What is JPO?

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 5 to play in JPO.  As for those below the standard of Grade 5, they could join the JPO Training Orchestra which prepare them to join the main orchestra eventually.

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:

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.
5. To introduce series of constructive, creative and healthy orchestral activities.
6. To organise trainings and practices for members for them to possess a sense of pride, trust, harmony, understanding and cooperation through orchestral activities.
7. To outreach other community channels and work together to raise the community musical standard to the pinnacle.
8. 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.