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.

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String Workshop by Gina Medina

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The Manila Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster gave a workshop to JPO String section when she came to KK to give a violin recital.

Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Sabah

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At last the JPO is now registered with Registrar Of Society (ROS). We will be recruiting as many members as possible from now on.

Yap Ling (President), En.Matthew Anak Dominic Barin (Director of ROS Sabah), Chung Jeng Nyan (Treasurer) & Lee Mei Yee (Secretary) after receiving the certificates from attending the course conducted by the ROS on 29 Mac 2011 at Promenade Hotel.

Music Festival at The Tip of Borneo - Simpang Mengayau

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Program for the Music Fest at the Tip of Borneo

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One of Sabah's Premiere Events 2010 - Music Fest at the Tip of Borneo

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Free Trumpet workshop by Jacob Dalager from US on 7 Feb. 2010

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Thanks to Jacob Dalager who volunteer to give trumpet workshop for JPO members at Kian Kok School String Room where JPO has its weekly practices.

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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Tutor for The 1st Sabah State Music Camp 8-12 June 2009

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Tutors' first day (The day before the camp starts). We brought them for dinner at Gayah Sport Seafood Restaurant.

JPO Chinese New Year Gathering at Betty's Residence on 31 Jan 09

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We were all treated by our adviser, Betty Pang to her "open house". She even prepared all the food by herself. The JPO would like to thank her and wish she will continue to give us her full support in our future activities and projects.

JPO Concert 08 - John Williams Soundtrack Highlights - 2nd Piece

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JPO Concert 08 - Pirates of the Caribbean - 1st Piece

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JPO Full Dress Rehearsal on 21 September 08 at Yayasan Sabah

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"waiting to get started"

The flute Section, The Horn Section & Percussion Section

Island trip for our Guest Musicians

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We treated our guests for an island trip to Pulau Mamutik on 19 Sept. It seems that they were having a good time there.

Supper at Diamond Restaurant, KK for Our Guest Musicians

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JPO is honoured to have guest musicians coming in to help in the preparation for the 21 September's Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra Concert 08'. And we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of them. We all learnt a lot from them.

They all arrived on the 18 Sept. from Sarawak, West Malaysia and the Philippines. The Philippine delegation is made up of members of the Manila Symphony Orchestra (MSO) and Professors of the University of Philippines. The MSO resident conductor, Prof. Arturo Molina was also here with his wife, Heidi. After the practice we went for supper at the Diamond Restaurant.

JPO Pays A Courtesy Call to the Mayor on 12 Spet. 08

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Photo of Ms Chou Yang Ching, Yap Ling, the KK City Mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, Ms. Betty Pang and George Lai

JPO Concert on 21 September 08

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CONCERT 2008

This is JPO’s third performance after the grand debut in October 2007 and the Yellow River Cantata in June 08, performing again at Yayasan Sabah Auditorium on September 21st, Sunday at 7.30pm. The concert, kicking off the second season for JPO’s performance, is aimed at turning the orchestra semi-professional. Sponsors for this performance include Jerneh Insurance, Pacific Insurance, Progressive Insurance Bhd, Lonpac Insurance Bhd. and The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment; Y.B. Datuk Masidi Manjun will be present again as the Guest of Honour.

The one and a half-hour presentation promises performances by Maestros of Music in their own eras – Bach and Beethoven; as well as movie soundtracks from A-List Hollywood movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Prince of Egypt.

JPO will be performing as a full orchestra, works like John Williams: Soundtrack Highlights from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, A.I (Artificial Intelligence) and The Patriot; Pirates of the Caribbean, whereas under its String Orchestra is the piece, The Prince of Egypt. The String orchestra will be accompanying two pianists, Loo Bang Hean and Grace Lee Sui Lin for the JS Bach piece, Concerto for two harpsichords, strings and continuous bass in C minor. There will be also be two piano pieces, Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Bach and Astro Piazzolla’s Adios Nonino performed before the first interval ends.

The last part of the concert, performed by the Full Orchestra, is the massive and majestic Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 in C Minor. Hence this concert is a must-see concert for all music enthusiasts, with music genres ranging from Baroque to contemporary hits.

Tickets are priced according to seating positions, from RM100, RM50, RM30 and RM10 (For student only). Please contact Alice at 016-833 3034 or the Sri Pelancongan Sabah at 088-232121 to obtain the concert tickets.

