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<p>On June 10, 25-year-old Chang <a href="https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2023/07/15/sweet-sound-of-success-for-award-winning-luthier-song-jie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="color: #ff0000;">Song Jie</span></a> won the gold medal (non-professional category) at the 17th International Violin-Making Competition in Pisogne, Italy, for her handcrafted viola Laksa.</p>
<p>Incredibly, Laksa is only the fifth instrument she has made from scratch &#8211; and is her very first viola!</p>
<p>Here, the Kuantan-born luthier &#8211; a person who repairs or makes stringed instruments &#8211; demonstrates the process of making a viola from scratch.</p>
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		</style><div class="robo-gallery-wrap robo-gallery-wrap-id2660169 robo-gallery-" ><div id="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5a-block-loader" class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aSpinner"><div class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aRect1"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aRect2"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aRect3"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aRect4"></div> <div class="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5aRect5"></div></div><div id="robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5a" class="robogallery-gallery-2660169" style="width:100%;margin:0 auto;  display: none;"><div id="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5a" data-options="rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5a" style="width:100%;" class="robo_gallery  "><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Chang Song Jie’s success would not have been possible without her teacher, Tan Chin Seng, an award-winning luthier who taught her the ins and outs of instrument making." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/3c5b69ac-01.jpg"  title="01"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/3c5b69ac-01.jpg"  title="01" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Chang Song Jie’s success would not have been possible without her teacher, Tan Chin Seng, an award-winning luthier who taught her the ins and outs of instrument making.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Creating a violin or viola is an intricate process. She begins by sketching what she envisions the instrument to look like." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/7642d652-02.jpg"  title="02"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/7642d652-02.jpg"  title="02" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Creating a violin or viola is an intricate process. She begins by sketching what she envisions the instrument to look like.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="In making a violin or viola, it is crucial to pay attention to detail and be absolutely precise with measurements." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/d2713e55-04.jpg"  title="04"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/d2713e55-04.jpg"  title="04" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">In making a violin or viola, it is crucial to pay attention to detail and be absolutely precise with measurements.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="According to Chang, a fair share of physical strength is required to carve the wood." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/c7d7771b-05.jpg"  title="05"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/c7d7771b-05.jpg"  title="05" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">According to Chang, a fair share of physical strength is required to carve the wood.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Chang carefully cuts a channel for the narrow curved decorative edges known as the purfling. This features on both the front and back plates of the instrument, and it&#039;s vital she gets it right so it looks elegant." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/3d0b1be1-07.jpg"  title="07"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/3d0b1be1-07.jpg"  title="07" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Chang carefully cuts a channel for the narrow curved decorative edges known as the purfling. This features on both the front and back plates of the instrument, and it's vital she gets it right so it looks elegant.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Patience is truly a virtue, and Chang is meticulous in ensuring the quality of her work." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2166246b-08.jpg"  title="08"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2166246b-08.jpg"  title="08" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Patience is truly a virtue, and Chang is meticulous in ensuring the quality of her work.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="She subsequently coats the violin with varnish." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/a5579aec-10.jpg"  title="10"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/a5579aec-10.jpg"  title="10" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">She subsequently coats the violin with varnish.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="One of Chang&#039;s strengths is the ability to remain focused through the entire process, no matter how challenging it gets." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ec877e00-11.jpg"  title="11"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ec877e00-11.jpg"  title="11" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">One of Chang's strengths is the ability to remain focused through the entire process, no matter how challenging it gets.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="To ensure precision, she uses an instrument tuner application." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0a5717d9-13.jpg"  title="13"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/0a5717d9-13.jpg"  title="13" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">To ensure precision, she uses an instrument tuner application.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="After tuning, she checks that the bridge is in its proper place so the violin will produce a beautiful sound." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/e10cd7d7-14.jpg"  title="14"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/e10cd7d7-14.jpg"  title="14" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">After tuning, she checks that the bridge is in its proper place so the violin will produce a beautiful sound.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="Laksa, an exquisite viola, is truly Chang’s labour of love." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/80c4d0a8-16.jpg"  title="16"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/80c4d0a8-16.jpg"  title="16" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">Laksa, an exquisite viola, is truly Chang’s labour of love.</div></div><div class="rbs-img  category2660169 " ><div class="rbs-img-image   rbs-lightbox "  data-descbox="For her passion, patience and perseverance, Chang&#039;s win is truly well-deserved." ><div class="rbs-img-thumbs"  data-thumbnail="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/c10ac393-17.jpg"  title="17"  data-width="800"  data-height="500" ></div><div class="rbs-img-data-popup"  data-popup="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/c10ac393-17.jpg"  title="17" ></div><div class="thumbnail-overlay"><div class="rbsIcons"><i class="fa fa-search-plus rbsZoomIcon " ></i></div></div></div><div class="rbs-img-content">For her passion, patience and perseverance, Chang's win is truly well-deserved.</div></div></div></div></div><script>var rbs_gallery_68d3483cf2a5a = 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Local luthier Song Jie gets the gold for Laksa

With her handcrafted viola, this 25-year-old clinched a top prize at the 17th International Violin-Making Competition in Italy.

Chang Song Jie

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