Wawasan Open University (WOU) hosted an outdoor concert by the Penang Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) on the grounds of WOU’s main campus. The free concert drew a crowd of over 1,000 guests who gathered under the stars for an evening of musical entertainment.
THE PERFORMANCE LIGHTED UP AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE HOMESTEAD IN THE DARKENED NIGHT.
More than 100 musicians and singers from the PPO as well as PPO’s Junior Orchestra and Wind Orchestra serenaded the audience with selections from West Side Story, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Titanic and The Phantom of the Opera, among others. The orchestras and chorus were conducted by PPO music director Woon Wen Kin and chorus master Martin Rutherford.
FLUTES AND TRUMPETS MAKE MELODIOUS MUSIC.
Earlier, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng congratulated the PPO and their partners for organising the public event. He encouraged musicians living in Penang to share their musical gifts as a member of the PPO family. He then launched the new name of the orchestra, which was previously known as the Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.
SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS DISPLAY OVER THE MAIN CAMPUS.
The concert lasted for over two hours, ending with a spectacular firework display over the Albukhary building while the orchestra played their last number, a popular Chinese piece entitled The Good News from Beijing.
FROM RIGHT: FORMER WOU VICE CHANCELLOR PROF DHANARAJAN, DATIN SERI IRENE YEAP AND WEF MEMBER CHIA LOONG THYE.
Among distinguished guests present were PPO chairperson Datin Seri Irene Yeap, Wawasan Education Foundation (WEF) Chairman Dato’ Seri Stephen Yeap, guests-of-honour Tan Sri Emeritus Prof Gajaraj Dhanarajan and Puan Sri Sue, WOU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Wong Tat Meng and wife Dr Annie Foo, WOU Council Member Dato’ Seri Nazir Ariff, WEF member Loo Choo Teng and wife Peggy Loo.
