Ng Mun Hong, 60, is a civil engineer by training and piano teacher. He won the silver award in the Open Category of the preliminary round of International Liszt Ferenc Competition 2025 and will be heading to the finals in Budapest in late July. Here, Mun Hong answers 5 questions about his journey with music and faith, as well as his upcoming fundraising recital.
When did your journey with music first begin?
In many eyes, I am a late starter. I only started piano lessons at 11 years old. My piano teachers were two sisters, Veronica and Agnes. I finished Grade 8 with distinction in 1984. Although I started late, I draw comfort from Ecclesiastes 3:1, that there is a time for every purpose under heaven.
Indeed, I can see the Lord’s good hand upon me even when I had not known Him yet. Veronica and Agnes were the daughters of a Methodist minister, and my first foray into music was led by two Christians.
My Grade 8 examiner’s comment was, “The potential for reaching a professional standard is shown.” Like Mary, I kept these words in my heart and pondered from time to time. But it would be 19 years before I would be able to take up a diploma.
Why the 19-year-lapse, and was picking music up again difficult?
I studied civil engineering in UM after STPM and worked in the field for 15 years. When I was retrenched in 2005, I took the opportunity to pivot and became a freelance translator (I speak Bahasa Malaysia, English and Mandarin fluently), part-time reporter with The Bridge and piano teacher.
After a decade of working, I was finally able to afford my own piano and could begin really playing again. When I took my diploma ATCL, I scored 87/100, which is considered an achievement. God had preserved my skills, and it confirmed that He was with me in this journey.
You are holding a recital on 21 June. Could you share why you’re doing this?
I’ll be holding a recital, Piano: A Journey of Grace, featuring a total of 13 pieces that are particularly meaningful to me. Admission is free.
Through this recital, I am raising funds as I have made it to the finals of the International Liszt Ferenc Competition in Budapest, Hungary, and after that will be visiting Austria and Germany. It will be a dream come true to visit the homeland of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms in my lifetime.
Throughout my life, music has been God’s gift to me. I was first taught by Christians. I came to know Christ because of a university mate who reached out to me and introduced the Gospel to me patiently.
I also find that God has also enlarged my hands, enabling me to play chords that I could not reach before. Therefore, I can expand my repertoire. He truly has been gracious to me. Through the recital, I would like to give God all the glory and share the gift He has given me.

What pieces will you be playing at the recital?
The recital will be 1.5 hours, including a 15-minute intermission. A total of 13 pieces will be played, each meaningful to me in a particular way.
The first half will consist of 4 exam pieces and 2 collections of short pieces from John Thompson’s Red Books. The latter has enhanced and sustained my love for music through the years.
The second half will be 7 pieces which are more challenging. For many years, I could not play these pieces as I could not reach the 10th chord (a chord which spans an octave plus a third). By God’s grace, I can play them now.
A piece I will be playing is ‘An Evening in Granada’ by Debussy. I find this piece so beautiful, superb in depicting an ‘evening’ – high register C# that sound like stars in the sky, and low C# to reflect the mysterious, dark night. Debussy had never visited Spain and yet he could compose such a masterpiece, even greatly admired by Manuel de Falla, a contemporary Spanish composer. It is truly amazing.
How has God used music to change your life?
It is very hard to put into words. God’s blessing came into my life through music. It has been said, “Music moulds one’s temperament for the better.” I have found that to be true.
I have a childhood memory. Once, I heard someone playing the piano downstairs. I could not help it but I rushed down the stairs and stood by the piano, just to watch him play. Over the years, I took it upon myself to learn a number of very difficult pieces simply because I was mesmerized. In a way, I had been conquered.
To me, music is an art and I have no intention to reduce it to a tool. Great music reflects what is good, beautiful and true. In the book of Philippians, we are encouraged to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable – I find that I am doing that when I play Bach, Beethoven and Mozart.
I have discovered that quite a number of the great composers were Christians. As they intended to glorify God with their music, what they have written has become an expression of their faith. It is similar to being inspired and edified when we read books by Christian authors.
I will be 60 in a few days. Music has been a journey of God’s goodness and faithfulness to me. I want to give Him all the glory.

Photos provided by Ng Mun Hong.