(Miri, 23rd) Lian Lyu Middle School Suyun Chinese Orchestra held its grand "15th Anniversary Celebration Music Banquet" on the evening of August 22 (Saturday) at Donglin Valley Music Corridor, hosting dozens of tables and gathering honored guests from political, business, and cultural-educational circles to collectively witness the orchestra's 15 glorious years. Sarawak Minister of Transport YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin served as the guest of honor, while Lianzhong Middle School Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien led the board's full participation throughout the event. Kuching Nanyan Chinese Orchestra president Dato Wong Kee Hwee led his troupe across provinces to passionately assist in the performance. The confluence of these three forces not only signifies the highest affirmation of Suyun Orchestra's fifteen years of dedication but also highlights the resolute determination of the Lianzhong Board and school leadership to promote the inheritance of Chinese musical culture.
In his speech, Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin said that education is the root of a nation, and culture is its soul. Over the past 15 years since its establishment, Suyun Chinese Orchestra, under the careful management of the board and school, has cultivated generations of young people passionate about Chinese music, representing the best embodiment of Chinese cultural tradition’s continuity. He extended his highest respect to the Nanyan Chinese Orchestra, marveling at their steadfast commitment and decades of dedication through half a century of ups and downs; their persistence is deeply moving. He also highly praised that evening’s joint performance, which combined Chinese music with Malay hand drumming and sape, noting that Sarawak is a harmonious multi-ethnic family where diversity is not a barrier but a treasure, and differences are not divisions but complementarity. When musical notes of different cultures resonate together, it is the most touching interpretation of Sarawak’s spirit.
Lianzhong Middle School Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien emphasized in his speech that it is not easy for Chinese Independent Secondary Schools to survive and develop, and the growth of the Chinese Orchestra relies all the more on the strong support of all sectors. He thanked Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin for his long-term care for Lianzhong's education, and gave heartfelt thanks to Nanyan Chinese Orchestra President Dato Wong Kee Hwee for leading his group to participate in the performance. He pointed out that last year Suyun was invited to participate in Nanyan’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and this year Nanyan was invited to Suyun’s 15th anniversary event. This mutual exchange not only blends the deep friendship of the two orchestras, but truly reflects the continued passing of the torch and generational relay of Chinese music. He reiterated that the Board and management will continue to firmly support the inheritance and promotion of Chinese cultural undertakings, so that students not only learn knowledge, but also appreciate the profound heritage of Chinese culture through music, fostering cultural identity and pride. He especially thanked Vice Chairman Dato Sri Lau Sian Shih and Datin Sri Lau Su Ming, Honorary Chairman Dato Wu Jian Ping (Lawyer), Kuching Weda Co. Ltd. Group Executive Director Dato Lee Chun Chin, and all the board members and parents for their silent devotion and strong support over the years.
Kuching Nanyan Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1975, one of the earliest registered Chinese orchestras in Sarawak, by Teacher Deng Yu Zhong. Having weathered half a century, it has always regarded promoting Chinese music as its mission. President Dato Wong Kee Hwee stated in his speech that the cooperation between the two orchestras is a musical bond crossing generations and cities, demonstrating the tradition of mutual support and collective growth among Chinese music groups. He thanked the Lianzhong Board for their gracious invitation and looked forward to continued exchange in the future so that Chinese music will flourish even more in Sarawak.
During the opening ceremony of the banquet, Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin, Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien, Honorary Chairman Dato Wu Jian Ping, Dato Wong Kee Hwee, Dato Lee Chun Chin, Principal Jiang Pei Juan, instructors Deng Yu Zhong, Deng Tao Hui, Xu Long Nian, and Organizing Committee Chairs Shen Jia Ying and Cheng Jia Xuan jointly presided over the ribbon-cutting. The venue was filled with thunderous applause, wishing Suyun Orchestra "Fifteen Blossoming Years, Greater Glories Ahead."
The banquet performance was spectacular: Suyun Chinese Orchestra and Nanyan Orchestra cooperated with Chinese martial arts and the Lianzhong Ethnic Dance Society, incorporating Malay hand drums and sape to present a cross-cultural, cross-generational musical feast. The opening, "A True Man", was majestic, blending music and martial arts; the erhu ensemble "Horse Racing" featured three generations, young, middle-aged and old, all on stage and skillful; Chairman Lau Kiew Kien personally sang "The Moon on the Fifteenth", accompanied by Suyun Orchestra, leading to an emotional resonance throughout the audience. The collaboration of Chinese music, hand drums, and sape for the Malay folk song "Chan Mali Chan" entwined three musical languages into a touching melody, elevating the harmonious integration of Sarawak's multicultural spirit to its climax.
