Sep 10, 2022 Related News Cardinal William Goh vows to promote ‘religious harmony’New cardinal and clergy chief: ‘My role is to encourage priests’Cardinal Gracias launches book to mark 50 years of priesthoodIn Asia, the synod gives voice to Catholics on the marginsExplaining the tension between Nicaragua and the Catholic Church Jolene Khor conducting 60 musicians playing her compositions during a concert for her final undergraduate project in Taiwan.

By Gwen Manickam To write music is to understand how music works and to try and do it yourself. Award-winning music composer (see below for her accolades), Jolene Khor’s interest to create music sparked when she was asked to enter a piano composition competition at the age of 10. The Penang native said, “My music teacher gave me a score by Beethoven and said, ‘Look at this and come up with something like it’. At that age I had no idea what it meant but I persevered and once I figured it out, it was easy and I liked it. “I didn’t win anything, but it was a good experience to listen to different music and the different ways people play their compositions. I also realised that although I liked playing music, I found composing was more my strong suit … you get to convey your feelings, emotions, and story through music rather than words.” Born to Paul Khor Kheng Kok and Cheryl Tan Lay Peng, Jolene’s two younger brothers, Justin and Jaron, share her love for the music world. She began piano classes at age three with Yamaha Music School where she finished grade five before switching to the Royal Schools of Music curriculum. At 12, Jolene started playing the piano in church. “I liked playing music for the church. It was an intimate way to worship the Lord. I also find that each time the Holy Spirit’s guidance is different, I usually cannot play a piece the same way twice, even though it’s the same song,” she said. Here is a link https://youtu.be/ vDpeKEqEiYU to her performing a version of the First Noel she rearranged at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Penang. Two years later, she volunteered to compose a theme song for the Cathedral ’s charity campaign, in aid of St Anne Haemodialysis Centre, Bukit Mertajam. This led the thenteenager to experiment with composing music from different genres. “Before I start playing in church, I pray, asking the Holy Spirit to guide my fingers. The experience during each service feels natural and I feel that my music is guided every step of the way. Parishioners sometimes walk up and thank me, saying they felt the Holy Spirit and God while the music surrounded the church. “I am thankful and honoured for the ability and opportunity to play music for people. If I can bring happiness to people through music, I am thrilled to keep doing so.” Jolene’s primary education was at SJK(C) Kwang Hwa and later she attended two secondary schools, SMJK Phor Tay and Chung Ling (Private) High School. “Eventually I signed up for music school so I could fine-tune my writing skills and gain a better understanding of music composition. God played a big role here as I was discouraged from majoring in music. I prayed to know my path and He’s led me to where I am. I know He is always there for me.” Before going to university, Jolene was also tutored by sound and mix engineer Fong Peng Chuan. A Berklee alumnus, Fong was Jolene’s mentor and taught her the various types of software used to write music. Jolene’s ultimate wish was to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston but the exorbitant cost put the brakes on her dream back then. Instead, she headed to Taiwan, which offers a good music programme as well. In June 2020, she earned a Bachelor of Music in Applied Music from Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan. Applied Music isn’t about performances but teaches its major students about music production, composing music to picture, how to mix music, how to conduct an orchestra and how to manage musicians. Jolene minored in classical composition and jazz piano. While in Taiwan, she worked as a composer and arranger for the Fu Jen University Malaysian Student Association, Fu Jen Catholic University Hospital, and Fu Jen University Child and Family Studies. She was also commissioned by the president of Fu Jen, Professor Dr Han-Sun Chiang, to write and arrange music for his performances and recent album Le Voix Sacres, in conjunction with the University's Jubilee celebration. During her studies, she also served as an organist and pianist at the local church. Currently based in London, the 25-year-old graduated from the Royal College of Music with a Master of Composition for Screen last September. She said, “I had a moment of doubt before I went to