MPYO celebrates its 10th anniversary with a bang

THE Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra celebrates a decade of great music-making this year. Former Petronas chairman, the late Tun Azizan Zainul Abidin, had always dreamt of creating a youth orchestra as a “stage for young talent”, alongside the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. It was realised on Jan 13, 2006, and launched by the then chief executive officer of DFP/MPO, Juniwati Rahmat Hussin.

Some 500 aspiring instrumentalists from across Malaysia auditioned and 110, with an average age of 18, were selected to form the new MPYO (it has 98 active members today).

After a period of intensive training under its then principal conductor, Kevin Field, and mentors drawn from the ranks of the MPO, MPYO gave its debut public concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on Aug 25, 2007.

With a repertoire that ranges from the core symphonic repertoire to specially commissioned works by Malaysian com-

MPYO has grown in leaps and bounds.

posers, Broadway to film music, jazz and traditional music, the MPYO has grown in leaps and bounds.

To celebrate one decade of glorious achievements, the MPYO will present exciting concerts throughout the rest of the year till the first half of next year.

These include collaborations with the Trinity Youth Symphony Orchestra from Indonesia, Hong Kong Children Sym- phony Orchestra and Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia.

Field will return to conduct this ensemble in a special reunion concert.

The celebration will kick-off with its participation at the Miyakojima Youth International Music Festival, Japan. The MPYO will also perform in a special concert at Singapore’s The Esplanade in December.