Romances Concert and the Journey of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra

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 anniversary of the orchestra’s presence in Penang since its founding in 2010. This milestone brings back memories of our inaugural concert under the name Penang Philharmonic.

The 26th of February 2011 was a big day. It was the orchestra’s debut performance at Wawasan Open University. I remember performing under the baton of Dato Woon Wen Kin and Mr Martin Rutherford, who were then the conductors of the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra and Penang Philharmonic Chorus, respectively. We played in an open-air setting, dressed in our PPO t-shirts, surrounded by festive balloon decorations. The weather was perfect, and the venue was packed with curious and enthusiastic attendees eager to witness what the excitement was all about.

Among the distinguished guests were YB Tuan Lim Guan Eng, former Chief Minister of Penang; Dato Kee Phaik Cheen; Tan Sri Dato' Dr Sak Cheng Lum and Puan Sri Dr Irene Sak; YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong; and Prof Chan Tze Law. The evening concluded with a spectacular fireworks display, a fantastic end to a night that marked the beginning of something truly special.

Since that inaugural concert, the PPO has grown tremendously. We’ve performed a wide repertoire of symphonies, including the complete cycle of Beethoven’s symphonies, under the direction of our resident conductor Mr Ng Choong Yen and several esteemed guest conductors: Prof Chan Tze Law, Maestro Ciaran McAuley, Maestro Pung Aik Khai, Maestro Tan Tor Song, Datuk Seri Ooi Chean See, and Datuk Mustafa Fuzer Bin Nawi.

As a member of the orchestra, I’ve had the privilege of performing alongside world-renowned soloists such as Sir Stephen Hough, Mr Yaron Kohlberg, Mr Evgeny Kaplan, Mr Bartosz Woroch, Ms Foo Mei Yi, Mr Albert Tiu, Ms Yoshiko Ikemura, Mr Zhao Tian, and Mr Elias David Moncado. We’ve also proudly collaborated with local talents including Mr Ng Chong Lim, Ms Yvonne Lee, Ms Carolyn Lo, and Mr Bryan Lee.

Fast forward to the time, where the pandemic brought its own challenges, but also moments of resilience and reunion. On 26th September 2021, I remembered, we held our first rehearsal after a long hiatus. It was a significant moment where not only were we back together, but we were also returning to WOU, a familiar and comforting space. That day, only nine of us gathered to prepare for a recording scheduled for 10th October, in celebration of WOU’s virtual graduation ceremony. The joy of meeting up with fellow musicians after months of isolation was full-hearted.

We remain deeply grateful to WOU for serving as PPO’s rehearsal venue. Its ample parking and welcoming atmosphere make it a stress-free and homely environment for our fellow musicians. Still, one can’t help but dream of a permanent concert hall for PPO. Penang is in dire need of a dedicated and suitable venue for orchestral performances. After waiting for 15 years, hopefully one day this dream will become a reality.