Beethoven Symphony No.5 - 1st Mov, Barenboim

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Beethoven 5th - Giulini/LA Phil - 2nd Mvmt

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Beethoven 5th - Giulini/LA Phil - 3rd, 4th Mvmts (I)

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Beethoven 5th - Giulini/LA Phil - 3rd, 4th Mvmts (II)

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J.S.Bach - Conerto for 2 pianos in C minor

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Karajan-Beethoven Symphony No.5 (part 1)

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Karajan Conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony.Part 1 (Movements 1 and 2). It was recorded in 1966.

Great video, conductor, and Symphony!

Karajan-Beethoven Symphony No.5 (part 2)

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Karajan Conducting Beethoven's 5th Symphony.Part 2 (Movements 3 and 4)

Enjoy it~!

The Pirates of The Caribbean - Version that JPO will be performing on 16 September

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JPO Practice on 22 June

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Hey everyone! Just to inform that JPO next practice is on 22 June, Sunday, 2pm-4pm. See you all there! ^_^

The Yellow River Cantata Concert 6 June 08 - The Soloists & VVIP

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The piano accompanist in action, Grace Lee Sui Lin

Malaysia's own - "The Three Tenors"

Armando Chin Yong, Phoon Sook Peng, David Ngim, Lim Cheng Hock

VVIP: Tan Sri & Puan Sri Chong Kah Kiet & Guest of Honour, YB Datuk & Datin Dr Yee Moh Chai

The Yellow River Cantata Concert 6 June 08 at Menara Tun Mustapha, KK

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Practice Timetable

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After the Pro-tem committee meeting on 17th March, we have decided tocancel the JPO practice this Sunday 23rd March because is EasterSunday.

Please also be informed that the JPO next performance will be on 6June. We will be only performing on the 2nd half playing Yellow RiverCantata with the choir at the Yayasan Sabah.

The scores will be ready by the next practice. Do attend all the practices because the music is not easy with limited time left forpractices. Please also take note of our proposed practice timetablebelow: [All on Sunday at Kian Kok Middle School's Band Room]

March
30th - 2.00 -4.00pm

April
6th - 2.00 -4.00pm
13th - 2.00 -4.00pm
20th - 2.00 -4.00pm
27th - 2.00 -4.00pm

May
4th - 2.00 -5.00pm
11th - 2.00 -5.00pm
18th - 2.00 -5.00pm
25th - 2.00 -5.00pm

June
1st - 2.00 -5.00pm
2nd to 5th to be informed
6th - Concert (Friday Night)

Practice

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Hi everybody, Happy New Year ya!

Just inform that JPO will having practice from 2pm to 4pm on this Sunday, 13th January 2008.

See you all there! ^_^

JPO Debut Concert 21 Oct 2007

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Yap Ling, Chou Yang Ching, Datuk Masidi Manjun & Datuk Mayor Iilyas Ibrahim

The JPO String Orchestra

End of the Concert!

Group Photo after the Concert

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The JPO Concert Band

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Yap Ling playing the theme from Butterfly Lovers Concerto - Solo accompanied by orchestra

The Choir for the JPO Debut Concert

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JPO - Ode To Joy

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Greetings to everybody!!

Good Job!!

It was so nice and happy to work together with all of you included all choir members! Here is the video recorded of Ode To Joy the last piece we performed in the program, thanks to everyone for their hard work!

Enjoy it and hope to see you all again!

Music Fair Sabah 2007

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Our last publicity at the Sabah Trade Centre on 20th (a day before the Debut Concert) to boost up more sales in concert tickets. This is the first time Sabah has a Music Fair which was held together with the Slim & Beauty Fair. We were given a time slot of 2 hours (4-6pm) to present some solos and chamber music. Photo above are those who are involved. A big thank you to all of them for their effort.

Last Rehearsal Before The Debut Concert

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The JPO String Orchestra

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The JPO Concert Band

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT FOR MUSIC LOVERS IN KOTA KINABALU

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KOTA KINABALU, 19 October 2007: For the 1^st time ever, Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) will present its “Debut Concert” at Tun Raffae Auditorium, Tun Haji Mustapha Building on 21 October 2007 (Sunday) at 7.30pm.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Y.B. Datuk Masidi Manjun will be present as the Honourable Guest and to inaugurate the Debut Concert besides enjoying the wonderful tune of classical music which is Y.B. Datuk’s most beloved genre of music.

