Experiencing the beauty of classical music through a community orchestra

Classical music is often described in two very different ways: beautiful and boring. The beauty of classical music is typically said to lie in its complexity. This complexity, however, really does require the listener's time and attention for the many delightful intricacies to reveal themselves. For those of us who might not be inclined to pay attention, or perhaps not know what to pay attention to, this otherwise rich tapestry of sound could seem almost...boring. 

The Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra is a community orchestra that seeks to promote the beauty of classical music in Selangor. I spoke with Mr. Chan Ling Chee, the Musical Director of the orchestra about how they go about this task. 

Programming

The orchestra plays several public concerts each year, and they take effort to plan the programmes of these concerts to create varied experiences for concertgoers. "If we have already played a heavy classical work for one concert, the next one will feature a lighter repertoire, like a movie-themed concert," Mr. Chan shared. 

Immersive Experience

At the last Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra concert I attended, audience members were entered into a lucky draw. 

The prize?

Experiencing a portion of the concert from a unique vantage point - within the orchestra!

"This gives the audience an opportunity to feel the intensity of what's happening between the conductor and the players," Mr. Chan explained. It is an opportunity for them to join in on that unspoken conversation that takes place in order to bring that music to life. 

Community

Playing as part of an ensemble is an additional skill that opens up a variety of rewarding experiences to musicians. To keep these opporunities available to musicians, "We don't just rehearse because there's a concert ahead. At SPO, we treat each other like one big family, and we have weekly rehearsals with a monthly schedule planned," Mr. Chan shared, "We play a repertoire that is as varied as possible to enhance our understanding and exploration of different kinds of genres."

The Selangor Philharmonic Orchestra has three ensembles that musicians can be a part of: 

Musicians playing at a Grade 6 level or above could join the main orchestra, while musicians playing at a Grade 3 level could begin their ensemble playing experience with the Selangor Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Wind instrument players can also join the Selangor Philharmonic Wind Orchestra. Interested musicians can enquire about auditioning to join the orchestra via their website or Facebook and Instagram accounts.