Taiwan, Sabah orchestras to perform at fellowship programme
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment is supporting the inaugural East MalaysiaTaiwan Yang Qin Orchestra Fellowship Programme in Sabah being organised by the Young Malaysians Movement (YMM), Kota Kinabalu Branch on August 20 and 21.
Its minister, Datuk Christina Liew, said it is a form of cultural tourism, given that the first-time visitors will be touring places of interest in the State capital as part of their activities.
The four-day and three-night fellowship programme involves 20 Yang Qin players from the Taiwan Yang Qin Association and an orchestra from Kuching, Sarawak who will stage a series of performances together with the local orchestra team from Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School and Papar Middle School.
“I am happy that the Taiwan Yang Qin Orchestra has chosen Sabah as a partner for their fellowship programme. It will definitely enhance Sabah-Taiwan friendship ties, apart from promoting a meaningful cultural exchange and social interaction among the participants,” she said after a courtesy call by a delegation from YMM, Kota Kinabalu Branch led by its chairman, Kent Chin.
Liew, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, has been invited to attend the 8pm performance on August 20 as guest of honour at the Suria Sabah Shopping Mall.
“I encourage local music lovers and those who appreciate music to come and watch the performance.”
Earlier in the day, the visiting group will meet their counterparts from Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, Kian Kok Secondary School and KK High School.
Briefing the minister on the programme, organising chairman Hong Horng Yang said the objective of the two-day programme is to strengthen the traditional Chinese orchestra culture between Taiwan and Sabah.
“It is also our desire to nurture Sabah’s young musicians’ passion for all genres of symphonic music, including the Chinese Yang Qin,” he said.
Meanwhile, YMM State chairman Alvin Saw Eng Seng and State Secretary Paul Chin Siang Kiong briefed the minister on the activities of the movement in Sabah.
Kapitan Eliza Goh, who is the adviser to the movement, said the KK Branch planned to hold activities related to raising awareness on public cleanliness in the city.
Also present were the ministry’s assistant secretary, Romy Al-Hami Azeer Yahya, Sabah Tourism Board marketing manager Ebony Loong and YMM KK Branch Executive Committee member Pong Khai Feng.