Download Jazzed up by winning performance

Jazzed up by winning performance
THE lively and free spiritedness
of jazz has captured the atten­
"My lecturers played an influen­
tial role in my winning. They con­
tion and interest of Melvin
stantly guided and advised me to
Goh.
What makes Goh stand out
ensure 1 performed my best inside
and outside of UCSI," he says.
among other jazz enthusiasts is that
his passion for jazz is taking him to
On what inspired him to focus
on jazz music, Goh pointed out that
the top.
The 23­year­old recently clinched
the first prize in the 2nd Malaysian
"jazz enables improvisation ­ com­
ing up with your own take on the
existing melody".
Having taken formal music les­
Jazz Piano Competition held in
January 2015, which saw the
participation of some of the great­
est non­professional pianists in
Malaysia.
It was Goh's first attempt at per­
sons since he was seven, he decided
to focus on jazz at 17.
A year later, he made the deci­
sion to pursue music professionally
and enrolled at UCSI IMus for his
forming competitively.
Foundation in Music.
The third year student of UCS1
University's Institute of Music (UCSI
IMus) performed in front of a jury
of musicians, including respected
Malaysian jazz pianist Michael
Veerapan.
"This win was unexpected," Goh
Today, he has almost completed
his three­and­a­half­year Bachelor
of Contemporary Music (Hons)
degree.
The talented pianist has even
performed with the Malaysian
said.
renowned Malaysian singer and
Philharmonic Orchestra as part of
"It was a tough competition.
Nevertheless, it was a really good
composer Juwita Suwito's show
titled, The MPO Happy Hour with
juwita Suwito.
motivation for me. I feel a lot more
confident in performing now."
Performing in front of Veerapan
Jazz gives Melvin Goh the freedom to express himself.
was something Goh treasures and
regards as "one of my musical inspi­
Having enrolled in UCSI IMus
since his Foundation in Music year,
he was provided with the funda­
ising concerts at UCSI University
as an invaluable opportunity for
students to perform before a live
mentals in music and the conducive
environment he needed to mature
history by becoming the first
university choir group to perform
with the Malaysian Philharmonic
audience.
Orchestra in March, Goh was one of
The experience of learning and
performing with equally talented
classmates spurred Goh further. He
shares that the study environment
is one of mutual support.
the first to encourage them.
Goh is also grateful to his lectur­
ers, particularly head of the con­
temporary music programme Justin
Lim Fang Yee, and lecturer Julian
Chan Ching Shung.
rations".
Two years ago, Goh approached
Veerapan for piano lessons and
was taught by the maestro for half
a year.
Goh also credits his experience at
UCSI IMus for giving him the confi­
dence to perform his best on stage.
as a musician by the institute.
Goh reveals that he learned much
from theory to the practical aspect
of showmanship, crediting the insti­
tute's practice of frequently organ­
Goh has also toured with Suwito
while juggling his responsibilities as
When the UCSI Chorale made
a student.
■ To find out more about UCSI
University's Institute of Music
programmes, call 03­9101 8882 or
e­mail www.ucsiuniversity.edu.my/
onlineenquiry. You can also drop by
UCSI's Career Forum on April 11 and
12, to find out more.