By V. Sivaji
Budding musician, 15-year-old Chew Yi who specializes playing the harp received a boost when her flight ticket to the 14th World Harp Congress (WHC) in Cardiff, Wales in United Kingdom was sponsored by a well-wisher.
For the uninitiated, harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers.
The generous sponsor is a Penangite based in Bangkok, Thailand, Dato Tai Chong Yih who is also the deputy chief executive officer of Nok Airlines there.
Accompanying Chew Yi at a press conference was her mother Shina Ng. Chew Yi is also a student of the Prince of Wales International School.
Also present at the ceremony was the Penang Director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), Jonathan Freddy Bagang along with Dato Tai’s representative Pauline Chua, another Penangite based in Bangkok.
The sponsorship of RM5,800 will cover the flight ticket for Chew Yi who started learning the harp from the age of seven.
The WHC will be held on July 14, 2022 in Cardiff.
“Initially, I found it tough to learn the instrument but as I continue to persevere, I began to like playing the harp. Now, my goal is to become a professional harp player,” said Chew Yi when met at the MOTAC office along Beach Street.
Chew Yi is among the 30 select participants from around the world to be invited to attend the WHC.
“I am so happy to offer help to Chew Yi to follow her passion. I hope she will do well and make a name in the musical industry,” said Dato Tai in the teleconference call held at the MOTAC office.
He has been working in Bangkok for the last 32 years and is also the president of Club Malaysia in Bangkok which has around 120 members.
“We host various activities and also promote Penang Street Food which is always a fond favourite among the people here. We also carry out social gathering among Malaysians working with the Malaysian Embassy,” said Tai.
He also added that with the reopening of international borders, Nok Airlines is also looking into the possibility flying from Bangkok to Penang to offer another option for travellers from Penang International Airport.