JPO will be performing, under its Concert Band, symphonic works like Autumn Ridge, Cannon in D, Tao Hua Guo Du, Tico Tico, whereas under its String Orchestra are pieces such as Raiders March, Lullaby or Birdland, Suite from ‘Oklahoma!’ & The Sound of Music’.

For the last part of the concert, which will be performed by the Full Orchestra featuring music pieces like Coriolan Overture, My Neighbour Totoro, ‘Theme from The Butterfly Lovers Concerto’, Gunung Kinabalu, Jasmine Flower and last but not least the famous symphonic work by Beethoven - ‘Ode To Joy’ from Sympony No.9. The JPO will also collaborate with remarkable vocalists from various renowned choirs in Kota Kinabalu bringing the songs - Gunung Kinabalu, Jasmine Flower dan ‘Ode To Joy.

The mission of this orchestra is 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. 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 to interact and play together in unity through music. It also provides trainings and practices for members, enabling them to possess a sense of pride, trust, harmony, understanding and cooperation through a series of constructive, creative and healthy orchestral activities. Thus, promote and enrich the musical education of people in this region and raise the standard of music in this part of the world.

Principal Conductor

Yap Ling is a versatile musician who performs, teaches, conducts and arranges music. After obtaining his LRSM in 1986, he secured a Yayasan Sarawak Student’s loan, which enabled him to enter the Royal Academy of Music, London (RAM). He was later awarded the Sarawak Foundation Scholarship and the RAM’s Alec Templeton Scholarship. At the RAM, Yap Ling studied under Clarence Myerscough (violin), Adrain Leaper & Denise Ham (Conducting) and Roger Steptoe (Orchestration/ composition).While in London he was the Concertmaster for the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra, the Chelsea String Quartet, The London Chinese Ensemble and the Piano Trio under the Amadeus Quartet’s tutelage. Upgrading and performances has taken him to Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, France, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Moscow (Russia), China and USA.

In 1990, he has participated in the 1^st World Youth Music Camp in KL & the 1^st Pacific Music Festival in

Japan

(under the baton of Maestro Leonard Bernstein). He represented Malaysia as a violin tutor in the 1991 ASEAN Youth Music Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was a string tutor at UNIMAS & conducted their orchestra. He was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for the 1^st and the 2^nd Sarawak Music Camp in Kuching and Sibu respectively for 1999 and 2001. In 1997 he was conferred the Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (

ARAM

) in recognition for his contribution towards developing the music standard and promoting music in this part of the world.

He has also appeared as soloist with the Monash Simfonia in Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, the Penang Symphony Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) from KL playing the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto. He also conducted the Violin Masterclasses for ABRSM in Malaysia and regularly giving violin masterclasses and orchestra workshops in Sarawak and West Malaysia.

Presently he is the conductor of Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO), Kian Kok Youth Orchestra (KKYO), the Tshung Tsin String Orchestra and the Guest Conductor for the Miri Orchestra and Choir (MOC). As a chamber musician, his Duos partnership with Singaporean violinist Foo Say Ming has him performing on the viola too. Yap Ling is also the violinist for the MP3rio (Piano Trio), the Malaysian Ars Nova Ensemble (String Quintet with Piano) and the L’espressivo Trio (Vocal-Violin-Piano) which have performed regularly in various parts of

Malaysia

.

Associate Conductor

Chou Yang Ching, a freelance band instructor began her music career as a trumpeter and saxophone player during her school days. She attended many seminars and workshops which organized by Yamaha Music Malaysia and

Singapore

.

Now she is still taking band music arrangement course with Mr. Mitsuo Nonami from

Japan

. She is now coaching the concert and marching band of Kian Kok Middle School, Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, SM Shan Tao and SM Lok Yu

Choir Instructor

Phoon Sook Peng was born in Penang, Malaysia. She studied in Trinity College of Music, London in 1982 under Ms. Elizabeth Hawes, and obtained her certificate of teaching and vocal performance. She returned to Malaysia in 1988 and taught for two years in Penang and later at the Malaysian Institute of Art in Kuala Lumpur.

