New Theatre Will Be Alive With Music

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - One of  Australia's most experienced musicians and composer, Chong Lim who was musical the director and composer for the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, has written the orchestral score for ‘Bali Agung’ which opens at the new ‘Bali Theatre’ on August 31.

Chong Lim has worked in the music business for more than 20 years and has heard his work played at the Olympics Games, also composed music for the opening ceremony of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

He has worked with the who's who of music, from Kylie Minogue, Olivia
Newton-John, Tina Arena, Paul Kelly, Dame Edna Everage, Sir George Martin, Boz Scaggs, Jermaine Jackson, Anthony Callea, to Delta Goodrem, Christine Anu and many more as either Producer or Musical Director.

Chong has also felt the excitement of being on stage in front of tens of thousands of people when he played in bands while studying at Melbourne University. He had his first break when he joined Venetta's Taxi and later The Eurogliders, culminating in becoming a member of John Farnham’s band in 1994 and most famously becoming John’s musical director.

His passion for music turned to television when he signed on as Musical Director on the television program Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush and since then has worked on nearly all of Australia’s highest rating television programs.

Chong was the Musical Supervisor for the stage production of "Dirty Dancing" and also helped orchestrate Guy Sebastian’s album 'Taller, Stronger, Better' while Guy was starring in the TV dance series of It Takes Two.

Later he produced David Campbell's album 'Swing Sessions' with a full orchestra recorded mostly live and they reunited to produce "Swing Sessions 2" which went platinum and was a top 10 recording on the ARIA charts.

The music he has composed for ‘Bali Agung’ has been recorded by the International Symphony Orchestra and is combined with live performers playing Gamelan and gongs. Words cannot adequately describe the beautiful blending of the Asian and western styles but those who have heard it describe it as pure magic.

Originally from Malaysia, Chong returned there in 2007 as the musical director and composer for "Citrawarna", a Malaysian cultural event held in Kuala Lumpur.

Whilst he had been playing piano since the age of seven, Chong now works as a producer, musical director, arranger, keyboard player, sound programmer and was made an Australian Day Ambassador in January 2010.
 
For further information, please contact Ratna Soebrata, Marketing Manager Bali Theatre, Ph: +62 361 950 000, Mobile: +62 (0)81 139 8626 E-mail: info@balitheatre.com or click www.balitheatre.com (*)