Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO)

What is JPO?

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The Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) is comprised of primary, secondary and tertiary students as well as working adults and professional musicians throughout Sabah.

Membership is open to any musicians from the general community who have reached a minimum standard of Grade 3 to play in JPO.

Our Mission:

To create a significant musical contribution to the cultural life of the community, providing its members and audience with opportunities for musical growth through creative direction, excellence in performance and educational outreach.

Our Vision:

To be recognized locally, nationally and internationally as a premier all-volunteer full orchestra fostering music appreciation and the life-changing value it provides our members and listening audience.

Our Objectives:

To bring to awareness the intrinsic value of music and its development.
To promote and enrich the musical education of people in this region.
To raise the standard of music in this part of the world.
To offer performance opportunities to musicians especially students from primary & secondary schools and universities.
To introduce series of constructive, creative and healthy orchestral activities.
To organise trainings and practices for members for them to possess a sense of pride, trust, harmony, understanding and cooperation through orchestral activities.
To outreach other community channels and work together to raise the community musical standard to the pinnacle.
To foster inter-cultural artistic understanding through music

Background

The Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) was co-founded in April, 2007 by Yap Ling and Chou Yang Ching. The driving force of forming this orchestra is to provide a conducive environment of ensemble playing for instrumentalists. The formation of this orchestra also gives a chance for both teachers and students a chance to interact and play together in unity through music. It also provides an opportunity to those former band members from schools to continue playing after leaving schools.

Thanks to Kian Kok Secondary School for their willingness to offer the complimentary use of their music room to JPO so that it can carry out its weekly practices on Sunday afternoon since 1^st April 2007.

Currently, there are about 60 multiracial members comprising players for strings, winds, brass, percussion; and sometimes, keyboard. Some of the JPO members are also members of the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) under the supervision of the MPO members and conductors.

Within JPO full orchestra, we also have JPO String Orchestra and JPO Concert Band. In addition, chamber groups are formed to promote chamber music in JPO e.g. piano trio, string quartet, string quintet etc. They have recently won the 1^st & 2^nd prices from the 2007 Malaysian Youth Music Festival’s Chamber Music competition organized by the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation (MYOF) in KL on 1 September.

JPO is in the process of registering as a society by a Pro Tem Committee.

Future plans:

Organize more concerts for the orchestra and musicians from abroad.
Organize yearly music camp.
Organize more workshops and masterclasses.
“Outreach” Program to schools and colleges, hospitals and welfare organizations like orphanage, old folks homes, handicapped centre etc.
JPO Concert Tour to other towns, other states and abroad.
Doing recordings and video shootings.

Exchange with MOC

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Making friends with Miri Orchestra & Choir members!

Photos taken during the concert day on 2 Aug at the Auditorium, Pustaka Miri.

Yap Yi, Betsy Tiong & Yap Qin.

Stephanie Kam, Lisa Chung & Chia Kah Yie.

Alan Hok, Brandon Tang, Eben Ting & Aldrich Tan.

Yap Yi (far right) with all his new "kawan" from MOC.

Chamber Orchestra for MOC Concert

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Aldrich and Lisa were asked to play in the Chamber Orchestra for Vivaldi's L'Estro Armonico and Handel's Concerto Grosso in B Minor for the MOC Annual Concert.

Aldrich Tan (Far Left) & Lisa Chung (2nd right)

Miri Orchestra & Choir Annual Concert on 2 Aug 09

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JPO members were invited by the MOC to join their Annual Concert at the Auditorium, Pustaka Miri. There were 2 performances: Matinee at 2pm and Evening Concert at 7pm.

The following photos were taken on 1 Aug during the Full Dress Rehearsal.

Alan Hok on the Double Bass.

Yap Qin on the violin.

Yap Yi on the cello.

Lisa Chung, Stephanie Kam and Aldrich Tan on the violin.

Former JPO Oboist Howard Ng gave a Recital at his house

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Howard was back from Singapore for holiday. He is majoring oboe at the Yong Siew Toh Music Conservertoire, Singapore. He has improved so much since 2 years ago and he has been helping in tutoring the oboe section during the JPO Music Camp. A successful recital indeed.

The audience: from the JPO

Other audience from the school bands, friends & relatives.

During performance with Grace Lee accompanying him.

JPO members involved in KK Jazz Festival Performance on 20 June 09 at Sutera Harbour

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Yvonne Chung (Flute), Aldrich Tan (Violin), Gavin Lawrence Nicholas (Saxophone) & Jessel Yansalang (Trumpet)

Press Review on 1st Sabah State Music Camp Concert on 13 June 09

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The VVIP & Guest of Honour for the Concert

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From left: Y.Bhg Prof. Datuk Dr. Kamaruzaman Hj. Ampon ( UMS Vice Chancelor), Y.Berhormat Datuk Masidi Manjun (Guest of Honour, Minister of Tourism, Culture & Environment), Y.Bhg Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim (KK City Mayor), Betty Pang (JPO Advisor) & Andrew Poninting (Head of Music, School of Creative Arts, UMS)

Overture Coriolanus, Op.62 - Beethoven

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Dvorak - Smphony No.9 in E Minor, Op.95 "From the New World"

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Vivaldi Concerto For 4 Violins

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Last minute addition to the concert as a symbal of musical exchange between Malaysia (Malaysia), Philippines (Arturo Molina), Singapore (Foo Say Ming) & Brunei (Jamie Sales).

The Viola Tutor (Andrew Filmer, far left) & Cello Tutor (Ms.Halina Ostojska, far right)

Visi D' Arte & Un Bel Di - Puccini

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Our gorgeous Emcee for the night......Tsai Siew

The soprano, Phoon Sook Peng & Conductor, Sir Toti

I Could Have Danced All Night - from My Fairlady

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Ravel - Bolero

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Waiting enthusiastically to go on stage......

Pizz....in "guitar style"

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The Last Piece - Mission Impossible Theme

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Encore - Harvest Song

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"Dim Sum" for the Tutors on 12 June

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Young Participants for the 1st Sabah State Music Camp

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2 of the youngest participants for the camp - Yap Yi (8 yrs) & Teethat Ananthothai (10 yrs, Ply - from Bangkok). Both are cellists.

Camp Recital

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We have camp recital at 7pm on 9, 11 & 12 June just before the full orchestra practice for about 30 mins.

Special Tour to Mari Mari Cultural Village - Thanks to Sabah Tourism Board

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Music Camp - Tutorial

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The 2nd Violin Section with the Tutor - Jamie Sales

Clarinet Section with tutor, Ng Chong Yen

Lower Brass Section with tutor - Alejandro Fernandez

Percussion Section with tutor - Jenny Tan

1st Sabah State Music Camp - Registration

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Registration at the counter at the Sekolah Pengajian Seni between 9-10am on 8 June. There are 90+ participants joining the camp. Photo (from the top) showing Aldrich Tan (Concertmaster), Irean Ho (Volunteer Camp Staff) & Chou Yang Ching (JPO Associate Conductor.

Another volunteer staff is Jane Green. Of course there are also UMS students who are helping with some of the administration work. Thank you to all for all the hard work behind the scene.

The 1st day of the 1st Sabah State Music Camp - In Actions!

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