MORE TRIBUTES & MEMORIES OF DENNIS LEE

Photo courtesy of 
Singapore Music Teachers Association.

MORE MEMORIES AND 

TRIBUTES TO DENNIS LEE

 

Dennis and Chee Hung with
Julie Tan & Chia Sin Teck (extreme right)
Courtesy of Singapore Music Teachers Association.

JULIE TAN, President of Singapore Music Teachers Association (SMTA) writes

 

It is with deep sadness that we received news that our dear friend, pianist Dennis Lee had passed away on Friday morning 14th April 2023 in London, leaving behind his beloved wife and pianist, Toh Chee Hung.

 

Many piano teachers and students around the world including Singapore have benefitted from Dennis’ rich teaching, his lectures as well as his performances especially his piano duo partnership with Chee Hung.

 

Over the years, with The Singapore Music Teachers Association, he and Chee Hung, our fellow Life member, had earnestly supported SMTA’s mission through our initiatives, The Singapore Performers’ Festival & Chamber Music Competition and the Le Petit Performers’ Fest.

 

Each of us who had interacted with him either on a personal or collegial basis, we will have fond memories of him, his sincerity and humour. He'll remain in our hearts and memories.

 

Farewell, dear friend.

Courtesy of Singapore Music Teachers Association.

 

AU KAH KAY writes

 

Dennis was a down-to-earth and magnanimous person. He made you feel comfortable and at ease and always had an encouraging word to say. He will be greatly missed by the music community.  

 

NOEL CHOW writes

 

I was 17 or 18 (a good 20 or 21 years ago) and doing my Grade 8 ABRSM practical exam. And Dennis Lee was going to be my examiner. Most people are intimidated by their ABRSM examiners.

 

Well, I had spent a few years of primary/secondary school in the UK listening to Classic FM, and Dennis was a big name with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. The station back then (hosted by Anne-Marie Minhall) played his recordings quite often. He was well-known in Penang, and had gone to the same school as I did, Penang Free School, before being awarded a scholarship to London’s Royal College of Music.

 

I was already a huge fan before going in for the exam. I had practised hard for this exam, and when I eventually got in the room, and staring at my boyhood idol in the flesh, I somehow forgot how to play the piano. There I was in the room with the guy I grew up listening to on Classic FM. He asked me to play this scale and I nervously told him that scale didn't exist. He calmly walked up to me, opened the book and said, “Well there it is.” Embarrassed, I play it. Badly.

 

I can't remember how the rest of it went, but somehow ended with a passing grade. None of that matters of course, because I now get to say Dennis Lee was my examiner. In loving memory. 

Victor Khor with Dennis and Chee Hung
at a Yamaha salon, 2011.

VICTOR KHOR, Concert Pianist writes

As a teenager, I remembered watching Dennis Lee's masterclass on television where he taught a student to play Brahms' Third Sonata, and I was very inspired. When I was a music student in Manchester, he invited me to his London apartment where I played some pieces and had tea with him and Chee Hung. He encouraged me on my musical aspirations, and was always generous and kind to me.     

 

DENNIS LEE's Funeral will take place at West London Crematorium at 10.45 am on Friday, 28 April 2023.