Festival features classes and concerts for young musicians

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YOUNG musicians seeking to improve their skills can mark the International Festival of Classical Music on their calendars.

From Nov 18 to 25, the festival organised by Chopin Society Malay-sia features a series of master classes for piano, violin, cello and chamber music.

Renowned musicians and professors, including Prof Dr Arbo Valdma (Germany-Estonia), Natalia Troul (Russia), Song Siheng (China), Biljana Gavrilska (France-Macedonia), Miranda Harding (England), Dr Tomislav Dimov (USA-Macedonia) and Ng Chong Lim (Malaysia), will be conducting the classes at Hotel Maya Kuala Lumpur.

Music director Prof Snezana Panovska said the festival was aimed at gathering talented and outstanding local as well as international young musicians to share their passion in classical music.

Music lovers: (From left) Panovska, Chopin Society Malaysia president Tunku Munirah Tunku Mustapha and Ng sharing information about the festival.

“It is an opportunity for them to learn from the masters and get advice on how to improve their skills.

“There will be a mini competition at the end for the students to play in front of seven judges and get a feel of how competitions are conducted,” she said.

A one-day music camp for children aged between seven and 12 will be held on Nov 21 from 10am to 5pm.

There will be workshops by Shoko Takeuchi on “The Importance of Leaving Solfège and Its Positive Effects in Music Education”, Kamrulbahri Hussin on “Malay Traditional Instruments for Wayang Kulit” and “Dikir Barat”, and a music appreciation class by Ng.

In addition, musicians from Malaysia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Hong Kong, Germany, France and Macedonia have been invited to perform in concerts during the festival.

The gala concert themed Dedication will be held on Nov 18, while the Royal Gala Concert themed Inspiration is on Nov 19, both at 8.30pm at Plenary Theatre in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. A “Friendship” concert will be staged at Panggung Eksperimen at Universiti Malaya at 2pm on Nov 20 and a President’s Gala Concert themed Education is at Hotel Maya KL at 8.30pm on Nov 25.

There will also be free concerts at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture at 7pm on Nov 21, 22 and 24, and a matinee concert at Hotel Maya KL at 12.30pm on Nov 23.

A forum on “How Does Music Influence the Shaping of Our Lives” will be held after the concert at Panggung Eksperimen Universiti Malaya.

Panovska hoped the festival would open a new chapter in the classical music scene in Malaysia.

“Let’s not learn music only for exams, but also to enrich our lives,” she said.

Ng, a pianist and composer, wished such festival existed when he was a student 20 years ago, as platforms like this was important for the young generation.

“There were not many concerts, auditions and competitions back then. We just played (the musical instruments) and sat for exams.

“It is wonderful that great artistes are coming to collaborate with us in this festival,” he added.

Ng will be introducing his composition featuring Western and Malay musical elements during the concerts on Nov 18 and 19.