A decade of great music

The Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra members reunite for its 10-year anniversary concert, writes Dennis Chua

The MPYO members pose for a picture.

THE Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra celebrates a decade of great music-making this year. A special concert happens at 8.30pm today at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, led by longtime conductor, Kevin Field.

Founded in 2006, the MPYO presented its inaugural debut at DFP on Aug 25, 2007 under the direction of Field, its then principal conductor, with engaging works that included Rimsky-Korsakov’s

The MPYO then went on to showcase its virtuosity in four cities that year in December: George Town, Ipoh, Johor Baru and Kuantan. In 2008, it toured Sabah and Sarawak. The orchestra had also spread its wings to Singapore in 2009 and Brisbane, Australia, in 2012.

With repertoire that ranges from the core symphonic pieces to specially-commissioned works by Malaysian composers, Broadway to film music, jazz and traditional music, the MPYO has grown tremendously as an orchestra full of vibrant enthusiasm and energy.

For this reunion concert with its alumni and Field, the 98-member MPYO will present Vaughan Williams’

(nicknamed A London Symphony), Chow’s

Kodaly’s and Saint-Saens’ from

(the latter will evoke nostalgia as it was performed during the debut concert a decade ago).

Tickets: RM60 and RM100. Call 03-2331 7007.