Tribute to Brian Tan with The klpac Orchestra

As The klpac Orchestra celebrates two extraordinary decades, it honours the very person who started it all.

The late Maestro Brian Tan founded klpac’s first community orchestra, then named klpac Sinfonietta in 2006. As its very first Resident Conductor and Music Director, he worked selflessly and tirelessly to build a warm community of musicians and music lovers. His legacy lives on in countless musicians that have been a part of the orchestra.

These musicians will gather in his remembrance under the baton of its current Resident Conductor and Music Director, Maestro Lee Kok Leong. A highlight of its 20th anniversary season, the programme reflects the orchestra’s colourful journey over the years.

Beginning with the celebratory Tarian Overture, the concert features a blend of classical and contemporary favourites, old and new repertoire, like Romance from Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto in E Minor, excerpts from Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, Defying Gravity from Wicked, Cinema Paradiso, Amazing Grace and more.

With Lee Hai Lin as concertmaster, it also welcomes back past collaborators including pianist Dr. Elaine Yap, soprano Dr. Ang Mei Foong, yangqin player Tan Yong Yaw as well as singers Rachel Liu, Kay Wong and Jamie Tan alongside other guest artistes Sam Chin and Jess Teong.

Join us to celebrate The klpac Orchestra’s major milestone and to remember the spirit of Brian. Twenty years on, the music continues.

Recommended: for 3 years old and above. 

Parental Advice:
If your child is restless / crying, please bring them out of the hall. After they’ve calmed down, you can re-enter with the assistance of our ushers.

Ticket Price :

● *POTA are arts patrons who wish to make a monetary gift on top of the ticket value. POTA ticket holders will be acknowledged on klpac’s website.
● **Concession Booking (Educators / Students / PWDs / Seniors > 60) – Please WhatsApp us at +6018 227 7212 with the necessary details (name, student’s ID / IC, school name & department, phone and email for verification).
● Accessible Seating – Please WhatsApp us at +6018 227 7212 to discuss the availability of accessible theatre seats and to book.    

Promotions

● ***Group booking (> 15 tickets): Please fill in the details here, our box office staff will reach out to you soon.  

About klpac Connect 
klpac Connect is an access and development initiative supported by Yayasan Sime Darby aimed at improving access to the arts through various amenities and programmes for families with young children, students / schools, persons with disabilities, talents and the general public. Find out more at bit.ly/klpacconnect.

Sponsored Student Tickets (part of klpac Connect)
Under klpac Connect, schools may register their interest to obtain sponsored student tickets for selected shows free of charge. Due to limited availability, tickets are not guaranteed – first-timers from public schools and those from rural / out-of-state locations prioritised. This show is part of the klpac Connect programme. Register your interest here https://bit.ly/klpacconnect-registration.

Buy Tickets 
Online Purchase: https://www.cloudjoi.com/
No phone sales and over the counter sales. E-tickets only.  

Enquiry / Concession Booking
WhatsApp +6018 227 7212

Fundraising for klpac’s Timpani Fund
If you’ve been to our concerts, you would have seen a set of big kettledrums at the back - our beloved timpani! Not only is it the rhythmic heartbeat driving the music forward, it provides the dramatic build up and climax with its thunderous roll.

For the past 20 years, our timpani has been working very hard as the heartbeat of The klpac Orchestra, The klpac String Orchestra, The klpac Symphonic Band and also the Outreach Youth Band. While we plan for our timpani’s retirement, we need to raise funds for our new timpani which costs RM 130,000 for four drums by 2027.

Donate to our Timpani Fund here so that we won’t miss a beat and the music continues to fill klpac.

About The klpac Orchestra
The notion of a community orchestra is very much in keeping with the vision of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), which is to foster creative excellence and develop and nurture performing arts culture in Malaysia.

Driven by the obvious need for a community orchestra to cater for the growing number of classically trained musicians, it established its first orchestra in 2006. Following the first auditions in October, The klpac Orchestra debuted in December with “Candelight Christmas” under the baton of the late Mr. Brian Tan, its Founder as well as first Music Director and Resident Conductor.

In setting up the orchestra, klpac hopes to provide enriching and engaging musical experiences for people with varying musical backgrounds, in an environment that promotes fellowship and respect. The founding of The klpac Orchestra provides more opportunities for aspiring musicians, amateur or professional, while helping to promote orchestral music.

Under its Founder’s passionate leadership, hundreds of musicians have been trained and had the chance to perform on a professional stage. After his passing, Dr. Takahisa Ota took over the baton for a brief period in 2012 before Lee Kok Leong assumed the role in 2015. A few days before Mr. Brian Tan’s passing, the orchestra staged “A Concert for Brian” (October 2011) to a full house to honour their Founder and his life’s work.

The orchestra performs a wide variety of music all year round ranging from classical concerts such as “Czech Impressions” (2023), “Tchaikovsky – The Great Romantic Master” (2022), “Baroque Elegance” (2022) and “Beethoven: His Romance and Fire” to popular music like “Magical Movie Moments” series (2017, 2019, 2023), “Unforgettable: Lagenda Malaysia” (2023), “Tunes from the East” (2019) and Sudirman tribute “One Thousand Million Smiles” (2017). It joined hands with klpac’s other music ensembles – The klpac Symphonic Band and The klpac String Orchestra – to perform in “Christmas Extravaganza” (2022) to mark a major comeback after the pandemic closures.

Over the years, the orchestra has had the honour of collaborating with many ensembles and soloists such as soprano Dr. Ang Mei Foong, pianist Dr. Poom Prommachart, pianist Dr. Elaine Yap Sin Yee, pianist Albert Tiu, violinist Fung Chern Hwei, cellist Valerie Aimard, Wicked Music People and NSO Wind Ensemble.