Fifteen years of the journey of Chinese music has carried the footprints of predecessors and entrusted hopes for the next generations. With the care and guidance of Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin, the steadfast support of Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien and the entire Board, and the collaborative spirit of Nanyan Chinese Orchestra and other music troupes, Suyun Chinese Orchestra will continue its resolute pursuit of ‘inheriting the legacy, and forging ahead’. As the banquet's theme said—"Fifteen Blossoms, Greater Glory Ahead"—we believe, with the torch passed on by pioneers in Chinese education and the continuous guardianship of all sectors of society, the seeds of Chinese music will keep thriving on the land of Sarawak, shining ever brighter and more resplendent.
In his speech, Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin said that education is the root of a nation, and culture is its soul. Over the past 15 years since its establishment, Suyun Chinese Orchestra, under the careful management of the board and school, has cultivated generations of young people passionate about Chinese music, representing the best embodiment of Chinese cultural tradition’s continuity. He extended his highest respect to the Nanyan Chinese Orchestra, marveling at their steadfast commitment and decades of dedication through half a century of ups and downs; their persistence is deeply moving. He also highly praised that evening’s joint performance, which combined Chinese music with Malay hand drumming and sape, noting that Sarawak is a harmonious multi-ethnic family where diversity is not a barrier but a treasure, and differences are not divisions but complementarity. When musical notes of different cultures resonate together, it is the most touching interpretation of Sarawak’s spirit.
Lianzhong Middle School Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien emphasized in his speech that it is not easy for Chinese Independent Secondary Schools to survive and develop, and the growth of the Chinese Orchestra relies all the more on the strong support of all sectors. He thanked Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin for his long-term care for Lianzhong's education, and gave heartfelt thanks to Nanyan Chinese Orchestra President Dato Wong Kee Hwee for leading his group to participate in the performance. He pointed out that last year Suyun was invited to participate in Nanyan’s 50th anniversary celebrations, and this year Nanyan was invited to Suyun’s 15th anniversary event. This mutual exchange not only blends the deep friendship of the two orchestras, but truly reflects the continued passing of the torch and generational relay of Chinese music. He reiterated that the Board and management will continue to firmly support the inheritance and promotion of Chinese cultural undertakings, so that students not only learn knowledge, but also appreciate the profound heritage of Chinese culture through music, fostering cultural identity and pride. He especially thanked Vice Chairman Dato Sri Lau Sian Shih and Datin Sri Lau Su Ming, Honorary Chairman Dato Wu Jian Ping (Lawyer), Kuching Weda Co. Ltd. Group Executive Director Dato Lee Chun Chin, and all the board members and parents for their silent devotion and strong support over the years.
Kuching Nanyan Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1975, one of the earliest registered Chinese orchestras in Sarawak, by Teacher Deng Yu Zhong. Having weathered half a century, it has always regarded promoting Chinese music as its mission. President Dato Wong Kee Hwee stated in his speech that the cooperation between the two orchestras is a musical bond crossing generations and cities, demonstrating the tradition of mutual support and collective growth among Chinese music groups. He thanked the Lianzhong Board for their gracious invitation and looked forward to continued exchange in the future so that Chinese music will flourish even more in Sarawak.
During the opening ceremony of the banquet, Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin, Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien, Honorary Chairman Dato Wu Jian Ping, Dato Wong Kee Hwee, Dato Lee Chun Chin, Principal Jiang Pei Juan, instructors Deng Yu Zhong, Deng Tao Hui, Xu Long Nian, and Organizing Committee Chairs Shen Jia Ying and Cheng Jia Xuan jointly presided over the ribbon-cutting. The venue was filled with thunderous applause, wishing Suyun Orchestra "Fifteen Blossoming Years, Greater Glories Ahead."
The banquet performance was spectacular: Suyun Chinese Orchestra and Nanyan Orchestra cooperated with Chinese martial arts and the Lianzhong Ethnic Dance Society, incorporating Malay hand drums and sape to present a cross-cultural, cross-generational musical feast. The opening, "A True Man", was majestic, blending music and martial arts; the erhu ensemble "Horse Racing" featured three generations, young, middle-aged and old, all on stage and skillful; Chairman Lau Kiew Kien personally sang "The Moon on the Fifteenth", accompanied by Suyun Orchestra, leading to an emotional resonance throughout the audience. The collaboration of Chinese music, hand drums, and sape for the Malay folk song "Chan Mali Chan" entwined three musical languages into a touching melody, elevating the harmonious integration of Sarawak's multicultural spirit to its climax.
Fifteen years of the journey of Chinese music has carried the footprints of predecessors and entrusted hopes for the next generations. With the care and guidance of Guest of Honor YB Dato Sri Dr. Lee Kim Shin, the steadfast support of Co-Chairman Dato Sri Lau Kiew Kien and the entire Board, and the collaborative spirit of Nanyan Chinese Orchestra and other music troupes, Suyun Chinese Orchestra will continue its resolute pursuit of ‘inheriting the legacy, and forging ahead’. As the banquet's theme said—"Fifteen Blossoms, Greater Glory Ahead"—we believe, with the torch passed on by pioneers in Chinese education and the continuous guardianship of all sectors of society, the seeds of Chinese music will keep thriving on the land of Sarawak, shining ever brighter and more resplendent.