassotickets.com and are priced at RM160, RM120 and RM90. Tickets for students, senior citizens and the disabled are priced at RM60.