In 1990, Sook Peng studied at the Royal Conservatorium in The Hague with Woul Oosterkamp on Opera then the Hochschule fur Music in Dresden with Prof. Christian Elssner. Later, she was based in the

Netherlands

as a singer where she also conducted private lessons in voice and piano. She is associated with the Netherlands Opera and has participated in more than twenty projects with the Dutch Radio Choir including the opening of the Amsterdam Arena and the prestigious Prinsengracht concert in 1996. Sook Peng performed in a series of shows with the Dama Orchestra back in

Malaysia

in 1997 and then a second series of concerts and released a CD called Spring Kisses and Lovers Tears in 1998. She moved back to Malaysia with her family in 2000 and is based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. She had been a tutor in Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) since 2000 until 2002.

She has been very active performing in concerts with Yap Ling (Violinist/Conductor) and Grace Lee Sui Lin (Pianist) forming L’Espressivo Trio.

In 2006, Sook Peng and a group of friends and students successfully organised workshops, performing the famous “Yellow River Cantata” with 100 singers.

As at todate, there are about 60 multiracial members comprising players for strings, winds, brass, percussion; and sometimes, keyboard in JPO. Some of the JPO members are also members of the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) under the supervision of the MPO members and conductors. JPO members also includes students from Institut Perguruan Gaya, Institut Sinaran, SJK Anglo Chinese, SJK Shan Tao, SJK St. James, SK Mutiara, SM All Saint, SM Ken Hwa(Keningau), SM Kian Kok School, SM Kota Kinabalu Tinggi, SM Lok Yuk, SM Maktab Nasional, SM Papar, SM Shan Tao, SM St. Joseph Papar, SM St. Francis, SM Tshung Tsin(Kota Kinabalu), SM Tshung Tsin(Tenom), SRS Datuk Simon Fung, UMS dan UNITAR. Choirs are formed by members and individuals from KK Philharmonic, NJC, STS, Suara Bayu, Sunrise, UMS dan UNITAR.

JPO wishes to be recognized as a premier all-volunteer full orchestra fostering music appreciation and the life-changing value to its members and listening audience.

Tickets at RM20 and RM30 are available from Sri Pelancongan Sabah (088-232121) or call Alice at 016- 833 3034

Choir Practice for JPO Debut Concert

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Phoon Sook Peng teaching the choir

Some of the male voices of the choir

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (Video and Musical Elements)

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1st Movement - Meet, Being Together, Fall In Love (Violin by Lv Si Qin)

2nd Movement - Opposition to an Arranged Marriage, Jumped into Grave (ErHu by Xu Ke)

3rd Movement - Transformed into Butterflies (Violin by Lv Si Qin)

3rd Movement is which part we will perform in our Debut Concert on 21th October.

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The concerto is in 3 movements. Each tells a different part of the story of the Butterfly Lovers. Some of the melodies come from the Chinese Opera of the same name or from traditional Chinese folk songs. The solo violin of the concerto is symbolic of Zhu Yingtai, the story's protagonist, and the cello part is symbolic of Liang Shanbo, her lover.

The concerto begins with a flute and then enters into a simple melody played by the solo violinist. This melody comes from a Chinese folk song of the yellow river, and tells the story of Zhu Yingtai's childhood. The solo violin is accompanied by a harp and other elements of the orchestra.

Next, the concerto tells of Zhu Yingtai's disguising herself as a man and her journey to Hangzhou to attend university. The solo violin plays a complex and fast melody floating above the rest of the orchestra. When Zhu arrives she meets Liang Shanbo, a fellow student. The two spend three years together as good friends. Zhu falls in love with Liang, but cannot express her feelings without revealing her identity as a woman.

When both the students must return home, Zhu invites Liang to visit her family and to court her sister. He doesn't know that Zhu is really inviting him to marry her. Liang promises to see Zhu again, but Liang waits before doing so. When Liang arrives, he sees Zhu and realizes that she is a woman, and they fall in love. The solo violin and cello parts play a sad duet that is the most famous and powerful of the work.

The love duet between the two is replaced by anger as Liang learns that in his absence, Zhu has been betrothed to another. The two solo parts contrast the rest of the orchestra. Several melodies are used in this section, the orchestra plays loud and accented chords in between the softer cello and violin parts and the parts are often intertwined. Liang becomes sick and dies as the music replays the duet of their love. Zhu and the orchestra continue to play their contrasting parts. The section ends with the suicide of Zhu Yingtai as the solo violin plays an overarching high note. The lover's parts are overcome by a final orchestral section. In the legend, Liang's grave opens and Zhu throws herself into the chasm.

