Ms. Chong Lee Suan
Chong Lee Suan holds Bachelor Degree in Theory & Composition and Master Degree in Ethnomusicology, with piano as major instrument, from University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA. Her distinguished piano teachers include Paul Lyddon who had toured as a recitalist soloist over 700 concerts in United States, Europe and Asia and Dr. Edward Shipwright, a member of the upper division departmental faculties of Juilliard School in New York and toured solo recitals and served as an adjudicator in piano competitions around United States. Among her many great Ethnomusicology professors are Professor Dr. Byong Won Lee, an honored figure as one of the 85 “Proud Koreans Abroad” by Seoul Metropolitan Government and as the Advisory Committee on Democratic and Peaceful Unification of Korea by the President of Republic of Korea; and Professor Dr. Barbara Smith, an internationally honored and well-known Ethnomusicologist active in International Council for Traditional Music-UNESCO, Society for Ethnomusicology, America Music Educators National Conferences and Charles Seeger Memorial Conferences. Her main theory and composition teachers include Professor Dr. Elmer Takeo Kudo who have performed his orchestral works throughout USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, South America, Canada and Hawaii, Professor Dr. Allen Trubitt, who was a well-known composer and music theory author; Professor Dr. Byron K. Yasui, who served as co-chair of Society of Composers and honored as one of the 500 most influential Asian Americans in USA in 1996; and Professor Dr. Donald Reid Womack, who had his works performed throughout USA, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Italy, Poland, Argentina, New Zealand, U.S. Virgin Island and Puerto Rico.
She has been lecturing in University Malaysia Sabah in piano, aural training, music theory and Ethnomusicology. She has more than 20 years experiences in piano teaching, including children mind music courses. One of her piano students had won the recipient of the Best Performer in 2012 Yamaha Asian Music Performances Competition. She is also a researcher and Ethnomusicologist who was awarded FRGS Research Grants by Malaysia Ministry of Higher Education, published her research works in distinguished Asian Music Journal in USA, and had received Jessie Cheng Scholarship Award in USA, Merit Citation for Excellence in Piano Performance presented by University of Hawaii at Manoa and 1st Prize in Honpa Honwangji Mission of Hawaii Music Composition Contest in Hawaii.