Several weeks ago, Mr. Yuen Hon-Wah 源漢華, a friend to Chinese music, passed away. He may be more well-known as 東初. Friends will remember him as a generous man, who was motivated by the pure love of music.

Since the 1980’s, Patty and I became friends with Mr. Yuen through Patty’s first erhu teacher, Mr. Ming Chan 陳明生. Mr. Yuen was well connected to composers and publishers from the mainland, which allowed him to build a vast score and recordings library. When we needed a score, Mr. Yuen would find it and mail it to us. Whenever a new score came into print, he forwarded it, all at his expense. When we went to HK to see him in 1995, he took us to an unbelievable seafood meal. Patty and I met Mr. Yuen last year in 2008, when he had just returned from a tour with his senior’s chorus.

Mr. Yuen loved to travel to exotic places. When he sent a Christmas card, it would be a picture from his latest travels. Right up to his last moments, he continued to do what he loved to do most, that is, making music for the love of music.

For Mr. Yuen’s biography, please see Honorary Advisors.