A Dash of Nature: Earth, Sky, and the Life Within

As 2024 draws to a close, The klpac Symphonic Band invites you to unwind to a relaxing programme that pays homage to Mother Earth. Moon gaze under the “Starry Night”, listen to “Aesop’s Fables” portrayed musically, embark on an “Ocean Odyssey” and more in A Dash of Nature, conducted by Resident Conductor and Music Director Cheryl Mah.

The band’s 2024 season finale features internationally-acclaimed American and Japanese band composers whose works are part of standard band repertoire and have made it to the editor’s top choices of various publications. This includes Tyler S. Grant, Takamasa Sakai, Scott Watson and Hayato Hirose. And interesting addition is Alex Shapiro, who is known for her acoustic and electroacoustic work.

A Dash of Nature also shines the spotlight on our very own composers – Elson Kwong, Lawrence Chiu and Melody Yeo – who were selected to be part of Rondo Production’s Emerging Composers Initiative 2024, supported by ABRSM. The trio underwent intensive mentorship, private consultation and training with renowned composers, Yeo Chow Shern and Charlotte Harding. The concert will be premiering three new works by these talented composers, marking an end to a three-month transformative journey.

An apt season closer after a busy and fruitful year, join the band in this joyous celebration of all things and people precious to us.

Programmes:
All the Earth and Air | Composed by Tyler S. Grant
I Wish To Bring You IV | Lawrence Chiu Peng Chong (Premiere)
Starry Night | Composed by Takamasa Sakai
Aesop’s Fables | Composed by Scott Watson
To the Sanctuary of the Mountain God | Composed by Elson Kwong Zhen Wei (Premiere)
Rock Music (Concert Wind Band and Pre-recorded Soundscape) | Composed by Alex Shapiro
Ocean Odyssey | Composed by Melody Yeo Wan Lin (Premiere)
The Elm Tree | Composed by Hayato Hirose
Bunga Raya March | Composed by Yeo Chow Shern

About klpac Connect
klpac Connect is an access and development initiative supported by Yayasan Sime Darby aimed at improving access to the arts through various amenities and programmes for families with young children, students / schools, persons with disabilities, talents and the general public. Find out more at bit.ly/klpacconnect.

Sponsored Student Tickets (part of klpac Connect)
Under klpac Connect, schools may register their interest to obtain sponsored student tickets for selected shows free of charge. Due to limited availability, tickets are not guaranteed – first-timers from public schools and those from rural / out-of-state locations prioritised. This show is part of the klpac Connect programme. Register your interest here bit.ly/klpac-connect-registration.

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ABOUT The klpac Symphonic Band
Soon after The klpac Orchestra was formed, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) established The klpac Symphonic Band in 2009 which made its debut with “Friendship in Concert”.

Like the other music ensembles under klpac, The klpac Symphonic Band is a community-oriented initiative aimed at providing a platform for brass, wind and percussion players to hone their skills and perform regularly. It was established to fill a gap in the local music scene where many band musicians who started playing during their schooling years were left with no avenue to grow and pursue their interest after leaving school. Its members are musicians and music lovers from different backgrounds and age groups who are admitted based on an audition.

The klpac Symphonic Band has been under the leadership of Music Director and Resident Conductor Cheryl Mah since 2011. It performs a packed concert season yearly and its “Ultimate Music Crawl” concert bagged the “BEST OF 2019” Award at the 17th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards 2020.

Since 2022, the band has been running an all-important Outreach Collaborative Project annually with some of the best music educators in town and it culminates in a public concert entitled “An Uncommon Journey”. The outreach project has benefited 71 wind musicians and percussionists aged 16 to 22 from Klang Valley as well as beyond.

On the audience development front, the band initiated its “Music Play Date” series in 2022, which is an interactive concert held outdoors for families particularly those with young children.

2023 marked another major milestone for the band as it proudly represented Malaysia during its first international tour to the Chiayi City International Band Festival (CCIBF) in Chiayi, Taiwan where it performed alongside over 100 bands from five different countries.

THE TEAM
Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Music Director & Resident Conductor / President: Cheryl Mah
Lighting Designer: Lim Ang Swee
Sound Engineer: Ong Yuan Shun
Production Stage Manager: Soo Choy Wah

The klpac Symphonic Band Committee for Year 2024
Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Music Director & Resident Conductor / President: Cheryl Mah
Vice President: Chew Sze Gee, Chris Lai Su Theng
Secretary: Tan Su Fen
Vice Secretary: Chrissie Kuan
Treasurer: Lai Pak Kin
Librarians: Pah Chee Choong, Chris Wong Ken Lun
Publicity: Tai Wen Ying

Section Leaders for Year 2024
Flute: Chew Sze Gee, Evynne Lim Ee Wenn
Oboe: Cheong Wei Xuan
Clarinet: Yong Song Yeu, Chong Tao Xin
Saxophone: Ian Chan
French Horn: Jon Handley
Trumpet: Yeow Boon Sim, Tan Kai Xiang
Trombone: Mustaqim Abdullah, Low Wei Xiang
Euphonium & Tuba: Chris Wong Ken Lun, Chrissie Kuan
Percussion: Bryan Cheah Zi Hau, Lee Si Yuan