STEMI Grand Concert Tour

Stephen Tong is a man of many gifts. He was born with extraordinary sensitivity to all forms of art including music, painting, architecture, and sculpture. Fatherless at the age of 3, since childhood, he has observed, meditated, and educated himself on these topics.

Through endless struggles, he challenged his limits constantly with unceasing interest to master his aspiration. Since the young age of 16, Stephen has displayed talent in composing music and conducting Oratorios and Sacred Music. When he was 17, he also performed in the South East Asia Bible Seminary and churches where he served.

In 1985, Stephen led a 7-city concert rally in commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of J.S. Bach and G.F. Handel, attended by over 27,000 people. He then founded Jakarta Oratorio Society (JOS) in 1986, which regularly performs concerts in Jakarta. Occasionally Stephen leads the choir tour to Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malang, Surabaya, and Bandung. These concerts are always well received and attended by thousands.

In December 2008, Stephen once again took Jakarta by storm when 9000 people attended the two performances of Handel's complete Messiah Chorus at the Messiah Cathedral. Over 200 performers of Jakarta Oratorio Society and orchestra performed under his baton, witnessed by the largest audience in the history of classical music performance in Indonesia.

Aula Simfonia Jakarta is another exhibit of Stephen's architectural achievement, dedicated in October 2009 with four concerts to celebrate its inauguration. Alongside Dr. Jahja Ling—world-renowned Indonesian born conductor who has conducted all major orchestras in the US—Stephen conducted the works of Bach, Beethoven, Handel, and Haydn. In the same year, Stephen also founded Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra (JSO). Since then, concerts are held monthly in the Aula Simfonia Jakarta. Stephen has also conducted all 9 of Beethoven’s Symphonies, Piano Concertos, Cello Concerto, Violin Concertos, and many other great symphonies. In July 2017, he once again shook the classical music world by leading 100 voices and 45 orchestra members to 7 cities in 7 days. Never before had choir and orchestra travelled together in the history of Indonesia. Over 20,000 people were in attendance.

Tickets for the JSO’s 2018 performance at Singapore Esplanade Concert Hall were sold out within 2 weeks. The recent performance at Kaohsiung Wei Wu Ying,Taipei National Concert Hall and Hongkong AsiaWorld Expo in July 2019 had record-breaking attendances. In Sep 8 this year, Stephen led JSO and JOS to host an unprecedented first ever public open-air classical music concert at Jakarta Merdeka Square, attracting more than 23,000 people.

Stephen Tong, JSO and JOS, the artists from Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan will soon visit Auckland, Christchurch, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to perform beautiful melodies from orchestral works and oratorios. Let’s join and enjoy the beauty of music!

Performers

Conductor:
Stephen Tong
Eunice Tong

Soprano:
Cecilia Yap

Alto:
Anna Koor

Tenor:
Chou Po Ku

Baritone:
Shawn Liew

Musical works in Australia includes:
Suppé | Light Cavalry Overture
Mozart | The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492 (Overture)
Rossini | William Tell (Overture)
Strauss II | Voices of Spring, Op. 41
Dvorak | Slavonic Dance, Op. 72 No. 2 in E minor - Allegretto grazioso
Tchaikovsky | Swan Lake Suite (Waltz)
Beethoven | Egmont Overture, Op. 84
Sibelius | Finlandia, Op. 26
Beethoven | Symphony No 9 in D Minor, Op. 125 (IV. Finale “Ode to Joy")

For ticket sales and further info, head to Grand Concert Tour 2019 website.