A Sunset Symphony at the Tip of Borneo, Kudat

Date Posted: 27 Apr 2006

Following its successful inaugural performance at Sabah's latest landmark; Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, the Tip of Borneo in Kudat last year, the Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra is set to perform for the second consecutive year this coming May 13 at 5.30pm.

This history-making event was a huge success last year and was attended by more than 500 people. The Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra has proven that performing in such an unconventional venue can be an unforgettable experience for not only themselves but particularly for the audience too.

May 13 this year, coincidentally holds a special significance for the event as not only will the Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra be performing against the backdrop of the sun setting, but also during a rising glorious full moon. This full moon only occurs on the 13th of May every 19 years, bringing you another reason not to give this exciting event a miss at the most spectacular site, the meeting point of the South China and Sulu Seas.

Only 2 years old, Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra (KKSO) is an ensemble of 100 young and aspiring musicians, whom are mostly primary and secondary school children under the baton of Yap Ling, the conductor of this exclusive musical ensemble.

This musical ensemble, which is Sabah's first and only orchestra, has been performing extensively in Kota Kinabalu since its inception in 2004. The Kota Kinabalu Symphony Orchestra even had a chance to perform with famous German concert guitarist Peter Korbel early March this year.

The orchestra's performance led by music conductor; Yap Ling a versatile Malaysian musician and talented violinist, is set to enthrall the audience with a variety of classical favorites and popular Kadazandusun, Malay, Chinese and English songs.

This year, the organizer will be inviting Datuk Ooi Chean See, the outgoing Resident Conductor of the prestigious Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO). Datuk Ooi Chean See is among the few women in the classical music world to hold a major position as a conductor of an international orchestra. Datuk Ooi's work as a conductor has taken her throughout most of Europe, South America and parts of South East Asia. She has also held workshops in Malaysia, Germany, France, Manila and Korea.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra did their first ever concert performance in Kota Kinabalu in 2003. Datuk Ooi's special appearance as the guest conductor at the Sunset Symphony at the Tip of Borneo is expected to enthrall the audience at this spectacular outdoor performance.

YM Tengku Datuk Zainal Adlin, Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board says that "it is timely for Sabah to at last have its own orchestra. The success of this orchestra can be attributed to the various musical performances including Malaysia's National Symphony Orchestra, The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, The National Choir and the much-acclaimed Dama Orchestra that was brought in by Sabah Tourism Board under the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment over the past few years, with its objective to inculcate and nurture the appreciation of classical music in Sabah".

This event is brought to you by Sabah Tourism Board and is organised by its wholly owned subsidiary company, Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd.