Kym Purling facts for kids

Kym Purling is an Australian pianist, entertainer, composer, and conductor. He is also a producer, educator, world traveler, and humanitarian. Kym was born in Vietnam, adopted and raised in Australia, and now lives in New York City.

Kym Purling's Journey and Career

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Kym Purling was a baby in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) during the Vietnam War. He spent his first months in orphanages. Soon after, he became one of the first international adoptions in Australia.

Kym discovered the piano when he was five years old. He loved to copy the songs his adoptive sister played by ear. At six, he started formal classical piano lessons. He also taught himself many other music styles. Kym went to Westminster School in Adelaide, South Australia. Later, he studied Jazz at the University of Adelaide. There, he formed his first group, the Kym Purling Trio. This trio became very well-known in Australia. They played with many top Australian jazz musicians. Kym performed over 250 times a year in his early twenties. A special moment was playing for the Dalai Lama. He also recorded his first albums, Trio Juice, Catherine Lambert & The Kym Purling Trio, and Let's Swing!.

Connecting Cultures Through Music

In 1996, Kym became an Ambassador for the Performing Arts between Australia and Vietnam. This was his first trip back to his home country since his adoption. During this time, Kym held sold-out concerts in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. He introduced jazz music to the people of Vietnam.

Kym also taught music to many children, students, and professional musicians. He made recordings to help with music education. His story and work were featured in many newspapers and on radio. Vietnam's main TV network, VTV, even made a special show about his life. Kym's work showed that music can connect people across different cultures and languages. He didn't know anyone or any Vietnamese before he arrived.

Moving to the United States

After his time as an ambassador, Kym returned to Australia. Two TV shows were made about his life and career. Soon after, Kym moved to the United States. He lived and worked in Las Vegas for two and a half years. There, he performed in many famous showrooms. He played and directed music for big names like David Cassidy and Frank Sinatra Jr.

Later, Kym was recommended to a Broadway theater company. He started directing and conducting Broadway shows. He toured hit musicals like Footloose and Miss Saigon across the U.S., Canada, and Japan.

New Bands and Global Performances

Kym then moved to Florida. He formed another Kym Purling Trio, which played many concerts. In Florida, he also created the Kym Purling Jazz Orchestra (KPJO). This was one of the best big bands on the U.S. east coast. For four years, Kym also worked for HSN-TV, a national television network. He performed regularly on TV and recorded a show with singer Natalie Cole.

Kym was later chosen to be the musical director, conductor, and pianist for the famous singer, Engelbert Humperdinck. For two years, Kym toured with Humperdinck and his band. They performed in famous concert halls and large outdoor arenas around the world.

After that, Kym lived in Los Angeles for a short time. He performed regularly at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. He also recorded music for TV commercials.

Travel and Humanitarian Work

Kym loves to travel the world. He started performing as a headline entertainer on luxury cruise lines. He still does this today. He travels as a guest on the world's best cruise ships. Kym performs one or two shows a week with a seven-piece band. He entertains guests in large theaters on board.

Kym is also very active in humanitarian work. He performs concerts worldwide to support his projects. He mainly helps orphans and children in Vietnam, Nepal, and other developing countries. For example, in May 2015, he raised money for the victims of the earthquakes in Nepal.

Awards and Recognition