A note of appreciation from the Executive Director
Shortly after the Asian Youth Orchestra's China tour last year, the American
Express Foundation's David Ruth and Chekiang First Bank chairman James Kung
called to say how impressed they were with the Orchestra. They had been
moved by what the students had given them and they wanted to give something
back in the form of greater opportunities, concerts in new venues, whatever
would help to make the project grow.
This was an extraordinary gesture from both men and, as it turned out, their
interest and their commitment to the orchestra attracted a network of support
that has made this year more than a resounding success.
Sir Yehudi Menuhin's ongoing participation as music director and Sally Aw
Sian's determination to provide for the orchestra's long-term future continue
to be the foundation for AYO's artistic and financial achievements.
The American Express Foundation, with Fuji Xerox in Singapore, made it
possible for us to shift our Rehearsal Camp to Southeast Asia. The Foundation
also provided the support necessary for the orchestra's return to Hong Kong
and debut concerts in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Seoul.
In addition to a major contribution from Chekiang First Bank, Mr Kung helped
to provide AYO's future by initiating the Natasha Wilson Asian Youth
Orchestra Scholarship Fund to honour the orchestra's gracious Hong Kong
Patron on her return to England, and to provide annual scholarships for five
Hong Kong students. Mr Kung was joined in his efforts by Mrs Alice Lam, Mr
Carson Wen and Mr Leo Lok Kin Wah.
ALso in Hong Kong, Star TV chairman Richard Li recognized the need for
scholarship support for students throughout the region and generously provided
for 15 students in Hing Kong, Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Taipei, and
Thailand.
Cathay Pacific Airways joined us as Official Carrier this year and took care
of the orchestra not only in the air, where Cathay's service is second to
none in the world, but surprised the students with AYO T-shirts and caps,
and featured AYO in its Discovery Magazine and inflight entertainment
programmes.
Whatever I say about Hans Lodders, Managing Director of Agfa-Gevaert, cannot
match his generosity, his zest for life and his passion for good music. This
exemplary gentleman produces our souvenir program, personally underwrites
scholarships for Hong Kong students and his year saw to the sponsorship of
AYO's first concert in Tuen Mun.
It is a challenge to take the orchestra to a new destination, and yet we did
that twice two days in Malaysia this year. Penang State Councillor Madam Kee
Phaik Cheen saw to it that students, faculty and artists will never forget
their 12-hour visit to that island-city, while the people at American Express
and the New Straits Times Press made sure we felt right at home in Kuala
Lumpur.
The concerts in Korea could not have been arranged without the help of the
distinguished cellist and professor Jeon Bang-Cho. Travelling with us in
China last year, Professor Jeon caught the AYO spirit and single handedly
made a name for the orchestra in Korea, where he organized auditions, raised
money, introduced us to our concert presenter, Joong Ang Ilbo, and would
have played in the orchestra if we had been willing to overlook the fact
that this formidable gentleman is half a cnetury older than the oldest
25-year-old AYO student!
Our friends in Japan, Fuji Xerox chairman Yotaro Kobayashi and Nihon
Building Services chairman Shoichi Asaji continue to provide an exceptional
level of support. They are joined on the artistic side by Otoya Inomoto,
general manager of the Kumamoto Youth Orchestra, who oversees our Tokyo
auditions and all aspects of AYO's contact with local musicians and teachers.
I am grateful this year to Mr Kanji Ohya and Mr Isao Tachibana of Yomiuri
Telecasting, who found imaginative ways to make our Japan visit especially
memorable and coordinated concert logistics in Osaka, Nagoya and Tokyo.
It all looks and sounds so easy when students are onstage and beautiful
music fills the rich concert halls in which we play, but those behind the
scenes in each country know how difficult it is to finesse endless
government formalities and pull together the artistic and financial resources
that make these concerts possible.
The Asian Youth Orchestra would not have succeeded this year, were it not for
the help provided by B.C.Chiang and Martin Chen at SPK Electronics and old
friends Robert Juarez and Marjorie Woo in Taipei.
Their efforts were duplicated by Sato Susumu in Tokyo, Valerie Ross in
Malaysia, Dr Natcha Pancharoen in Thailand and Dr John Hosier and Mr John
Winther at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Looking back over the year, the perspective is wonderful. So many friends and
visionaries at work: My new secretary, Annie Chow Ka Yee; our indispensible
and irrepressible stage manager, Naomi Chung; photographer Marybeth Camp,
who took the lively pictures of the students you see in this elegant program,
designed for AYO by Peter Heuer; Drs Ben & Jess Shenson, the Godfathers of
this project, who take time from their busy San Francisco medical practices
to travel with and to care for the orchestra each year; Concorde Travel's
Kevin Peterson, whose patience and quick wit helped us survive many a tense
moment; the team at Lee Wolters, who handled the press and all ticket sales
in Hong Kong; and Sam Chen Wen Long, whose courage is an inspiration.
Thank you, dear friends. No one, least of all the students, will ever
understand how much you have given to this extraordinary orchestra, and how
much you have contributed to a richer future for the arts in Asia.
The above article is taken from the AYO 1992 souvenir programme
book.
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