Leong receives PSBS award for contribution to music advancement

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Leong has contributed immensely to the advancement of the music education, development and appreciation in Sarawak.

KUCHING: The conductor of Simfoni Orkestra Negeri Sarawak (SONS) Dato Marcus Leong was among those who received the ‘Panglima Setia Bintang Sarawak’ (PSBS) award, presented in conjunction with the Yang Di–Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 82nd birthday celebration yesterday.

The award carries the title ‘Dato’.

Leong, who has been the conductor of SONS since its formation in 1982, was recognised for his contribution to the local community, especially in music.

He began his musical studies at a relatively late age of 15, by learning the violin. Largely self-taught, he later received various guidance and encouragement from local prominent musicians namely George Freeth (director of Constabulary Band), Datin Prof Julia Chong (a pianist and arranger) and also Francis Lim.

With further tutelage from prominent Singaporean violinist, Goh Soon Teo, Leong obtained his Licentiate Royal School of Music Diploma (Violin) in 1969. This was the turning point in his career where he decided to embark into a life in music.

Developing further, he received a British Council scholarship in 1971 to study at the prestigious Trinity College of Music, London under Prof Samuel Kutcher, where he (Leong) obtained his Licentiate Diploma. Upon returning to Kuching, Marcus devoted fully to teaching the violin and at the same time, initiated a small ensemble that eventually grew into a semi-complete orchestra.

In his lifelong devotion to music and the arts, Leong has contributed immensely to the advancement of the music education, development and appreciation in Sarawak.

In his more than 50 years of teaching, he has trained, guided and mentored many students – notably Yap Ling, a renowned violinist and conductor based in Kota Kinabalu, and Nisa Addina Mohamad Taufek, who won the Junior World Grand Championship in Hollywood in 2011.