A Whisper of Soul: A Reflection of Life's Journey with The klpac Orchestra

This intimate and personal three-part concert brings you through the life of multi-award winning soprano, Dr. Ang Mei Foong, with The klpac Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Lee Kok Leong. It traces her years training in Taiwan, Rome and Australia before establishing herself in Malaysia, pursuing her PhD and becoming a passionate music educator and performer.
 
The First Movement: Fate captures the youthful uncertainty and anticipation of the future. It is almost like a letter to her 18 year old self, a time mixed with dreams and doubts, driven by passion and determination. In this movement, Dr. Ang brings to life three of Giuseppe Verdi’s works including La forza del destino or The Force of Destiny.
 
It then moves on to the Second Movement: Self Reflection which features pieces like Jules Massenet’s Meditation and other works by Antonin Dvořák, Robert Stolz and Francesco Cilea. It marks the period that sees her charting her way as an artist not only in pursuit of technical excellence but her artistic identity.  
 
The Third Movement: Acceptance reflects the realisation that life, like art, is a continuous cycle of struggle, transformation and renewal. Richard Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder embodies this journey with a profound sense of serenity.
 
Dr. Ang’s voice, described as mellow and soothing, has “transported the audiences into the emotional axis of the opera” (Richard Chua of Sin Chew Daily). In 2018, she was bestowed the “Ordine della Stella D'Italia, l'onorificenza Cavaliere” (The Order of Star of Italy) and the Golden Medal Award from the Berliner International Music Competition. She bagged Best Solo Performance (Vocal) award in the 16th BOH Cameron Arts Awards 2019.

Programmes:

1. La Forza del Destino Overture from La Forza del Destino | Composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1862)
2. Pace mio Dio! from La Forza del Destino | Composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1862)
3. Tacea la notte placida…. Di tale amor… from Il Trovatore | Composed by Giuseppe Verdi (1853)
4. Meditation from Thais | Composed by Jules Massenet (1894)
5. Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém from Rusalka | Composed by Antonín Dvořák (1901)
6. Io Son L'umile Ancella from Adriana Lecouvreur | Composed by Francesco Cilea (1902)
7. Ebben? Ne andrò lontana from La Wally | Composed by Alfredo Catalani (1892)
8. Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana | Composed by Pietro Mascagni (1890)
9. Vier Letzte Lieder | Composed by Richard Strauss (1950)

Age limit: Recommended for 7 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 :

Category	Price (1 May onwards)	Early Bird (Ends 30 Apr)
Cat 1: Patron of The Arts*	RM 150	RM 150
Cat 2: Regular	RM 88	RM 78
Cat 3: Regular	RM 68	RM 58
Cat 4: Students **	RM 48	RM 48
Cat 4: Concession (Educator / PWDs / Senior > 60) **	15% off regular-priced tickets	N/A

*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 Bookings (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).

Promotion :

Category	Regular
Eslite Malaysia White Card Members# / Yamatatsu Customers	5% off regular-priced ticket
Eslite Malaysia Gold / Black Card Members#	10% off regular-price ticket
Educators/Students Group booking***	Buy 10 Free 1

#Eslite members: WhatsApp us at +6018 227 7212 with a screenshot of your eslite member card to get a promo code.
***Group booking: Please fill in the details here, our box office staff will reach out to you soon.

---

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

---

Dr. Ang Mei Foong (Cav.) | Soprano
​Mei Foong’s voice was described as mellow, dulcet and soothing to the listeners. A multiple awards and scholarships winner, she was trained at the National Taiwan Normal University under Prof. Ren Rong, Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia under Maestro Rebecca Berg, and the University of Melbourne under Merlyn Quaife. She now holds a PhD from University Putra Malaysia. 

An award winning soprano, she was a recipient of numerous academic scholarships during her study notably the "Melbourne International Fee Remission Scholarships" (MIFRS) and "Melbourne International Research Scholarships" (MIRS) when she pursued her studies in the University of Melbourne. Other notable awards include the first prize winner of NTNU Vocal Concerto Competition of year 2002; 2nd prize winner of the Taiwan Rotary Club Artists' Awards of year 2002; the 8th prize winner, as well as a young artist award of "Mondial Chinese Vocalists Concours 2003"; and "Silver Medal Winner Award- Outstanding Achievement" in the Global Music Award, Oct 2014; In 2018, she was bestowed with “Ordine della Stella D'Italia, l'onorificenza Cavaliere” (The Order of Star of Italy, with the conferment of Knighthood), a prestigious recognition by the Italian government of her outstanding contribution to programming and performing vocal arts in the regions; followed with the Golden Medal Award from the Berliner International Music Competition in Sep 2018; the Best Solo Performance (Vocal) award in the 16th Boh Cameron Arts Awards 2019, one of the most prestigious performing arts awards in Malaysia; and most recently she received the National Academics Awards (category of Performing Arts) by Ministry of Education Malaysia in which the award was presented by the Prime Minister Malaysia, Tun Dr. Mahathir, on 29 Oct 2019.