the UK, I didn’t know if it was the right choice, whether there is a future for me there. I was also disappointed that I wasn’t selected to go to Berklee Valencia for my Masters. One of the teachers in Fu Jen, Joy Ampiloquio, invited me to a retreat in Taiwan. I spent some quiet time with God, praying and asking Him if I should doubt myself or the path I was taking. I felt a strong push and encouragement from Him, telling me that I was on the right path, that going to the Royal College of Music would lead me to something more.” In the end, she said, it turned out to be a fantastic experience. “I met many great teachers and friends who helped me along the way. I feel like I am getting closer to my goals. God didn’t give me what I want, but what I really need. The relationship between me and God strengthened even more.” Jolene worships at the Church of the Holy Ghost and St Stephen, London, but is not able to serve because many parishes in the United Kingdom prefer to hire students who are qualified organists, which she is not. Her accolades Jolene has been awarded or nominated for: Hollywood Gold Awards Silver Award - Original Score (Deathday Party by Qiankun Zhou), Milan Gold Awards Gold Award - Original Score (The Last Blue Rose by Zhao Wu), Milan Gold Awards Honourable Mention - Original Score (Walls by Jing Zhao), Paris Gold Award - Honourable Mention - Original Score (Deathday Party by Qiankun Zhou), Birsamunda Film Awards Gold Award- Original Score (Deathday Party by Qiankun Zhou), Cannes World Film Festival Semi-Finalist - Best Composer of the Future (Kung Fu Grandma by Kadi Tsang). Veritas Cup ‘International Chinese Hymn Composing Competition’ — Winner in 2017. (https://youtu.be/isFFHm-LQdM) The process of composing music A skilled composer who writes for classical, cultural, and pop genres, Jolene enjoys jazz, film, and video game music. She aims to be one of the next greats like Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Studio Ghibli movies composer Joe Hisaishi, to name a few favourites. “Before writing a piece of music, I say a prayer so my music inspires others.” Jolene said composing for a film is very different and more complex than writing pop songs, which is relatively easier. “When it comes to film – you have to write according to the situation of the film, understand the emotions and how to convey these emotions. You also can’t apply the verse-chorus-verse structure to film music. “I first meet with the director and get a rough cut of the film, a script, or a picture lock. Rough cut means the film might still change whereas picture lock is the final cut of the film and this is the best to work with, but it doesn’t happen often. I also spot important parts of the film, come up with a theme that fits its narrative and start building from there. “For pop songs, I come up with ideas by improvising. I sit at the piano and try different styles of playing the melody and expand on the idea. Then I add the drums and base or change the melody into a singing part. Jolene uses an electronic keyboard linked to the software Logic Pro X to compose. This enables her to add instruments and synthesisers from a sound library, as the piece requires. Unlike the era of Chopin and Wagner, where they imaged the music in their heads, composers today can hear their compositions immediately. Thus far, she has had one opportunity to conduct and record with a live orchestra. “In Taiwan, it was compulsory to have a concert of my compositions for my final project. I had to compile 40 minutes’ worth of music from my compositions over my four years at university, and I roped in 60 fellow musicians to play in my orchestra. It was an amazing experience to communicate with the musicians as a conductor and composer. Also, as it was pre-COVID-19, I was lucky to have such a huge orchestra and a large audience to listen to my music.” Unless the client has a big budget, it’s generally too expensive to hire live musicians to record scores. Jolene, who loves gaming, is now working on a Kickstarter game by a solo developer who ‘plays’ every role but music composer. She also gives private piano lessons and teaches young children how to run the programme M:Tech. Jolene said the cost of living in London is exponential, but she’ll remain in the historical city to make contact with people in the industry who want music pieces composed. “Technically, to compose I can work anywhere with my equipment. Once I have regular clients, I’d probably like to move to the outskirts.” Besides working on establishing her customer base, she wants to make a name for herself in the UK before expanding to the United States.

Father, may Your will be done in me as I surrender to You!