Lai Kong Loke
Learned Piano from Joe Emuang and cello from Nasran Nawi. 1994-1998, studied Postgraduate Orchestra at the Kassel Musik Akademie in Germany under Solo Cellist Wolfram Geiss – Kassel State Theater Orchestra, Concert Pianist Iwan Urwalow for piano. He studied orchestral conducting with Hans Dieter Uhlenbruck in Germany, took lesson from Prof. Zakhid V. Khaknazarov – Professor at Uzbekistan State Conservatory and conductor of National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan and also with Prof. Kotaro Sato – Head Professor of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts in Conducting.
Orchestra cellist with the Kassel Musik Akademie Orchestra, Kasseler Symphony orchestra and Kassel Gesamthochschule Orchestra. Since 1993, he has performed with National Symphony Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur. In end of 1998, he played with the Commonwealth Youth Orchestra. He set up a music shop in the end of year 2000, which was later known as Georgetown House of Strings. He performed with a group of musicians from year 2001- 2006 in the name of Georgetown Chamber Orchestra. He also actively organizes concerts since year 2000 and was Malaysian German Society board member who in charged Classical Music concerts.
In December, from 12th – 18th 2003, he had been selected to perform with the ASEAN – JAPAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in Tokyo.
He has been restoring string instruments taught by Mr. Istvan Szabo. He is using the cellos made by Robert Konig, Michael Betcher and Istvan Szabo. He likes to promote Malaysian musicians and also passionate about developing young musicians for the future. His dream is to see Penang has its own professional orchestra. He has been the Artistic Director of Georgetown String Festival since 2019.
He performs with his group “Three-in-1 Trio” in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu. He also performs with some friends in the neighbouring countries. From 2015 to 2020, he was the Artistic Director of Han Chaing String Orchestra.
Besides the love for music, he is a member of SPCA – Seberang Perai. He loves to feed and rescue the animals.