The lovers' themes return and the two lovers are magically transformed into butterflies.

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (Story and Musical Background)

2007-10-13T16:36:00.000+08:00

The Story of The Butterfly Lovers

The Butterfly Lovers or Liang Zhu is a Chinese legend about the tragic romance between two lovers, Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, from whom the name of the legend is known in Chinese (梁山伯與祝英台, often abbreviated as "梁祝"). The legend is sometimes regarded as the Chinese equivalent to Romeo and Juliet.

The story is set in the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
A young woman named Zhu Yingtai from Shangyu, Zhejiang, disguised herself as a man travelling to Hangzhou to study. During her journey, she met and joined Liang Shanbo, a companion schoolmate from Kuaiji (會稽, Kuàijī, now known as Shaoxing) in the same province. They studied together for three years, during which their relationship strengthened. When the two parted, Zhu offered to arrange for Liang to marry her 16 year-old fictitious sister. When Liang travelled to Zhu's home, he discovered her true gender. Although they were devoted and passionate about each other at that point, Zhu was already engaged with Ma Wencai (馬文才, Mǎ Wéncái), a man her parents had arranged for her to be married to. Depressed, Liang died in office as a county magistrate. On the day Zhu was to be married to Ma, whirlwinds prevented the wedding procession from escorting Zhu beyond Liang's tomb. Zhu left the procession to pay her respects for Liang. Liang's tomb split apart, and Zhu dived into it to join him. A pair of butterflies emerged from the tomb and flew away.

BACKGROUND of The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto

The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto is one of the most famous works of Chinese music and certainly one of the most famous outside of China. It is an orchestral adaptation of an ancient legend, the Butterfly Lovers. Written for the western style orchestra, it features a solo violin played using some Chinese techniques.
Traditional Chinese composers often write in a different tonal system than western classical music. As a result, this can make the music sound constantly out of tune to some Western ears. The Butterfly Lover's Violin Concerto is written in the familiar western tonal system, but it utilizes many Chinese melodies, chord structures and patterns. This makes the Butterfly Lovers' more accessible than other Chinese works, such as the also famous Yellow River Piano Concerto.
The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto was written by two Chinese composers, He Zhanhao and Chen Gang in 1959 while they were students at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. The music did not acquire popularity before the late 1970s, when China loosened its restrictions after the Cultural Revolution. Once released from censorship, it became an embodiment of China in transition. Today it is popular and is slated as part of the Olympics celebrations in 2008. The work is also a common feature in figure skating and in concert halls worldwide. This concerto is now often performed with Chinese instruments playing the violin part. This requires some changes to the orchestration, since the guzheng can play arpeggios that were in the harp part in the original concerto.

Masidi: KK needs special venue for musical, theatre performances

2007-10-10T03:14:00.000+08:00

Source: New Sabah Times, 09 Oct 2007

KONSERT MUSIK KLASIKAL UNTUK PEMINAT DI KOTA KINABALU.

2007-10-09T17:32:00.000+08:00

KOTA KINABALU, 8 September 2007, KePKAS: Peminat Musik Klasikal di Kota Kinabalu akan berpeluang untuk menikmati ‘Debut Concert Program’ yang akan diadakan di Auditorium Tun Raffae, Bangunan Tun Haji Mustapha pada 21 Oktober ini.

Konsert berkenaan yang dianjurkan oleh Orchestra yang menamakan kumpulan mereka The Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) selain diangotai oleh pemuzik profesional dari serata negeri ini, ahli-ahli mereka juga adalah dari kalangan pelajar sekolah rendah, menengah, maktab, universiti dan orang dewasa yang mempunyai kebolehan minima gred 3 di JPO.

Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah, Datuk Masidi Manjun dijangka akan turut hadir untuk merasmikan acara konsert berkenaan disamping untuk mendengar musik klasikal yang menjadi musik pilihan beliau.

Masidi menyifatkan persembahan musik klasikal berkenaan merupakan satu kesempatan kepada peminat-peminat musik klasik di ibukota untuk meluangkan masa bersama keluarga untuk mendengar dan menghayati musik ini adalah sesuatu yang menarik kerana ianya agak berbeza dengan genre musik yang lain seperti Jazz, Rap, R&B yang mana lebih diminati oleh generasi muda hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian di Majlis kunjungan hormat oleh Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) di pejabat Kementerian Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar, dekat sini, hari ini.

