Penang-born Pianist Vincent Ong Returns Home For Landmark Performances

Bernama Lifestyle Reporter

GEORGE TOWN, Feb 10 (Bernama) — Penang-born, internationally acclaimed pianist Vincent Ong will return to his homeland next month for a landmark national homecoming programme celebrating Malaysian excellence through a series of performances and educational initiatives in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

The programme, presented by Rondo Production, is powered by TalentCorp and the Penang state government, with support from the Polish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

Ong, the first Malaysian and Penangite to win a prize at the prestigious Chopin Piano Competition in Poland, will helm a two-day programme comprising a piano masterclass and a dialogue session on March 27 at the Steinway Gallery, Gurney Paragon, followed by a piano recital on March 28 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) here.

State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the homecoming programme represents more than a personal milestone, reflecting the state’s confidence in Malaysian talent and its commitment to positioning Penang as a vibrant cultural destination.

“Each of his performances has carried the names of Malaysia and Penang beyond our borders, strengthening our presence on the global cultural map,” he said at a press conference here today, which was also attended by Rondo Production founder and chief executive officer Kenny Ooi.

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Wong said the recital programme will take audiences on a musical journey across eras, from the lyricism of Johannes Brahms and the clarity of Joseph Haydn to the rhythmic intensity of Béla Bartók.

Meanwhile, Ooi said public response to the homecoming programme has been overwhelmingly positive, with tickets for both the educational sessions and recitals in Penang selling out, reflecting a strong sense of collective pride and Malaysians’ desire to celebrate excellence on home soil.

“In Penang, all 40 tickets for the masterclass and dialogue session, as well as the 600 tickets for the recital, have been sold out. To accommodate more attendees, we will be releasing a limited number of additional seats, estimated at between 100 and 150, with student discounts,” he said.

Born in 2001, Ong began playing the piano at the age of four and is known for his distinctive interpretative voice, blending poetic imagination with a strong sense of musical architecture.

He is currently pursuing his musical education under Prof Eldar Nebolsin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and has gained international recognition as a laureate of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, establishing himself among the leading pianists of his generation.

Ong was also awarded First Prize at the 19th International Robert Schumann Competition. His career highlights include winning the International Taipei Maestro Piano Festival in 2018, performing at major venues such as the Seoul Arts Centre and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and being invited to the prestigious Nohant Festival Chopin in France in 2025.

He is a scholarship recipient of the Lucia-Loeser Foundation and Fondation Clavarte, and an active participant of the Lieven International Piano Foundation in Vienna.

--BERNAMA