As an active recitalist, Mei Foong has given several well received solo recitals in Kuala Lumpur, Taiwan, Macau, Rome and Melbourne, where she performed Robert Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, Gabriel Faure’s La Bonne Chanson, Richard Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder, Aldo Finzi’s Art Songs, Alban Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder, Joseph Canteloube’s Chants d’auvergne, and appeared as the soprano soloist in Handel's Ode for St. Cecilia's Day, Handel's Messiah, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. She is the founder and artistic director of The Song Weavers, the Malaysian first vocal ensemble that is dedicated to the performance and programming of Art Songs. 

She has collaborated with a few major orchestras and ensembles in Malaysia, which include both the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), and the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO), Kamerata String Ensemble and the Virama Ensemble. She has worked with the conductors such as Lee Kok Leong, David Chin, Juan Montoya, Kevin Field, Ciarán McAuley, Fabio Mechetti, Sergio La Stella, Guillaume Tourniaire and Naohisa Furusawa.

In 2013, Mei Foong made her Malaysia opera debut playing the title role in Bizet's opera Carmen with the EST opera company (now known as KL City Opera, KLCO), which had been received warmly at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Her other theatrical performances included “the mother” in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with KLCO in 2014, and both the roles “Carmen” and “Mercedes” in Bizet’s Carmen with MPO in 2015; In 2016, she performed with KLCO as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème with KLCO in Aug 2016; The First Lady in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with MPO in Jan 2017, and the Contessa in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro with KLCO in Oct 2017; and most recently Violetta Valéry in Verdi's La Traviata with KLCO 2019.

Her love for the Malaysian art song led her to work closely with the contemporary Malaysian composers and she has had vocal works composed specifically for her and dedicated to her. 

While enjoying her busy performance career, she is also an active researcher in the field of voice rehabilitation, specifically for patients with Parkinson's disease. She is now the Head of the Department of Music at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Reviews:
“Encore by The Canticle Singer, 2015” - “The Violetta Mei Foong portrayed was excellent. Her voice was beautiful and powerful, she has brought Violetta to life, and had transported the audiences into the emotional axis of the opera.” ~ Richard Chua, Sin Chew Daily. (originally written in Chinese)

Website

---

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 short period in 2012 before Lee Kok Leong took on 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) and “Baroque Elegance” (2022) 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 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 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” (2024).

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

Social Media :
Facebook
Instagram

---

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.  
 
Outside of klpac, he also lends his conducting expertise and has participated as a conductor in the Klang Music Festival, the biannual Soundbridge Contemporary Music Festival as well as productions such as Euphrasia The Musical which toured to Ipoh and Kota Kinabalu after its KL premiere. He has also been conducting the Friends of Strings Chamber Ensemble since 2014. 
 
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.

---

Creative & Production Team

Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Music Director & Resident Conductor: Lee Kok Leong 
Solo Soprano: Dr. Ang Mei Foong
Sound Engineer: Ong Yuan Shun 
Lighting Designer: Amelia Tan
Projection Designer: Tan Zen Lin

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
Senior Technicians: Mohd Helmi Md Khairi, Mohd Faridzuan Bin Abd Rahim
Junior Technician: Yogeshwaraan A/L Shandre Sakran
Theatre Manager: Muhammad Hazim Bin Mansur
Production Stage Manager: Desmond Ngooi
Assistant Production Stage Managers: Hafiza Husna, Jech Wong
Orchestra Manager: Soo Choy Wah
Senior Art Director: Joel Wong
Publicist: Wong Kar Yee
Assistant Box Office Supervisors: Jennifer John, Vaideggy Vijayasagaran
Project Executive / Front of House Supervisor: Alice Tan
Accounts Manager: Esther Kuan
Assistant Manager (Accounts & Admin): Amanda Chan
Head of Academy: Kimmy Kiew
Academy Administrator: Harsvini Loganathan
Resident Choreographer: Zhafir Muzani
TUTAS Coordinator: Xavier Chen
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) Instructor: Toh Wei Keith
Personal Assistant to Artistic Director: Farah Nadia
Personal Assistants to Executive Producer & Group General Manager: Farah Nadia & Amanda Chan
Assistant Maintenance Manager: Selva Rajoo
Security Manager: Balasubramaniam Ganapathy
Assistant Security Manager: Mahendra Karuppiah
Senior Security Officer: Shandre Sakran Kumaravale
Security Officers: Balasivasubramaniam Arunasalam, Nadarajan Maruthamuthu, Parameshvaran Perumal