My blog

My trip to Shanghai

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 2:15PM / Standard Entry

Hi, I actually wrote this email on May 9th, 2007...but, I realized that I've been putting my blog entries in the comments section! So...there are 2 blogs that never got posted!

Ok....so.  I just want to say that computers can really suck sometimes.  I actually wrote this really long blog last week when I was still in Shanghai and somehow it got erased so I got frustrated and wasn't going to attempt to re write everything that I had written...so...who knows what I wanted to say last week.

Anyways...I'm back in HK again.  My trip was very relaxing and it felt good to get away from certain things in HK that really stress me out.  So, let's see...what has happened since? Well....I had a really good last week in Shanghai.  I got to explore a little more of Shanghai and I decided that I really don't like it that much.  The streets are dirty and when I pass the shops people are always assuming that I don't speak Chinese and asking me to buy watches or purses.

So...what keeps me wanting to go back? Well, besides my 2 adorable yet VERY naughty nieces and my cousin, Lawrence being there.....the music is what calls me.... the music life in Shanghai is much more appreciated than in HK.  And,  I have really become influenced by  Lawrence with Jazz music.  I spent most of my nights going to JZ club listening to all of the live jazz music.  The club is quite cute.  It's located in Pu Xi on Fu Xing Lu.  I became quite the regular there...hahaha...every night there is a different band playing.

Ok, let's start with last Monday.  Scotty Wright had asked me to sing at his last show.  I ended up singing 2 songs during his first set.  It went pretty well.  I was kind of nervous even though there wasn't really much of a crowd.  But...I think with these little opportunities I will get the experience I need to have more confidence when I perform.  Scotty has really helped me a lot with my voice and I'm really hoping that he'll decide to move to Shanghai in a few months so that I can take more lessons with him.  He is now doing a gig in Japan at the "Lost in Translation" hotel .  For those of you who take trips to Japan..you should definitely try to catch his performance there. He is an awesome jazz performer.  So, after I sang my 2 songs...I stayed for a bit and headed to JZ where Lawrence was playing with this Canadian band.

I actually met the band the weekend before so it was really cool being able to hear them perform.  The leader of the band and friend of Lawrence's is a clarinet player named James Danderfer.  I've never actually heard jazz performed on clarinet so it was a very good experience for me.  I really enjoyed it.  The guys were soooo good!  I sat right in the front row and tried to ignore the terrible smoke that seems to always linger at the club ....but, I guess I'll have to get used to that.  I was sitting with 2 friends for a bit but then they had to ditch me....so..left alone for a bit enjoying the music..when these 2 guys came to sit with me. They were extremely loud!  I could tell that they wanted to talk to me..but, I was trying to listen to the music and almost wanted to ask them to leave my table.  Well...after the final set was over, one of the guys made conversation and said "wow that was good"...inside I was thinking...you were so loud!  Did you even hear anything? Instead..I sort of smiled and said, yeah....then he asked me if I was with one of the musicians...and I said, yes, the guitarist...hahaha..that shut him up.  oye!  no wonder guys think I'm a snob!  hahaha
So....after that night I went to a few of the performances at the Jazz Festival in Fu Xing Garden.  That was May 3rd, 4th, and 5th.  I got to watch Chris Trzcinski (who played drums at my cabaret show) and EJ Parker (who played double bass in my album.  It was pretty fun though it would have been more fun if I had some company.  My jazz piano/vocal teacher, Steve Sweeting sat with me for one of the shows.  I got to take 2 lessons with him when I was in town.  It has been very inspiring to take lessons.  My goal is to be able to get to performance level with my jazz piano...so....that is going to be my new aim at playing and singing jazz music.  Ok..that was a little side track.
So, the last day of the Festival I ended up taking care of my nieces while watching Lawrence play in the JZ big band.  I love BIG BAND!  It was a lot of fun...Anyways....I see a lot of potential in Shanghai when it comes to learning more about music and improving myself.  I've actually decided that it would benefit me more to move over there.  This will be my time of learning and really taking action with music.  I think I've pretty much decided that music and performance is what I want to do..even if it means that I'll be a poor musician..hahaha....well, we'll see what happens...

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Entry

Sunday, May 20, 2007 3:33PM / Standard Entry

I just realized that one of my blog entries is not showing! I don't know why it's not here..I wrote about my US trip and now I'll have to write something new...I guess....anyways...I'll have to do that when I have time. I wonder what happened?