Menurut Masidi, classical music appreciator masih agak kurang di negeri ini walau bagaimanapun kita amat berbangga kerana kita mempunyai ramai bakat besar dalam bidang musik ini dan saya percaya kita berada dalam landasan yang baik untuk melahirkan bakat bertaraf antarabangsa pada masa akan datang hasil anak didik tempatan.

Tambahnya, melalui musik klasikal pendengar akan dapat menghayati sejarah dan tamadun manusia kerana karektor music klasikal memerlukan pendengar untuk bukan sahaja mendengar tetapi penghayatan terhadap seni yang memerlukan pendengar untuk berfikir kerana setiap piece musik klasikal mempunyai sejarah bagaimana ianya ditulis.

Antara musik klasikal yang bakal dipersembahkan oleh JPO adalah bagi Konsert Band (Concert Band): Autumn Ridge, Cannon in D, Tao Hua Guo Du, Tico Tico, manakala bagi Orkestra Tali (String Orchestra): Raiders March, Lullaby or Birdland, Suite from ‘Oklahoma!’ & The Sound of Music’.

Di akhir persembahan, persembahan adalah berbentuk Orkestra Penuh (Full Orchestra) yang bakal menampilkan Coriolan Overture, My Neighbour Totoro, ‘Theme from The Butterfly Lovers Concerto’, Gunung Kinabalu, Jasmine Flower dan akhir sekali persembahan “Ode To Joy’ from Sympony No.9 yang dipopularkan oleh Beethoven.

“…Cuma apa yang masih kurang sekarang adalah kemudahan untuk membuat persembahan yang dapat menampung lebih kapasiti ramai pendengar musik dan kita memerlukan satu pusat persembahan kesenian (Centre of Art Performing).”, Kata Masidi.

Menurut Masidi, setakat ini kita masih belum mempunyai dewan khusus untuk membuat persembahan sama ada untuk persembahan berbentuk music mahupun teater kerana ianya memerlukan pentas dan dewan khas yang dilengkapi dengan peralatan khusus untuk membolehkan persembahan dapat dibuat dengan baik dan berkesan.

Jelasnya, dengan adanya pusat berkenaan (Centre of Art Performing), kita percaya lebih ramai bakat akan dapat dilahirkan dan saya amat yakin dengan kebolehan anak tempatan sebab itu kita mahu mereka diberikan peluang dan kemudahan sewajarnya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Pengerusi JPO, En Yap Ling berkata, sasaran orchestra mereka adalah untuk memberi sumbangan dari aspek musik klasikal untuk meningkatkan kualiti kemanusiaan melalui musik kalsikal kepada komuniti.

Setakat ini, JPO dianggotai ahli seramai 60 orang dari pelbagai latar budaya yang terdiri dari mereka yang berkebolehan untuk bermain alat musik berasaskan tali (strings), tiupan (winds), brass, percussion dan keyboard dan ada juga diantara ahli JPO juga adalah anggota kepada Malaysia Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MYPO) di bawah kendalian dan pengawasan oleh ahli dan konduktor MPO.

Dalam jangka panjang kita mahu JPO diiktiraf bukan sahaja di negeri ini malahan juga di peringkat antarabangsa sebagai penggiat aktif dalam musik klasikal dan untuk memberikan pendidikan kemanusiaan melalui penghayatan musik klasikal.

Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra_Datuk Masidi Manjun, Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah (tengah) bersama Pengerusi Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (tiga dari kiri) memegang poster promosi “Debut Concert Program” yang bakal diadakan di Ibunegeri pada 21 Oktober ini. Turut kelihatan adalah Puan Siti Bahiyah Damsal, Pengurus Besar Sri Pelancongan Sabah (dua dari kanan), Phoon Sook Peng, Choral Master (dua dari kiri), dan ahli-ahli komiti penganjur Dr Micheal Heng (kiri sekali) dan Yap Keng Vui (kanan sekali).

