Sandra Thomas Lapsley arrived in Malaysia in 2014, and she quickly immersed herself in the vibrant ‘live’ music scene here in Kuala Lumpur. She was an unwavering supporter of local music performers, encompassing all genres, and she tirelessly worked to promote emerging artists and new music venues through social media.

Tragically, in October 2021, we lost Sandra. In her memory, her friends conceived a meaningful tribute. They came up with the idea of raising funds in her name to support local musicians in their educational pursuits and joined forces with UCSI Institute of Music to back their Talent Development initiative.

We firmly believe that Sandra would have embraced this initiative with open arms. We could not think of a more fitting way to honour her memory than by promoting music in Malaysia and ensuring that her legacy lives on through the Sandra Thomas Lapsley Piano Masterclass.