I was supposed to blog this piece long ago, but, haiyah… too busy with everything!
One Sunday in November, I was invited by Pastor Neil to attend and observe the rehearsal of an orchestra at a church cum community centre in Puchong.
I was very surprised and pleased to see so many teenagers and young people playing beautiful music in the orchestra. I was told that the youngest flute player is only nine years old and he can play so well 🙂
The man on the left is Pastor Neil, the man who started the orchestra
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Saturday August 23, 2008
Making music in Puchong
Stories by THO XIN YI
PUCHONG will soon make a name for itself as perhaps the first and only township in the country to have its own orchestra.
This is not a pipe dream but something that is slowing taking shape as the Puchong-based Regent Community Services is getting the music playing to form the Puchong Mini Orchestra and Choir.
According to Regent director Neil E. Rode, after some brainstorming, it was decided that having an orchestra was one of the most viable ways to bring the community together.
“We decided that forming an orchestra is a great way to touch the community through music. It’s high time we do something to bring the community together,” he said.
Keeping time: A drum set is essential in an orchestra to set the tempo of the music.
Some people may not consider the idea possible or practical, given the fact that Puchong does not seem to have the sort of cultural environment with high-tech modern concert halls that the big cities have.
Look at the young boy sitting in front, he is only nine years old
But Rode is confident that, with initiative and hard work, accompanied by moral and financial support from the authorities and people, the project will be a resounding success.
“We know it is so much easier if we park ourselves in other areas like Petaling Jaya, where the financial status of the people is much higher,” he said.
“But our ultimate aim is to develop the lower-income group and we feel that we could be a guiding light in Puchong,” Rode said.
According to Rode, the non-profit, non-religious and non-racial project will be a channel for music makers to develop their talents and at the same time provide wholesome entertainment for the community.
“Some people may be interested in playing in an orchestra but they don’t have the professional level required to join the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO),” he said.
“So, we are creating an opportunity for these musicians to learn and develop their skills. They need not worry about the lack of qualification or experience as we will provide them the opportunity to be trained,” Rode said.
Anyone 12 years of age and above, and people from the nearby townships, are invited to join the orchestra and choir.
The main criterion required to join the orchestra and choir is the love for music. Of course, the ability to play musical instruments is essential.
“We don’t expect them to be great performers, but at least they must have a feel for it and have some knowledge for music in order for them to progress,” voice trainer Peter Wong said,
“They must be able to show their commitments, too,” he said.
The Regent hopes to get the orchestra going by November and it will have regular practices and performances, especially during festive seasons.
“We want to allow it to evolve. It does not belong to us. We are only the initiators and we want the Puchong people to see and love the orchestra as their own,” Wong said.
Currently, several auditions had been conducted and a few music schools had also expressed interests in working with the Regent.
“One of the principals is keen to have his students perform in our orchestra,” Wong said.
The Regent also welcomes sponsors to provide financial and other resources, such as musical instruments, to help the orchestra develop.
“Music learning and training is expensive and we hope there will be some sponsorship from established corporate houses to provide training for the people from the lower- income groups,” Rode said.
Auditions will be conducted on two Sundays — Aug 24 and Aug 31 — at 2pm at the Regent Centre located at 67B, Jalan Kenari 20, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong.
For more details or to make an appointment for auditions, call Francisco at 016-656 7413 (musicians) or Wong at 017-651 2499 (singers).
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http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/8/23/central/1867183&sec=central
Saturday August 23, 2008
Francisco, the conductor of orchestra
THE Puchong Mini Orchestra and Choir, in the process of being formed, will be under the baton of conductor Romualdo Danny Francisco.
The Filipino, who is a music arranger and conductor of the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) Orchestra, is enthusiastic about the setting up of the Puchong orchestra.
“I want to impart my knowledge in music to all the youngsters and adults in Puchong. It’s my dream to have a mini-orchestra in Puchong,” Francisco said.
The 67-year-old Puchong resident, who is a member of the Regent Community Services, said he would not restrict the access to the Puchong Orchestra only to the experienced musicians.
“We can have a group for beginners, and once they improve themselves, they can join the professional group,” he said.
“Everyone can learn to play my music. I can write music in a very simple way for the beginners,” he said.
Talented: Francisco is also an experienced trombone player.
The orchestra members are in for an exciting experience as Francisco is a veteran in the orchestra scene.
He started learning music at 11 and has since mastered the skills to play the trombone, double bass, conga, drums, piano and tuba.
Francisco was also a musical director for the Royal Malaysian Air Force Band and led the bass section for the Golden Kite World Song Festival in 1984.
He had also tutored at the Asean Music Workshop in Manila and teaches classical music at the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.
For the Puchong Orchestra, Francisco aimed to have a 20-piece team for a start.
“We need violins, cellos, flute, clarinet, oboe, French horn, trombone, trumpet, saxophone and percussions,” he said.
Francisco is ready to nurture all aspiring musicians, as long as they prove their commitments.
Francisco said his dream was see his orchestra members becoming great directors, conductors, composers and musicians.
“The Puchong Orchestra will be the best place to gain experience and to know more people. It’s a platform before moving on to other orchestras like the MPO and National Symphony Orchestra,” he said.
Francisco is confident that it will not be difficult to set up the orchestra in Puchong.
“There are many talented people in Puchong and we just have to use the right approach to attract them into the orchestra,” he said.
Francisco said retirees were also most welcomed to join the orchestra.
“If you are like me, who don’t want to wait until the day comes, then make use of yourselves and we can work and play together,” he said.
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Thursday November 13, 2008
Orchestra comprises people of various races
THE Puchong community orchestra comprises musicians and singers from different races of various ages and professions.
For accountant Lee Wai Yong, joining the orchestra was almost an accidental event.
And to make it even interesting, he is not playing the ordinary Western instruments like the rest.
Lee Wai Yong: He plays the gu zheng.
The 50-year-old gu zheng player was accompanying his 15-year-old daughter to the audition but he found himself joining the orchestra, too.
“I was talking to them about my interest in Chinese musical instruments and Francisco said he would like to put both Western and Oriental instruments together. That’s how I ended up being part of the orchestra,” he said.
His daughter plays the flute in the orchestra.
The oldest member of the orchestra and choir is Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Yusof, the ex-deputy vice-chancellor of Universiti Malaya, who sings in the choir.
“My wife Khairiah Khairuddin Yusof, 64, and I started singing a year ago. Music has healing power on ageing brain. It is proven by neuro scientists that the healing process improves when music is used as one of the instruments,” the 70-year-old gynaecologist said.
The youngest member is nine-year-old Dennis Lim, who plays the violin.
According to the SJK (C) Kampung Baru Semenyih pupil, he started learning to play the violin when he was five years old.
“I am here together with my elder brothers Nicholas, 14, and Jeff, 12.” Dennis said.
Nicholas said it was fun coming to the orchestra as a weekly activity.
Absorbed: Isaac Lee (left) concentrating on Lee Wai Yong: He plays the gu zheng. producing melodious notes.
“I have made new friends here,” he said.
For Aswara (performing arts university) student Isaac Lee Xi-kwang, 22, the Puchong orchestra is a godsend opportunity for him to practise what he is learning.
Isaac, who plays the violin, drives all the way from Shah Alam every Sunday afternoon to join in the orchestra practice.
He has high praises for orchestra director and conductor Uncle Danny and said he had learnt a lot even in the short period of three months.
Isaac said he had made new friends and learnt new things since joining the orchestra and he hoped many more such community orchestras could be organised to promote music and friendship among the races.