Award-winning pianist Foo Mei Yi performs original Malaysian works in KL, 14 August 2019

On 14 August, BBC Music Magazine's Best Newcomer award in 2013, London-based Malaysian pianist Foo Mei Yi will perform 9 Malaysian contemporary classical piano works at the Free Hand festival organised by the Malaysian Composers Collective and UCSI University's Institute of Music, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, including the works of award-winning composers Adeline Wong and Tazul Tajuddin.

The festival is the first of a regular series to encourage the composition of local piano works of high standard, that can be showcased by pianists at home and abroad.

At the festival two winning composers will be picked to be commissioned to write the test piece for for the finalists of the UCSI University International Piano Festival & Competition in 2020.

Submissions for the festival will also be included in Malaysia's first ever anthology of piano works to be published after the event.

Foo is excited to be performing the Malaysian works, and says, "I believe this concert will prove itself to be a game changer, at least for me."

Find out more at www.freehandfestival.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freehandfestival

About Mei Yi Foo

Winner of the 2013 BBC Music Magazine’s Best Newcomer award, Mei Yi Foo is recognised internationally as an innovative pianist with a diverse and eclectic repertoire. A prolific concert soloist, Mei Yi has appeared with the English Chamber Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, London Chamber Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Remix Ensemble and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

She has garnered rave reviews from The Times, Independent, Neue Zurcher Zeitung, SRF broadcast, Guardian and Klassik magazine.

A native of Malaysia, Mei Yi resides in the UK after completing her studies at the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music in London with Yonty Solomon, Chris Elton and Alexander Satz.  Currently she holds a teaching position at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Mei Yi was also awarded the medal of Setiawan Tuanku Muhriz for her contribution towards art and music in her home country.

“…she sat down at the piano to give us a taster: three little late-20th century dazzlers, impish and poetic. Immediately we were her devoted fans.” - The Times


“…not only a virtuoso pianist, but an unaffected, intelligent artist.”  - Timeout


‘“Newcomer triumphs at BBC Music Awards […] Malaysian pianist steals the show […] her genius is now unquestionable’. - The Arts Desk


“Finally hats off to a young Malaysian […] Mei Yi Foo intrigued, charmed and dazzled in equal measure.” - International Piano Magazine