Kester String Quartet

Kester Hong (violin), Khoo Wei Min (viola), Alyssa Khong (violin), Jeremy Tan (cello)

Ken Iwasaki (violin), Alyssa Khong (viola), Khoo Wei Min (violin), Jeremy Tan (cello)

Kester String Quartet is a string quartet consisting of two violins, a viola and a cello. The string quartet is based in Penang, Malaysia and provides string quartet music for weddings, garden weddings, ceremonies, receptions, cocktail, parties, corporate functions and other events. Kester String Quartet was formed at the end of year 2012. After the passing of Kester Hong (violin) in May 2022, the current members of Kester String Quartet are Khoo Wei Min (violin), Ken Iwasaki (violin), Alyssa Khong (viola), and Jeremy Tan (cello).

Kester Hong, Alyssa Khong, Khoo Wei Min and Jeremy Tan first met each other during their participation in Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (PESSOC) and have been performing music as well as organising concerts together. They have been working individually with other string quartets in Penang before Kester String Quartet was formed. Due to the frequent requests for string quartet to perform at weddings and other events, they decided to form Kester String Quartet to provide string quartet music. The members of Kester String Quartet are also members of another performing group, Ensemble Koschka. With their experience, they are able to suggest suitable music to suit the occasion and the venue. Their repertoire spans across baroque to 20th century music.

Ken Iwasaki has become a permanent member of Kester String Quartet after the sudden demise of Kester Hong. He has been a long time acquaintance of all the members of Kester String Quartet since the days of performing music together in the Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (PESSOC).

Kester String Quartet has successfully dealt directly with local and overseas clients from Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, United States of America and Germany. Besides dealing directly with clients, Kester String Quartet has also collaborated with various wedding and event planners.

For Kester String Quartet photos, videos, testimonials and audio samples please visit the following links:-

Kester String Quartet Photo Gallery

Kester String Quartet Video Gallery

Kester String Quartet Testimonials

Kester String Quartet Audio Samples

KESTER STRING QUARTET INDIVIDUAL PROFILES

Kester Hong started performing in string quartets as a violinist at the age of 17. He was then offered to work with other string quartet in Penang. Having an experience of more than 10 years working in string quartets, Kester Hong performed and managed Kester String Quartet until his demise in May 2022.

Khoo Wei Min has been performing in string quartets since 2009. She started joining string quartet while she was in Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (PESSOC). After more than a decade of working in string quartet, Khoo Wei Min now performs and manages Kester String Quartet. Apart from that, she still performs with other string quartets in Penang.

Alyssa Khong started her viola training at the age of 13 under the tutelage of Brian Tan Wee Thean. Her viola teachers were Yasufumi Shimano and Toko Inomoto. She was a member of Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (PESSOC) and Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO). She toured with MPYO in 2009 and performed at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. She was selected to perform alongside the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) for their Konsert Irama Warisan Kita concert. She was also part of an innovative project ‘Jazzaar’, MPYO collaborated with leading jazz musicians from the USA, led by Fritz Renold who wrote his Suite Nusantara specially for the project. Alyssa Khong performs with Kester String Quartet and other string quartets in Penang.

Born in Penang, Jeremy Tan started learning the cello in 2003. Apart from performing in Kester String Quartet, he teaches the cello as well. Jeremy Tan also performs with other string quartets in Penang.

Ken Iwasaki has performed with several string quartets in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor for various events. He was also a member of Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (PESSOC). Currently, he works with Kester String Quartet as 2nd violinist.