Outside of klpac, the orchestra is frequently engaged for competitions, gala concerts and major productions. The klpac Orchestra has performed at Claviera Music Studio and UPM Music Department’s “Debonair Malaysia Concert” (2018), “Putra International Piano Competition – Winner’s Gala Concert” (2019) at UPM, “Gemilang Cemerlang Concert” by the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (2023) and Claviera Music Studio’s “Gold Star Competition – Winner’s Gala Concert”. In 2025, the orchestra made its debut at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS with “Yellow River Cantata” and, in 2026, the orchestra performed in The Dramatic Art Society’s “Opera Hang Li Po” and Asia Musical Production’s “Siddharta The Musical in Concert”. 

2026 marks the 20th anniversary of The klpac Orchestra.

Resident Music Directors:
Mr. Brian Tan (2006 – 2011)
Dr. Takahisa Ota (2012-2014)
Mr. Lee Kok Leong (2015 – Present)

Lee Kok Leong | Music Director & Resident Conductor
Kok Leong has over two decades of experience in the local orchestral scene as a violist, conductor and music educator.

As an in-demand violist, he has performed at the  Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s Inaugural Concert in 2007 as well as with the Friends of Strings Chamber, National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Galaxy Chamber Orchestra, The klpac Orchestra, Penang Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO), Kuala Lumpur City Hall Orchestra, RTM Orchestra and, more recently, with Malaysia’s first baroque music ensemble, Wicked Music People.

In 2005, he debuted as a conductor with the Galaxy Orchestra and went on to become its Resident Conductor from 2007 to 2011. From 2010 onwards, he was mentored by the late Brian Tan, The klpac Orchestra’s Founder, and later received conducting masterclasses from renowned pianist and conductor Elaine Pao. In 2015, Kok Leong shouldered the responsibility to carry on the legacy and vision of his mentor and assumed the role of Resident Conductor & Music Director of The klpac Orchestra. 

Beyond his work with klpac, he frequently lends his expertise as a conductor for the Klang Music Festival and the biennial Soundbridge Contemporary Music Festival (2019, 2021 and 2023). His experience also includes major productions such as Euphrasia The Musical, which toured to Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu following its Kuala Lumpur premiere. He previously led the Friends of Strings Chamber Ensemble from 2014 to 2022. Additionally, he has served as a guest conductor for Musica Sinfonietta (2022) and the Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra (2025).

A passionate music educator, Kok Leong founded Ottava Music in 2019. He has been leading the string ensembles at Chong Hwa Independent High School, Tsun Jin Independent High School and Pin Hwa Independent High School since 2021. Occasionally, he also adjudicates for music competitions such as the Pay Fong Middle School Western Instrument Competition (2023), He Yue International Arts Festival (2023), Red Sonata Fiesta International Arts Festival (2023) and MIA Young Musician Competition (2020).

In 2016, he was nominated for Best Music Direction / Conductor for "Symphonic Swing" at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards. In 2007, he was awarded the Best Music Participant (Male) – Level II at the Kursus Jurulatih Seni Budaya Negara Zon Selatan and the Runner-Up for the Chamber Classical Music category, Malaysia Young Talent Music Competition.

Production / Creative Team
Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Music Director & Resident Conductor: Lee Kok Leong
Vocalists:  Dr. Ang Mei Foong, Jamie Tan, Jess Teong, Kay Wong, Rachel Liu, Sam Chin
Piano Soloist: Elaine Yap Sin Yee
Yang Qin Soloist: Tan Yong Yaw
Violin Soloist: Lee Hai Lin, Rebecca Ong
Projection Designer: Tan Zen Lin
Sound Engineer: Ong Yuan Shun
Lighting Designer: Amelia Tan
Production Stage Manager: Soo Choy Wah

The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre & The Actors Studio Team List
Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Associate Artistic Director: Christopher Ling
Group General Manager: Ian Chow
General Manager (Marketing Communications): Ang Yue May
Assistant General Manager (Publicity & Marketing): Maggie Ong
Assistant Technical Manager: Mathanakumar Murthi
Technical Supervisor: Mohd Helmi Md Khairi
Senior Technicians: Mohd Faridzuan bin Abd Rahim
Junior Technician: Yogeshwaraan A/L Shandre Sakran
Theatre Manager: Muhammad Hazim bin Mansur 
Senior FOH Supervisor: Alice Tan
Production & Theatre Supervisor: Ahmad Daniel Haikal bin Ahmad Taufek
FOH Assistant: Toh Ee Mynn
Production Stage Managers: Hafiza Husna, Xavier Chen
Production Stage Assistant: Amirah Alya' Binti Abdul Karim Kasim
Orchestra Manager: Soo Choy Wah
Senior Art Director: Joel Wong
Publicist: Wong Kar Yee
Multimedia Content Creator / Videographer: Chong Soong Tee
Assistant Box Office Supervisors: Jennifer John, Vaideggy Vijayasagaran
Group Accounts Manager: Esther Kuan
Accounts, Admin and HR Manager: Amanda Chan
Head of Academy: Kimmy Kiew
Academy Administrator: Harsvini Loganathan
Personal Assistant to Artistic Director: Farah Nadia
Personal Assistants to Executive Producer & Group General Manager: Farah Nadia & Amanda Chan
Maintenance Manager: Selva Rajoo
Security Manager: Balasubramaniam Ganapathy
Assistant Security Manager: Mahendra Karuppiah
Security Supervisor: Shandre Sakran Kumaravale
Senior Security Officer: Nadarajan Maruthamuthu
Security Officers: Balasivasubramaniam Arunasalam, Parameshvaran Perumal, Murugan Alagan