Echoes of the Orient Katie Yao Morgan & Angeline Bell

• Angeline Bell (b. 1968): Grandfather’s Grocery Store:
• 1 Bell: Grandfather’s Grocery Store 01:59
• Ikan Kekek:
• 2 Bell: Ikan Kekek 02:32
• Blue Lotus:
• 3 Bell: Blue Lotus 03:21
• Little Brook:
• 4 Bell: Little Brook 02:04
• Kanchil:
• 5 Bell: Kanchil 04:06
• Wa Ha Ha:
• 6 Bell: Wa Ha Ha 03:10
• Katie Yao Morgan (b. 2000): Butterfly Lovers:
• 7 Morgan: Butterfly Lovers 03:41
• Angeline Bell: Azalea:
• 8 Bell: Azalea 02:13
• Monsoon:
• 9 Bell: Monsoon 02:24
• Timid Tapir:
• 10 Bell: Timid Tapir 02:25
• Misty Shore:
• 11 Bell: Misty Shore 02:46
• Jeram Toi Waterfall:
• 12 Bell: Jeram Toi Waterfall 02:15
• Weeping Willow:
• 13 Bell: Weeping Willow 02:27
• Gingko Biloba:
• 14 Bell: Gingko Biloba 04:13
• Jasmine:
• 15 Bell: Jasmine 03:39
• Plum Blossom:
• 16 Bell: Plum Blossom 02:17
• Katie Yao Morgan: Market Havoc:
• 17 Morgan: Market Havoc 02:09
• Total Runtime 47:41

Info for Echoes of the Orient

Breathtaking piano compositions by Angeline Bell that weave together nostalgic reflections of her Malaysian childhood with the rich tapestry of East Asian folk influences. Performed by her former student Katie Yao Morgan, this collection of evocative pieces transports listeners through bustling markets, tranquil landscapes and cherished personal memories. Featuring the exquisite sounds of the Chinese erhu by Xiao Wang, this album is a heartfelt fusion of East and West, blending tradition with contemporary expression.

Echoes of the Orient is a musical reminiscence composed by Morgan’s onetime tutor and longtime friend, Angeline Bell. The album draws inspiration from various elements that evoke a sense of belonging and nostalgia. These recollections and reflections of Angeline’s homeland, Malaysia, and East Asia in general, drive the music of the album.

Angeline first arrived in England in 1987 and later studied music at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, while travelling to London for piano lessons with Ruth Harte at the Royal Academy of Music. After earning her Postgraduate Certificate in Education, she taught music in a secondary school before founding Bell Piano School. With thirty years of teaching experience, she began composing for piano in 2022. Her work soon attracted the attention of Editions Musica Ferrum, which has since published five piano books comprising 99 pieces. The score for Echoes of the Orient will be available from September 25, 2025. In the summer of 2023, inspired by cherished childhood memories, she began composing autobiographical pieces reflecting her upbringing in Malaysia. Some were influenced by East Asian folk tunes, others by the region’s natural habitat, and a few captured meaningful family moments.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been part of the recording for Echoes of the Orient. Angeline’s beautiful compositions, ‘Blue Lotus’, ‘Monsoon’ and ‘Plum Blossom’, all deeply resonated with me and touched my heart. From the moment I first played these pieces, I immediately fell in love with them. The melodies are gentle, expressive, and full of imagination, while the three distinct styles each perfectly suit the erhu. I believe Angeline has a remarkable understanding of how to bring out the unique qualities of the erhu and blend it beautifully with the piano.” – Xiao Wang.

Katie Yao Morgan, piano
Xiao Wang, erhu

Katie Yao Morgan
is of British and Chinese descent and began to play the piano when she was four years old. In 2010, she won the ‘ABRSM Sheila Mossman Memorial Prize’ for achieving the highest mark in Grade 8 piano exam and additionally received a ‘Gold Award’ in 2011.

