GEORGE TOWN: Internationally acclaimed pianist Vincent Ong will return to Malaysia next month for a special homecoming programme featuring performances and educational sessions in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
The Penang-born musician, the first Malaysian to win a prize at the prestigious Chopin Piano Competition in Poland, will lead a two-day programme in Penang.
A piano masterclass and dialogue session will take place on March 27 at the Steinway Gallery, Gurney Paragon, followed by a recital on March 28 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre.
Presented by Rondo Production and powered by TalentCorp and the Penang state government, the programme is supported by the Polish Embassy in Kuala Lumpur and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai described the event as more than a personal milestone for Ong.
“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 attended by Rondo Production founder and chief executive officer Kenny Ooi.
The recital will take audiences across musical eras, from the lyricism of Johannes Brahms and the clarity of Joseph Haydn to the rhythmic intensity of Béla Bartók.
Public response has been overwhelming. In Penang, all 40 seats for the masterclass and dialogue session and 600 tickets for the recital have sold out. Organisers plan to release an additional 100 to 150 seats, with student discounts available.
Born in 2001, Ong began playing the piano at four. Known for his poetic imagination and strong musical architecture, he is currently studying under Prof Eldar Nebolsin at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin.
A laureate of the 19th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, Ong also won First Prize at the 19th International Robert Schumann Competition.
His career has taken him to major venues including the Seoul Arts Centre and Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, and he is set to appear at the Nohant Festival Chopin in France in 2025.
For Penang, his return is not just a concert – it is a celebration of homegrown excellence on the world stage.
