Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO)
Orchestra
Founded	2006
Location	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Principal conductor	Harish Shankar, Naohisa Furusawa

Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) is a full symphonic orchestra of young talented Malaysian musicians. The core programme of MPYO includes weekend intensive training (WIT, for musicians in Klang Valley area only), tutorials, concerts and chamber concerts, residential music camps and tours. There may also be chances for members to attend workshops, masterclasses, perform chamber music, and also perform side-by-side with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). In addition to the regular director, Harish Shankar and Naohisa Furukawa, members will have the opportunity to work with leading guest artists and conductors.

The MPYO had their inaugural concert in the 2006, led by concertmasters Jae Sern Lim and Nami Baradan, they premiered Malaysian composer Adeline Wong's "Ria!" and have played Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherezade, with a great solo success by Baradan. Most alumni of MPYO have engaged in many other musical happenings such as the Asian Youth Orchestra or have now joined the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra as full-time musicians.

Biography

The initial steps towards realising the long-cherished dream of the late PETRONAS Chairman, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Azizan Zainul Abidin, to create a youth orchestra as a ‘stage for young talent’, alongside the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, were taken on 13 January 2006. Some 500 aspiring instrumentalists from across Malaysia auditioned and 110 – with an average age of 18 – were selected to form the new Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO).

The MPYO gave its first public concert in Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS on 25 August 2007. It has since established a pattern of music camps held four times a year and culminating in performances in Kuala Lumpur and beyond. It has toured five cities in West Malaysia (2007), Sabah and Sarawak (2008), and Penang and Kuantan (2010), as well as giving sold-out concerts at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore in 2009. It has also performed in Brisbane, Australia in 2012 as part of an exchange programme with the Queensland Youth Orchestra.

In November 2008, a second nationwide round of auditions was held to ensure the MPYO continues to fulfil its aim of encouraging young musicians to appreciate orchestral music and to build a pool of well-trained Malaysian instrumentalists, community and professional performers, teachers and inspired amateurs.

The MPYO's repertoire ranges from the core symphonic repertoire to specially – commissioned works by Malaysian composers. In an innovative project, ‘Jazzaar’, during June 2010, the members of the orchestra collaborated with six leading jazz musicians from the USA, led by Fritz Renold (who wrote his Suite Nusantara specially for the project) in order to enrich and widen their musical experience.

In November 2013, the orchestra performed in Kedah with renowned local singers Datin Paduka Julie Sudiro, Datuk Yusni Hamid and Jamilah Abu Bakar in a keroncong concert, further strengthening its versatility.

Orchestra membership & activities

MPYO consists of 90 talented members from all over the country for season 2016/17. Depending on the repertoire for the season, some or more players may or may not be required, and reserved members will be asked to participate only upon request by the orchestra.

Eligibility

All Malaysians aged between 12 and 28 years old who play any orchestral instruments may apply for free. Members need not, but are encouraged to have obtained an ABRSM certificate in Grade 7 (practical) or equivalent. Once selected, members shall pay a certain amount of membership fees every season. For season 2016/17, the membership fee is RM1,100 for members residing in Klang Valley, and RM 650 for all other members. Wind, brass, and percussion players should be able OR be willing to learn more than one instrument of their family: oboe & cor anglais, trumpet & cornet etc. All players are (usually) expected to have/bring their own instruments.

Applications & auditions

National auditions are usually held once per season (two years), or annually if there is a huge demand of players for the year/season before the March music camp, usually (but not necessarily) during February. The last national audition was 7–8 May 2016, and will be held again the year after.

Current members will need to undergo internal auditions once per season during the June camp for reevaluation of seatings and renewal of their membership.

Music camps

Music camps are held 3 times a season, usually on each December, March, and June.

Orchestra members are required to join (if they are involved) and will receive regular tutorials during music camps. Each section of the orchestra will be coached by members of the MPO in the preparation of individual parts, section and general orchestral playing and thus gain valuable insight into the routines and lives of professional musicians.

