Independent musician Yen Yung-neng, winner of the Golden Melody Award for Best Taiwanese Album in 2010, passed away on Sept. 5. Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te attended the memorial concert in Taipei on Sept. 14 to offer his condolences and present a presidential citation, which was accepted by Yen's widow Chen Wen-hsun.
Yen, who was born in Tainan's Xinhua District, founded the Takao Run Troupe in 1997, and over the years the troupe has performed at temples and open air stages at rural villages and remote seaports across Taiwan. His music captured the essence of Taiwan's rural lifestyle and drew on themes of nature and cultural characteristics, presenting the sound of grassroots and contemporary sentiments towards traditional folk music. Yen's songs reflect the appreciation and care of the land and the people. His works tell local stories and give voice to Taiwan's agrarian grassroots. The performance, similar to the multicultural nature of Taiwan, is a big melting pot that includes elements of Temple Parades, Taiwanese Opera, folk songs and modern street dance. In 2010, his album "Farming Together" won Best Taiwanese Album Award of the 21st Golden Melody Awards. Two years later, he was again nominated for a Golden Melody Award, this time for Best Taiwanese Male Singer.
Minister of Culture Lee Yung-te lauded Yen for his dedication to music and musical education, creating music close to the land and sponsoring music camps for children and holding folk song events for the elderly. Through Taiwanese folk songs, Yen and his troupe introduced Taiwanese lifestyle, culture, and aesthetics to audiences all over the world. "We are all grateful to Yen Yung-neng for his commitment to Taiwan and his dedication to singing out the earnest feelings towards the people and land of Taiwan," he added.
In 2012, the Takao Run Troupe represented Kaohsiung to attend the Beijing International Tourism EXPO. The impressive performance of the troupe won it the award of most popular team. In 2013, the troupe was invited to attend Sydney Taiwan Festival and Spring Festival of Willoughby City in Australia. The Overseas Community Affairs Council in 2014 invited the troupe to tour Eastern America, giving performances at Taiwan Heritage Week festivities. And again in 2016, the troupe made a performance tour in the United States, giving 11 concerts.