In 2010, she entered the Yehudi Menuhin School, where she studied with Marcel Baudet. In 2011, she won ‘2nd prize in Category B (12–16) section’ of the Pianist of the North Competition, and in 2014, she was awarded ‘Mention of Honour’ in the International Piano Competition in Enschede, Holland. In 2016, she was awarded ‘Diplôme de JEUNE ESPOIR’ in the 10th Adilia Alieva Competition held in Annemasse, France. In 2019, she won ‘1st prize at the Amsterdam Regional Finals’ of the Princess Christina Concours in the Netherlands.

Katie has performed at The Wimbledon Festival and in duos at the Wigmore Hall. In 2013, she performed ‘Mozart’s Concerto KV449’ with the Menuhin School Orchestra, and in September 2014, two performances of ‘Chopin’s Piano Concerto No.2’ with the YMS Chamber Ensemble. In spring 2015, she toured the Southwest of England, performing in Bridport and Dartmouth, and later in Scotland, including New Lanark, Edinburgh and Blair Atholl. In 2016, she performed ‘Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor’ with the Dorking Chamber Orchestra, and in 2017, with the Mihail Jora” di Bacau Orchestra Filarmonica in Cantu, Italy. In 2022, she played ‘Ravel’s Left-Hand Concerto’ with the USC Orkest at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, The Netherlands.

She has taken part in summer courses at Tignes, France and Blonay, Switzerland, with teachers including Marcel Baudet, Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden, Edith Fischer and Jorge Pepi-Alos. She has also received masterclasses from Dmitri Alexeev, Ronald Brautigam, Ronan O’Hora, Idil Biret and Dominique Merlet. Katie appeared on the Dutch Classical TV Show ‘Podium Witteman’ as part of the Jonge Helden (Young Talent) in 2020 and 2022.

Katie was a member of ‘Trio Pantoum’ with SongHa Choi (violin) and Maxim Calver (cello). The trio won 1st prize in the Intercollegiate Piano Trio Society Competition held at Birmingham Conservatoire in 2018. In February, the same year they toured The Netherlands, performing in a number of venues, including Akoesticum and the Conservatory in Amsterdam, and also appearing on Dutch radio Spiegelzaal. She is currently a member of ‘Duo Morgan/van Nee’ with Jorian van Nee (piano). They won first prize at the Grachten Conservatorium Concours in 2024 and performed concerts together in the 2024/2015 season, including De Duif and Het Concertgebouw.

Katie completed her Bachelor of Classical Piano in 2022 at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, under the guidance of Frank Peters. She also completed a Master’s in Répétiteurship in 2024. Katie holds a Bachelor Honours Degree in Psychology at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and is currently studying for a Master’s in Crime and Forensic Science at University College London. Since 2018, alongside studying, Katie has greatly enjoyed teaching students of all ages.

Angeline Bell
first came to England in 1987 and later went on to read Music at the University of East Anglia in Norwich but would travel to London for piano lessons with Ruth Harte at the Royal Academy of Music. After completing her Postgraduate Certificate in Education, she taught music in a secondary school before setting up her own business, Bell Piano School.

Having thirty years of teaching experience behind her, she began composing for piano for the first time in 2022. She caught the attention of Editions Musica Ferrum, who have since published four piano books totalling 84 pieces. Her nostalgic childhood memories remained close to her heart, and in the summer of 2023, she began composing autobiographical reflections of her time spent growing up in Malaysia. Several pieces were influenced by East Asian folk tunes of the time, others by the natural habitat of the local region, and a few reflect on treasured family moments.

Wang Xiao
began learning to play the erhu when she was six years old and graduated from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. In 1999 she joined the Headquarters Arts Troupe of the Henan Provincial People's Armed Police as its erhu soloist. In 2001 she took part in the Luoyang Casio Young Instrumentalists Competition, where she won a Silver Prize, and in the same month a Gold Prize as an erhu soloist in the Henan Provincial "Hundred Fountains Cup" Young Instrumentalists Competition. In the same year she represented the People's Armed Police as erhu soloist in the Henan Provincial Arts Festival, and was well received. Before going abroad she was erhu and banhu soloist with the Luoyang Symphony Orchestra. She has given many performances since arriving in the UK.

Booklet for Echoes of the Orient