KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — A total of 85 young musicians from seven Asean countries will take part in the inaugural Asean Youth Orchestra Festival Kuala Lumpur (AYOFKL) 2026, which will be held from June 21 to 28.
Head of Music Talent Development at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) Ahmad Muriz Che Rose said AYOFKL 2026 aims to enhance the competencies of young local musicians and make them more competitive at the regional level.
“Music is a universal language that transcends borders, connecting young people and communities. In the orchestral world, musicians grow and mature through frequent performances and interactions with one another.
“This festival also fosters stronger friendships and unity through cross-cultural understanding, collaborative learning, shared experiences and social interaction,” he told Bernama recently.
Organised by MPO in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), the festival will bring together musicians aged between 10 and 28 from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei and Vietnam for intensive training, performances, workshops and cultural exchange programmes.
All participants will undergo intensive centralised training at Akademi Nazir Razak in Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor, to ensure they are fully prepared.
“The professional relationships and social interactions forged throughout the week-long festival are expected to create new opportunities for collaboration that will continue long after the event concludes,” Ahmad Muriz said.
He added that participants were selected through a merit-based audition process, which required them to submit performance videos featuring both MPO-prescribed works and songs of their own choice.
“Why do we do it this way? Because we want to raise the benchmark of their musical abilities. We do not want to organise just another festival. Our goal is to nurture and refine the talents of young musicians,” he said.
In conjunction with AYOFKL 2026, the public is also invited to attend 12 free instrumental workshops covering the violin, viola, cello, horn, trumpet, oboe, clarinet, flute, percussion, trombone, tuba and bassoon. Conducted by MPO’s professional musicians, the workshops will be held at Rumah Tangsi, Kuala Lumpur, from June 23 to 25.
“The programme is part of MPO’s effort to give back to the community through knowledge-sharing and skills transfer. Members of the public are welcome to attend as observers and are encouraged to register in advance through the MPO website as places are limited,” he said.
The festival will also feature a free community concert by the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO) titled ‘MPYO & Friends: Echoes of the Region’ on June 25 at the DBKL Auditorium. The concert is being held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Orchestra Festival.
Led by Ahmad Muriz, the concert will feature collaborations among MPYO, Indonesia’s TRUST Orchestra, and popular singers Aina Abdul, Amir Masdi, Ruebben Chelvan and Ruhil Ariana.
“Among the songs to be performed are Asean folk songs, and also Tanah Pusaka, You Raise Me Up, Pangako Sa’ Yo and Sahabat Selamanya. The programme will also include a new composition by local composer Sebastian Ooi titled Memories of Childhood adapted from the folk song Lat Talilat Tamplong, as well as Wan Azlan Wan Ahmad Rasdi’s traditional composition Rasa Sayang.
“The stage will also provide an opportunity for two young Malaysian conductors, Yee Ke-Jin and Timmy Lim, who have been mentored through specialised training sessions and workshops conducted by MPO resident conductor Gerard Salonga,” he said.
The festival will conclude with the AYOFKL 2026 Gala Concert, featuring outstanding young talents from across Asean under the baton of Gerard Salonga at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on June 27.
“Among the works that will be presented are Olympic Fanfare and Theme by John Williams, followed by Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Symphony No. 1 (The Titan) by Gustav Mahler,” he said.
Featuring Malaysian pianist Celestine Yoong Qian Yi, Ahmad Muriz said the gala concert celebrates the region’s collective excellence while symbolising Asean solidarity and harmony through the power of music.
“The opportunity to perform professional-level repertoire in a world-class concert hall is an invaluable experience for young musicians and something that money simply cannot buy,” he said, adding that he hopes AYOFKL will become a biennial event.
Tickets for the AYOFKL 2026 Gala Concert are priced at RM100 (B Reserve), RM150 (A Reserve), RM175 (Premium) and RM250 (Suite Seats), while student tickets are available at RM75 with a valid student identification. Group purchases of 10 tickets or more are entitled to a 10 per cent discount.
Tickets can be purchased through Dewan Filharmonik Petronas Box Office at 03-2331 7007, via email at [email protected], or through the MPO website.
In addition to Motac, AYOFKL 2026 is supported by CIMB Bank Bhd, Visit Malaysia 2026, Kuala Lumpur Orchestra Festival, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and MHholidays by Malaysia Aviation Group. — Bernama
