NEWS

By Khin Hooi People lang often like to gather and chat, especially over a meal by the roadside. Sometimes, they engage in debate over where our UNESCO World Heritage Status is taking us, and whether Penang is slowly losing its old charm. It feels like every week, there is something new for people to discuss. At times, I wonder if this is what people long ago would call fate or fortune. Things change, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse, and often beyond our control. In

By Khin Hooi I joined Penang Philharmonic Orchestra in 2013, and the first group I participated in was called the Voices of Penang Philharmonic. After experiencing several different choral ensembles, I was eventually tasked with photographing concerts starting from 2022. Today, I would probably say that this has become my main role in PPO, as photography is one of the things I am most passionate about. I feel very fortunate to serve as the official photographer and to be resp

After last month's concert by the Penang Philharmonic Winds, we are heading down to Ipoh for "POP-sical!" A collaborative concert between the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra and PPW, this event precedes the success of their joint concert, Animania 2, in Penang in 2025. This year’s theme, POP-sical!, blends “Pop” and “Musical”, transforming beloved hits into vibrant wind orchestra performances. Featuring iconic hits by Coldplay, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and more. 📅 24 May

Penang Philharmonic Orchestra and Choruses proudly presents... After recent three years of landmark productions, the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra continues its ambitious journey in bringing monumental choral-orchestral works to Penang. From the serene beauty of Requiem by Gabriel Fauré in 2023, to the triumphant scale of Symphony No. 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven in 2024, and the dramatic intensity of Missa in Angustiis by Joseph Haydn in 2025, each year has marked a bold artist

By Katie Coolbaugh The Penang Philharmonic Winds (PPW) came close to filling the large hall at Dewan Sri Penang on Sunday afternoon, 26 April, presenting a crowd-pleasing programme of movie music highlights. The impressive 60-piece ensemble took to the stage with some of its members fully in the spirit of the programme, sporting costumes from the movie scores on display: a pirate from the Caribbean, a Middle-earth knight, Hogwarts students in their House scarves, and even Sop

Repertoire Pirates Of The Caribbean: At World’s End ⁠The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring ⁠The Complete Harry Potter: Themes From All Eight Movies The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian Interval Enchanted Symphonic Highlights From Frozen Selections From Aladdin Highlights From Beauty And The Beast Howl’s Moving Castle - Symphonic Fantasy For Band Featuring Penang Philharmonic Winds Established in 2018, the Penang Philharmonic Winds (PPW) serves as the wind ense

By Moses Cheng Performing all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies has been nothing short of a milestone in my musical life. As a double bassist with the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra, this journey was not merely about mastering the notes on the page — it was about immersing myself in a universe of sound, character, and history that Beethoven so profoundly shaped. Each symphony offered a new chapter, each performance a new revelation, and collectively, they formed a cornerstone in

As we welcome 2026, I do so with a deep sense of optimism and quiet pride in the journey of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra. While 2025 may not have been a year marked by competitions or awards, it was a year of substance — one that strengthened our musical foundation and reminded us that progress is not always measured by trophies, but by courage, commitment, and collective resolve. The defining highlight of Season 2024/2025 was undoubtedly PPO’s performance of Beethoven’s

Concert Repertoire ~~~ Penang Philharmonic Orchestra The Polar Express Pan Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets We Wish you a Merry Christmas Penang Chinese Girl's Primary School Band Chanukah Festival Bingo Penang Philharmonic Winds Christmas Fantasia Wau Bulan Ikan Kekek Up We Need a Little Christmas Ponyo on the Cliff A Jazzy Christmas Featuring Penang Philharmonic ~~~ Founded in 2008, the Penang Philharmonic is a cornerstone of Penang’s cultural identity. Dedicated to

We were delighted to have two talented sisters, Ru Qi and Ru Shan, to perform with the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra in our last concert, "Romances". As a state orchestra, we are proud to embrace musicians from all walks of life, and their presence brought great energy and artistry to our ensemble. Here are their self-introductions: RU QI "My name is Ru Qi and I am 15 year. I play the violin, piano, drums and ukulele. I enjoy wood carving, origami, and baking in my spare time

By Dato' Danny Goon Tadpoles transform into frogs. Caterpillars undergo a complete transformation into butterflies. Do Butterfly Lovers turn into Swans? A puerile question, perhaps. And if you attended PPO's performance, 'Romances', at SXI on 28 September 2025, the answer would certainly be obvious. A three-piece programme led by Ng Chong Yen as Conductor, the Orchestra launched the afternoon's proceedings with Liu Tingyu's Su San Suite, followed by He Zhanhao and Chen Gang's

PPO Through the Years A Series of Look Back at Our History Romances Concert and the Journey of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra 𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘪𝘯, 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘗𝘗𝘖 The Romances concert is one of the highlights of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra’s 2025 season. As we prepare for this performance, I find myself thinking about the significance of this concert, not only being the final orchestral concert of the year, but also the 15th anniv

By Sarah Wong It's hard to explain what it feels like to stand on stage with people you've laughed with, worked hard with, and poured...

By Khin Hooi As a tenor in the Penang Philharmonic Chorus (PPC), I've had many memorable moments singing with my fellow choristers. But...

By Dato' Danny Goon The Heah Joo Seang Hall at St Xavier's Institution reverberated to beautiful voices from the combined efforts of the...

By Dr. Francis Tan APPRECIATION Where in a world could you hear classical music played on a Steinway Grand in a hundred year old heritage...