Family Fun Day at MPO

Since its beginning 18 years ago, the Education and Outreach division of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) has been delivering experiences and opportunities throughout the country, bringing the joy of live classical music performances to thousands of people of all ages. Also known as ENCOUNTER, the division’s most established and successful programme is the Family Fun Day concerts, which encourages this legacy of creating awareness in classical music appreciation by educating and allowing children the freedom to enjoy performances in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO), on the other hand, is a bit more formal. It’s a platform for young musical talents from around the country to hone their skills and build on their repertoire. Auditions to join the MPYO are competitive, with youths going through multiple rounds just to get shortlisted. Once in though, the members are part of an exclusive group that the MPO invests in, helping to develop and nurture a group of trained Malaysian instrumentalists at the top of their game.

Can you briefly describe your family programme?

The programme is called Family Fun Day (FFD) and it’s organised by MPO’s Artistic Administration and Education & Outreach teams. We try to attract parents and teachers to bring their children and students to FFD concerts because they’re designed to be interactive, engaging and stimulating at the same time; and to create awareness and interest in classical music.

How do FFD concerts differ from the usual MPO concerts?

The FFD series is specifically designed for families and younger audiences to explore the lighter side of classical  music and the amazing sounds of the orchestra. While MPO’s regular subscription classical concerts generally last around two hours (with intermission), FFD performances are one hour (without intermission). The music presented is selected for specifically for children to stimulate their imagination and tell stories.

Are there any age limits?

For the FFD concerts, children from the age of four and above are admitted with paid admission, whereas for the other MPO concerts, the age limit is eight.

A concert at the MPO is typically a formal affair. But since young children are encouraged to attend FFD concerts, how is one usually run?

The concerts are designed to be fun and relaxed, while at the same time being educational. The same goes for the dress code – relaxed; jeans are allowed. Parents and kids can interact with the conductor and we normally have a presenter who narrates stories, explains the music, introduces the musical instruments or even dresses up as certain characters. Sometimes there are activities such as role play, sketches and interactions, usually with props to further enhance the experience. The performances are conducted in an informal setting; the audience can clap, cheer or sing along if they want to. The best part – kids can get close to the stage if the conductor or presenters allows them.

 'The richness of classical music inspires images and pictures in our                                                   minds'

 Why should parents take their kids to these concerts?

There have been many studies that show there are numerous benefits to exposing children to classical music, including enhanced concentration and improved listening and social skills. While every child may not grow up to be a musician, every child does have the potential to benefi t from classical music. In this digital age of phones, tablets and screens, children are often confronted with high stimulus entertainment and constant distractions. Classical music is a great counterbalance to this because the richness of classical music inspires images and pictures in the mind.

So, the FFD concerts are a bit more fun and relaxed, and are generally for the younger kids. Youths will probably gravitate towards the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) to watch peers of the same age on stage. What can you tell us about the MPYO?

The MPYO is an all-Malaysian orchestra with an average age of 18. They attend scheduled music camps throughout the year; there’s a concert at the end of each camp. The orchestra is led by visiting conductors attending the MPO, and they have collaborated with various youth orchestras and performing arts groups like the Queensland Youth Orchestra, Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia and most recently, the Havixbeck Youth Orchestra from Germany.

What do you think is the appeal of MPYO to youths?

It’s always an inspiring experience for youths to watch the MPYO as they’re in the same age bracket. Some may even want to pursue music as a career, and watching their peers on stage may help motivate them towards that goal, and to maybe even become a member of the MPYO one day.

What does the MPO hope their kids and youth-oriented programmes will accomplish?

The MPO hopes that classical music becomes an integral part of music education throughout Malaysia, and plans to continue to programme and plan stimulating family concerts as well as education and outreach activities. We hope to continuously nurture and cultivate the awareness, love and appreciation for classical music, especially in the young generation.

Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Level 2, Tower 2, Petronas Twin Towers, KL City Centre (03 2331 7008/mpo.com.my). Check website for upcoming concerts. To book tickets, call the box office at 03 2331 7007 or email boxoffice@dfp.com.my.