PETALING JAYA, Sept 27 (Sin Chew Daily) — A talented and kind-hearted young pianist still studying in school has organized several charity concerts to help those in need in the last few years.

This year, Andrew Kuik Jie En, 16, organized an online charity concert themed Charity Concert by Young Musicians 2021 to raise funds for the Blessed Sunway Mentari Learning Center and MakanKongsi 2.0 project.

Kuik invited nine young musicians aged between 10 and 24 to perform in the online charity concert, including Japanese cellist Yoshiko Ikemura and pianist Tomonari Tsuchiya as special guests.

The online charity concert was organized to raise funds to pay for two teachers’ salaries for the entire year. The teachers are teaching 34 refugee children from Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Pakistan at Sunway Mentari Learning Center (under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees).

The concert has also raised funds for MakanKongsi 2.0 to buy food for 300 families, including orang asli.

Kuik approached Tan Sri Lim Hock San, executive chairman of the LBS Bina Group and LBS Foundation who agreed to sponsor RM10,800 for two teachers’ salaries.

Tan Sri Lim Soon Peng, group adviser and founder of Titijaya Land Bhd, supported Kuik by donating 300 food packages worth RM18,000 for MakanKong 2.0. The food will be distributed to 300 families.

Kuik is grateful to receive support from Tan Sri Lim Hock San and Tan Sri Lim Soon Peng as well as many other generous donors.

A total of RM36,430 has been raised from the online concert. Blessed Sunway Mentari will receive RM18,430 while MakanKongsi 2.0 project RM18,000.

Kuik started learning piano at the age of seven and began to participate in charity events from the age of eight.

He started organizing charity concerts under the guidance of his piano teacher Dr Kathryn Ang at the age of 12.

Kuik has raised funds for the National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM), his alma mater SJK (C) Shin Cheng (Ladang Harcroft), Nepalese and Myanmar children, Afghan Refugee Learning Center and 600 families in crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year’s online charity concert is the fifth charity concert organized by him so far.

Kuik received full scholarship to study at Nexus International School Malaysia and realized the importance of education for children.

Kuik’s first personal charity concert at the age of 12 made him realize that he could utilize his skills (in piano) for charity and give back to the society, and thus he has been actively organizing concerts during the past five years.

“I would like to thank my piano teacher Dr Kathryn Ang. Under her careful guidance, I do not only learn music, but also learn how to plan and organize each charity concert.

“Apart from that, I would also like to thank my parents and Nexus International School Malaysia for their full support, the performers who participated in the concert for spending their precious time in practicing and recording the pieces they perform, their music teachers and all the generous donors,” said Kuik.

The pre-recorded video was released at 4pm on Sept 26.

Tan Sri Lim Hock San, in supporting Kuik’s charity concert, said he hoped to cultivate the idea of giving back to the community and Kuik would continue to help the needy in future probably on the international stage.

He said young people are encouraged to organize charity events and he would be happy to cooperate.

Cellist Ikemura is happy to participate in the online charity concert.
“As long as it can help others, I’m glad to help. I hope to visit Malaysia one day to hold my live concert,” she said.

One of the performers, Carmen Loo, said it was her first time joining the event and she grateful to be part of it.

“It’s always inspiring to witness the role of music in contributing to the society and we should have concern for the communities in need, especially during this pandemic,” said Loo.