Faculty Music Duo Tours Thailand and Malaysia

SAGU music professors Dr. Amanda Lee (piano) and Tyrone Block (trombone), members of Brass Keys Duo, recently completed their first South East Asian performance tour to Thailand and Malaysia.  The tour took place May 11 – 21, 2010.  It was part of an effort to reach out to the communities in these countries and raise funds for non-profit Christian organizations.

The first concert was held at Thai-German Cultural Foundation Auditorium in Bangkok, Thailand.   The concert was jointly organized by D&M Music Studio, The Betters Music Academy & Theatre, Windsor Suites of Bangkok, and Goethe-Institute of Thailand.   The duo also performed at Syuen Hotel Grand Ballroom in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Approximately $12,000 was raised through the concerts to help Hannah Home and Ipoh Bug.  Hannah Home is a non-profit Christian organization that brings restoration and reconciliation into the broken lives of abandoned, neglected, and abused children and families in need.  Ipoh Bug is a non-profit sports organization affiliated with the Sports Partnership Malaysia and is involved with sports ministry on a local and international basis.

According to Dr. Lee, “The concert was well attended by more than 1,000 people from the local community.  We were so touched by the overall passion and effort put together by the local organizers and all the volunteers.  The locals were so supportive of the event and thus making this one of the most successful concerts that we have had.”  Brass Keys Duo performed their final concert at UCSI University (formerly University-College Sedaya International) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dr. Amanda Lee also conducted a two-hour piano master class at UCSI University in June.  She taught a master class at Clavier Music Center in Ipoh as well.  Dr. Lee had the opportunity to speak and share her personal testimony before presenting a 45-minute concert program consisting of all-time favorite hymn arrangements.