| Greetings to all of you! It is almost a year since I was appointed, last February 2010, as the new music director of PESSOC, now renamed the Penang Philharmonic. I have been given the full responsibility to restructure this orchestra into an actively performing full symphony orchestra. Fortunately for me, I have your full, kind, and sincere co-operation; thus I have been able to present a few concerts which have derived praises from the general public who attended these concerts. My ambition is to transform this orchestra into a semi-professional, or even a completely professional, orchestra in the state within the next few years. Making this dream come true will not be an easy task. It will have to be a collective commitment and sacrifice on our part, in order to overcome the many obstacles and challenges, before we can reach that goal.
Our Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng wishes to transform Penang into an international city and as charter members of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra we can play our role because Penang Philharmonic Orchestra will be the ‘Face of the City’. Today, if you travel to the famous cities you will see the face of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic, the Tokyo Philharmonic, etc., just to name a few. It reflects the quality of life of the people. I would like to remind members not to be blinded by our momentary success, as there are still many horizons to encounter and hurdles to overcome. Everyone should always be humble, and ask themselves whether they are good enough to occupy the positions to which they have been allocated! Are you fully committed during our weekly full orchestra rehearsals? Please do not treat the organisation like a coffee shop and come and go as you please! You joined the orchestra to pursue the highest art form of orchestral performance. So give it all your heart and always try to be punctual.
Dear members, for the past few months, you have truly exposed your talents in our public performances in 2010; and I am sure you will all strive for an even higher standard in the coming 2011 concert season. We do not have too much time before our season-opening concert on 29th January 2011. Therefore, I urge all members to apportion more time for their own practice, and to try their best to make it a point to attend all rehearsals punctually. You and I have a common goal, and that is to work for the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra to the extent that Penangites will soon be proud of us, as we will become the face of Penang. Let your worthy actions speak the truth as to who you are.
The new concert season is just around the corner with the Opening Concert on 29th January 2011. I sincerely urge all members to be fully committed and work hard to present another concert season. Perhaps in another 30 years people will visit Malaysia and the name of Penang Philharmonic will be on their tongues. By then, I will be playing the Celtic harp up there with the angels waving to the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra, to which I once belonged. Ha! Ha! Ha! So whilst I am still here, you should take full advantage of my contribution, teaching, and guidance. Dear members, I wish you all a Happy and Successful 2011. Until then, I hope to see all of you at the next rehearsal!
Wishing you all the best
Woon Wen Kin
Music Director |