Disediakan Oleh:
Francis Au
Setiausaha Akhbar Kepada
Menteri Pelancongan, Kebudayaan dan Alam Sekitar Sabah (KePKAS)

Debut Concert

2007-09-29T23:48:00.000+08:00

Through this concert, we also hope to generate some funding to cover our basic expenses like buying scores, instruments' maintenance, rental and etc. This is our only mean of income. The purpose is not for making money to put into the account but for the running of the orchestra. JPO is a non profit NGO and all members are volunteers. We are not getting any sponsorships this time since this is our Debut Concert and we hope to see as many support as we can by the number of audience attending the concert. So give us your full support - buy tickets and bring your friends there!

Next JPO Practice is on 30 Sept.

2007-09-18T10:47:00.000+08:00

Please take note that there are no practices on 23 September 2007 for JPO members because many are having school exam.

Details for members only please click on Google Group at the top right hand corner.

Practice and Concert

2007-08-14T00:53:00.000+08:00

Please take note that there is no orchestra practices on 19th and 26th August due to following reasons.

JPO will be involved in the organising of the Midnight Puppet, the Musical which will be staged in Yayasan Auditorium on Sunday, 19 August at 2.30pm and 7.30pm. The two shows are in aid of SRS Datuk Simon Fung New Primary School Block.

A few of the JPO members will be attending the MPYO rehearsals in KL then.

And some of the JPO members will be involved in the patriotic concert put up by the UMS on the evening of 19th.

As for the 26th, most of the JPO members will be competing in the KK Music Festival organised by KKMS at Sutera Harbour, Pan Pacific Function Rooms. This is a whole day event and tickets are available only on that day. A one day pass is RM10 for Adults and RM5 for children below 12. They will also feature a lunch time concert at 1:00pm by a British clarinettist, Kimon Parry. Tickets are RM20 or RM10 if you already have a Festival Pass. Good luck to all those who are competing.

On the same day, the KKYO (Kian Kok Youth Orchestra) will be performing for their annual concert at Kian Kok School Hall at 7.30pm. So all Kian Kok school students who are in the JPO will be taking part in the concert. There will be a guest appearance by the renown violinist from Singapore Foo Say Ming doing a few solo pieces and a duo concerto with Yap Ling and the KKYO. Foo has been here to perform for the KKYO debut concert last year and he is also the leader of the Re:mix (String Orchestra).

So JPO will resume its normal practices in Kian Kok School as follow:

2 Sept, Sunday - 2pm-4pm (Concert Band Only)
9 Sept, Sunday - 2pm-5pm
16 Sept, Sunday - 2pm-5pm
17 Sept, Monday - 2pm-5pm; 7.30pm-9.30pm
30 Sept, Sunday - 2pm-5pm
7 Oct, Sunday - 2pm-5pm
14 Oct, Sunday - 2pm-5pm
17 Oct, Wednesday - 7.30pm-9.30pm
18 Oct, Thursday - 7.30pm-9.30pm
19 Oct, Friday - 7.30pm-9.30pm (Full Dress Rehearsal at Yayasan)
20 Oct, Saturday - 7.30pm - 10.00pm
21 Oct, Sunday - 7.30pm JPO Concert

For details please call Yap Ling at 016-820 0355 or Chou Yang Chin at 012-828 6880

Other information:
Piano Recital by local hero, Bobby Chen will be held on 25th August (7:30pm) at Yayasan Sabah Mini Theatre. As most of you will probably already know, Sandakan-born Bobby went to the prestigious Menuhin School and Royal Academy and has been making a name for himself in the performance scene in the UK ever since. Don't miss it! Tickets are now available from Yap Ling - RM 30 for adults and RM 20 for students.

Beethoven - Overture Coriolan (Audio and Video)

2007-08-02T22:39:00.000+08:00

Above is Audio and Below is Video

Practice Time

2007-08-02T22:27:00.000+08:00

Please pay attention here!! Fron NOW ON - Every Sunday will have orchestra practice, from 2pm - 4pm.

*Will post another message if there is any changes!*

Attention! July practice Timetable~

2007-06-29T16:40:00.000+08:00

Every orchestra's member please note that this Sunday 1/7 will NOT have practice for both string and wind-brass orchestra ok?! (of course included full orchestra lah~~~)

But don't be too happy first...because next Sunday 8/7 will be CONTINUE our practice start from 2pm until 4pm. Please inform other members which do not confirm about these, and please reach the practice place 10 minutes before practice starts ok? See you all next week~!

