When you first meet Julian Lawrence Gargi-ulo, renowned classical pianist and composer, his big, brown, curly locks are the first thing to catch the eye. But having spent this past weekend listening to scores by Bach, Beethoven and Puccini, it was his performance that really shone.

He was one of the acts, alongside Staomi Ogawa, soprano and once a Miss Universe Japan, the spectacular gala concert, Catch A Cambodian Star, presented by Chiara Angkor Music Production, drew standing ovations by members of the royal family, the Japanese ambassador to Cambodia, and more than 500 guests.

Julian Gargiulo has filled concert halls such as the Seymour Theatre Centre, Moscow Conservatory Hall, The Esplanade in Singapore, Carnegie Hall and the United Nations’ Dag Hammarskjöld. His charismatic and comedic sense of humour, in addition to his talent as a pianist, kept the audience awake and entertained. This was Gargiulo’s second time in Cambodia, and he has played to a packed house, not once, but twice. With the love for Sovanna barbecues, and recently the popular dish beef lok lak, Gargiulo enjoys visiting the Kingdom of Wonder.

“I don’t want to leave Cambodia, and it’s always better the second time around,” said Gargiulo. “I will bring my wife and baby and visit the Angkor Wat temples on my third trip back to Cambodia.”

Besides travelling and performing around the world, Gargiulo is committed to charity work. His non-profit organisation, 16000children.org, established in 2008, brings together musicians, visual artists and filmmakers in creating events to raise awareness for the 16,000 children that die of hunger in the world every day. The statistic has sadly increased.

Catch A Cambodian Star was endorsed as The Commemorative event of the significant occasion of 60th Anniversary of Friendship between Japan and Cambodia. The proceeds from the concert will be donated to the scholarship programs for the youth to help brighten its future through the influence of the performing arts.