Repertoire of the 2016/17 season includes Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet (Tchaikovsky) overture (8, 9 Oct 2016), George Gershwin's An American in Paris (12, 13 Dec 2016), Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony no. 5 (19 March 2017), and etc.

Chamber music ensembles

Chamber and ensemble music is an integral part of the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. A variety of ensembles are created so that MPYO members can experience the joy of making music in a small, more intimate chamber music setting. Members who are of suitable standards are allocated to chamber groups and ensembles which include:

Strings ensembles: Duo, trio, quartet, quintet etc.
Wind ensembles
Brass ensembles
Percussion ensembles
Mixed ensembles: Piano and percussion, or cello and double bass etc.

The programme focuses on ensemble playing skills and repertoire development. Each chamber ensemble receives regular coaching from experienced MPYO tutors or MPO musicians, participate in masterclasses and get involved in performances.

Other privileges

Orchestra members also have opportunities to play alongside the professional musicians of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra throughout the season in chamber concerts, normal concerts, and holiday specials at the end of each year.

Members of the MPYO are also eligible for instrumental lessons with musicians of the MPO at an additional cost (not included in the membership fees).

Members

Members of the MPYO (Season 16/17) in alphabetical order
Violin²⁷	Viola⁶	Flute⁶	French Horn⁴
Andrea Sim Yi Xian Ashley Ser Chooi Ling Catherine Khaw Hui Yang Chan Mei Teng Chen Hong-Ze Christopher Chan Jian Wei Debbie Johanna Ho Yan Yan Denise Mubin Eben Ting Ik Peng Elle Chang Su-Ting Emma Lee Mei Chie Hoi Khai-Weing Izzywan Musib Joanna Delight Ho May Sum Joey Young Joshua Chew Caleb Kylie Tan Khai Li Lee Fong Ying Lee Jin Yen Lim Zhi Hsuan Loo Mei Hui Nataly Ser Chooi Ching Nicole Leong Ka Yeng Soon Wern-Shynn Tan Kwan Wynn Wong How Yuen Wong Tzu Shiuan	Belinda Chong Bei Le Chanel Lee Lynn Danish Mubin Lee Yuan Hui Loe Jing Yi Loo Pei Zheng	Alwin Wong Ru Kiet Bonnie Kong Tien Li Chiu Peng Chong Japheth Law Tan Wei Harn Wooi Wei Kane	Chloe Chai Mei Qin Eric Tiow Xian Liang Mohd Adznan Mokhtar Ong Yong Hang
	Cello¹³	Oboe⁵	Trumpet³
	Annie Leong Charissa Tan Tian Ai Chen Hong-Ye Chok Jia Yin Chong Jia Yuan Goh Wen Chih Joel Chew Yee Song Joshua Sim Te Sheng Lee Ann Charlene Lee Pu-Yen Nathalie Kwan Wei Ling Stanley Hoh Stephen Tseu Tze Jie	Aisha Iwasaki Muhammad Azamuddin Tang Jung Siong Tho Jun Meng Tunku Amanina	Lau Hui Ping Louie Liaw Mohd Ashyraff Adnan
		Clarinet⁶	Trombone³
		Emily Tiow Yu Xian Eugene Chee Jia Jiunn Ho Kok Yoon Lee Shi Min Lim Yong Jia Tang Kit Ying	Abdul Hanif Abdul Hamid Teh Yoong Wei Ahmad Rizqin Nazhif Zainol (b)
			Timpani / Percussion⁵
			Chong Xin Yi Ng Lip Sheng Nicholas Chang Norman Cheen Xin Tao Ong Jia Yong
	Double Bass⁵	Bassoon¹
	Gillian Too Lee Kar Yan Lin Yi Rou Siti Aishah Yong Yoon May	Stephen Mak Wai Soon
		Harp²	Piano⁴
		Madelaine Chong Zhia Chee Kathrina Chair Ping Jeh	Choong See May Jovian Wong Liman Tengku Mohd Hadif Sharifudin Wun Chern Zhi

There are 39 reserved members for the current season, excluding members of instruments like cello, double bass, and piano.

External links

Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) official page on Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra's website

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