PENANG is not only a home to heritage landmarks but one which has groomed its young of the yesteryears to embrace the world of arts and culture.
And returning home to cement its stature as a state where leading classical artiste begun their mastery of everything classic, was 91 - year old classical pianist Lee Kum Sing, who now resides in Vancouver, Canada.
Before it's too late, Lee decided to return to see friends and sample the gastronomic dishes, which Penang is famed for.
He was raised in Penang and went to the Chung Ling High School, but relocated to Canada, where he taught classical piano and continued to perform.
Despite evidence of brittle joints, Lee, who is affectionately called a Professor, showed that music remains well preserved in his bones.
He was the head of the piano department of the Vancouver Academy of Music and also taught at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
Lee sat on the jury of several international piano competitions and even performed at the famed Carnegie Hall (New York) in 1963, and the Wigmore Hall in 1969 in London (United Kingdom).
It all began when he began performing piano concertos and touring with the Chung Ling orchestra throughout Malaya and Singapore.
Coming back to sample the food, Lee spoke to The Vibes before a private performance for the friends and associates of architect Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, who is now 95 years old.
Lee dazzled the audience with his ability to play with ease on the grand piano despite his advanced years.
He said that the opposite of having music in life is silence.
"Are we as humans able to live in silence. We may want it occasionally, but life is about action and musical tunes along the way."
He hopes to see more Malaysian musical talents groomed and given the necessary exposure to make it onto the world stage.
Among those in attendance were former Penang Gerakan chairman Teng Chang Yeow, historian Marcus Langdon and the parents of young Penang - born Chopin prodigy Vincent Ong; Ong Hock Peng and Sue Sudarak Seephai.
Meanwhile, Chong Keat pointed out that in the 1970s to 1980s, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) raised funds to sponsor the shows of Penang - born artistes such as another acclaimed pianist, Margaret Tan and Lee.
There were also the violinist Cho - Liang Linand celloist Bion Tsang.
He hopes that more attention can be given to the arts scene and those talents they state had groomed, raised and see them become global stars can return to rejuvenate the performing arts scene here. - January 25, 2026.
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