And for the members who will attend practical exam in July, please work hard on it and yet GOODLUCK to you all!! Gambateh!! ^0^

About the ORCHESTRA

2007-05-01T15:26:00.000+08:00

Definition of Orchestra

An orchestra is an instrumental ensemble, usually fairly large with string, brass, woodwind sections, and possibly a percussion section as well. The term orchestra derives from the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus. The orchestra grew by accretion throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but changed very little in composition during the course of the twentieth century.
A smaller orchestra (of about forty players or less) is called a chamber orchestra.
A full size orchestra (about 100 players) may sometimes be called a "symphony orchestra" or "philharmonic orchestra"; these prefixes do not necessarily indicate any strict difference in either the instrumental constitution or role of the orchestra, but can be useful to distinguish different ensembles based in the same city (for instance, the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra). A symphony orchestra will usually have over eighty musicians on its roster, in some cases over a hundred, but the actual number of musicians employed in a particular performance may vary according to the work being played, and the size of the venue. A leading chamber orchestra might employ as many as fifty members; some are much smaller than that.

Instrumentation

The typical symphony orchestra consists of four proportionate groups of similar musical instruments, generally appearing in the musical score in the following order (with proportions indicated):
Woodwinds: piccolo, 2 flutes*, 2 oboes*, English horn, 2 clarinets*, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons*, contrabassoon
Brass: 2* to 8 French horns*, 2* to 5 trumpets*, 2 to 3 trombones, 1 to 2 bass trombones, tuba
Percussion: timpani*, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, celesta, piano, etc.
Strings: harp(s), 16 to 30 violins*, 8 to 12 violas*, 8 to 12 violoncellos*, and 5 to 8 double basses*.
Occasionally, an orchestra will feature notable wind ensemble instruments, such as the euphonium, the saxophone, the alto clarinet, and the baritone.
Instruments marked with an asterisk are considered the "core" symphonic instruments, and only in rarest of cases are not called for in most symphonic literature. Other instruments listed above are considered "auxiliary" instruments and are less frequently required, but still referred to as "standard". Late 19th-century symphonic works calling for all the auxiliary instruments, as well as a large number of strings, usually include the phrase "for large orchestra" in their full titles. Example: Richard Strauss' Ein Heldenleben.

Remember

A symphony orchestra and a philharmonic orchestra are really the same thing.

The Laputa Suite by Joe Hisaishi (conductor and composer)

2007-05-01T14:39:00.000+08:00

The Laputa performed by Joe Hisaishi (the conductor and also composer) and the New Japan Philharmonic Dream World Orchestra in 2006. The Laputa also known as The Castle In The Sky, is a famous Japanese Animation which wrote by Hayao Miyazaki. His other works included My Neighbour Totoro, The Grave of Fireflies, The Howl's Moving Castle, The Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery and extra. While Joe Hisaishi as the composer for all Hayao Miyazaki's works, ENJOY IT~!

The Suite from Polar Express

2007-04-21T20:54:00.000+08:00

The All Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra under the direction of Larry Newman performs music from the Academy Award winning movie, THE POLAR EXPRESS. Really Special...check it out~! ^0^

Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) Practice Schedule for 28th July Concert

2007-04-02T06:13:00.000+08:00

Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) Practice Schedule

Time/Date ( 1-Apr) (15-Apr) ( 29-Apr)
2-3pm [String/Concert Band]
3-4pm [Full Orchestra]

Time/Date (06-May) (27-May)
2-3pm [String/Concert Band]
3-4pm [Full Orchestra]

Time/Date (10-Jun) (24-Jun)
2-3pm [String/Concert Band]
3-5pm [Full Orchestra]

Tentative JPO Debut Concert - 28th July 2007

JPO Membership and Objectives

2007-04-02T00:43:00.000+08:00

We welcome any musicians who have reached a minimum standard of Grade 3 to play in JPO. JPO will be registered as a society which is run by a Protem Committee before its 1st AGM. The JPO belongs to all its members and each members has the right to elect the committee and hence its president.

The main objectives of the JPO:

1) To bring to awareness the intrinsic value of music and its development.
2) To promote and enrich the musical education of people in this region.
3) To raise the standard of music in this part of the world.
4) To offer performance opportunities to musicians especially students from primary & secondary schools and universities.

For more information regarding membership or for those who are keen to join please write to yap_ling@streamyx.com

A Good Start! First Practice for JPO on 1 April 2007

2007-04-02T00:29:00.000+08:00

2007-04-02T00:27:00.000+08:00