I, GUITARIST

Ng Wen Kai, 25
​
He Wants To Influence
More To Learn The Guitar

TEXT BY IVAN LIM
​Dec 12 2023

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​​     I like playing guitar because it can be very fun, and this instrument can be played solo or in a group. I quite enjoy the moments when I meet with other guitarists to practise and perform together. Playing the guitar helps me relax and stay calm. My hope is to become a good guitar teacher, educating and influencing more people to play classical guitar.
​​I’m from Muar, Johor, and currently living in Kuala Lumpur, where I am a guitar and ukulele instructor at The Guitar Store and Allegro Music and Arts. I’m also an ASA (After School Activities) ukulele instructor at The International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL).
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I started playing the guitar when I was 14, when I joined the guitar society in secondary school and started learning under Tan Sen Meng. In 2019, I graduated from the Malaysia Institute of Arts with a Diploma in Music, majoring in classical guitar. I studied under renowned Malaysian classical guitarist, Hong Tee. I practise five days a week, usually for around 45 to 90 minutes.

My favourite piece is Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega – I even have a practice vlog for this song, and among my favourites composers are Tárrega, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Leo Brouwer.
​I can’t name a single favourite guitarist but among the many I admire are Ekachai Jearakul, Ana Vidovic, Alexandra Whittingham and Thu Le.

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Ana Vidovic. Image: anavidovic.com
​Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary talent with formidable gifts that saw her taking her place among the elite musicians of the world. She's known for her beautiful tone, precise technique, well-defined phrasing and thoughtful artistry and musicianship. Highlights of her 2023-24 season include recitals in Montreal, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle; concerto engagements with the Flint (MI) Symphony and Reading (PA) Symphony, and a tour in Spain with the Hungarian National Philharmonic. 
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Alexandra Whittingham. Image: alexandrawhittingham.com
In May 2021 Alexandra Whittingham released her debut studio album My European Journey, which explores the guitar’s great coming of age in nineteenth-century Europe. The album reached No.1 on the iTunes Classical Chart. Maintaining an active online presence, Alexandra has gained over 260,000 subscribers on YouTube during recent years, where videos of her performances have collectively surpassed 38 million views.​
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Thu Le. Image: thuleguitarist.com
Born in Hanoi, Vietnam, she currently lives in Bahrain, Middle East. Her wide ranging repertoire includes Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern and Latin American styles in addition to playing compositions inspired by local traditions and cultures from around the world. ​n 2021 Thu participated in the highly acclaimed “The Walls” project by Sergio Assad. A collaboration between Sergio Assad, Yo-Yo Ma and 60 leading classical guitarists from around the world. In 2022 she successfully toured across the US, Europe and Asia. 
I’m currently using a L.Luthier Signature 08, which has a solid cedar top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides. 
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Image: lluthier.com

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