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not much going on right now...

Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 7:50PM / Standard Entry

Well, not much going on right now. I'm actually in Shanghai at the moment. My main purpose to come here was to spend some time with family, take some voice and piano lessons, and listen to a few performances for the jazz festival happening here from May 1st till the 6th. My cousin Lawrence Ku will be playing guitar with a few bands for the festival. I'm actually spending some time with his VERY adorable twins. So adorable....in fact...that they can get away with everything...they are going to be little heart breakers when they are older....I was also reunited today with 2 voice teachers that helped me before my show at Mido 2 weeks ago. Today I took a lesson with one of them, Scotty Wright. He's a great jazz singer and was a big help to me when I was preparing for the show. He's asked me to perform with him on Monday night for his last performance after being here for 3 months. It's always very exciting for me to be able to work with such professional people. It's a bit intimidating..but, I always feel that I improve whenever I have these experiences..so..the more the better....It's a real shame that the jazz scene isn't really happening in Hong Kong.....my lessons have been through Lawrence, of course. He has a jazz school here called JZ School and it's connected to the JZ Club here in Shanghai. The teachers are all VERY good professional musicians and they are all from all over the world. I'm really hoping that I'll have more opportunities to work with them more in the future. Lawrence along with one of the drummers who teaches at JZ School, Chris were both playing for me at my show. So, if you were there....you were able to hear how talented they are. They really made the show! Well, after performing with them...I'll never want to sing with another MMO.....that live music feeling is really something that every singer should experience. Anyways....I think I'm rambling....More updates later! luv, marsha

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Hello everyone!!!

Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 11:00PM / Standard Entry

Welcome to my new alive not dead profile! I'm really excited to be a part of this website and hope that I can be good about writing in my new blog. It's the first time that I'll be doing this sort of thing.,..but, I'll ry my best to keep you updated on what is happening in my world. Luv ya, marsha

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Dear Friends

Sunday, Apr 15, 2007 10:01PM / Standard Entry

Thank you for coming to watch my show last week. I had such a fun time singing for you all and enjoyed sharing such a special moment with all of you. The band really enjoyed the experience and it was definitely a memorable time for all of us. Thank you for all of your encouraging comments and for your support! Hopefully, there will be another one soon! luv, marsha

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17/17

My Music

Marsha Yuan

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Marsha is a well rounded artist who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, New York...
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Marsha is a well rounded artist who was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and studied musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, New York. While attending AMDA, she trained in singing, acting, and various types of dance including jazz, tap, and ballet. After graduation, Marsha decided to pursue her career in Hong Kong.

She began as a model for Elite Modeling Agency. Then, when she unexpectedly entered in the 1999 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, she received 1st runner-up and continued on to represent Hong Kong and China in the 1999 Miss World Pageant in London. Marsha’s acting career began with the hit TVB sitcom “War of the Genders”. Her character in the sitcom brought her recognition throughout Hong Kong and parts of China. After working for TVB for 1 year, she decided to venture outside of Television and start working in film.

Marsha began her film career in action and martial arts movies for which she had to undergo rigorous training. The hard work paid off as she is now known for her martial arts abilities and it has become one of her many strengths. Marsha also starred in the legendary comedy “Men Suddenly in Black” as well as its sequel. “Men Suddenly in Black 2” has become a box office hit in Hong Kong and her performance in this film has been well received by viewers.

Though Marsha is recognized as a beauty pageant icon and known for her roles as the innocent, naïve girl next door, it wasn’t until later when the public heard her sing. She participated in many musicals in Hong Kong including “Sound of Music”, “Annie”, “Hong Kong Nocturne” and “Musical Moments”. More recently, Marsha was invited to perform in the “Andrew Lloyd Webber Gala” in Estonia along with top vocalists from New York, London, Norway, and Germany. Her voice has been described as being “unique, sweet, and angelic.” Many have called her “the best singer in Hong Kong!” It’s no wonder that many people have been trying to convince Marsha to release her own album.

Well, the persistence has paid off. The sound of her first album is definitely like no other in the world. It is a cross between theatrical/sweet vocals in mandarin mixed with beautifully arranged jazz instrumentals. Now, as a new vocal artist in Hong Kong, Marsha hopes to have more opportunity to do what she loves best… to perform!

“I love to perform it’s my passion in life. I want to sing, dance, and touch people’s hearts with my passion…”

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Occupation: Singer , Theater , Actor
Gender: Female
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