(From left) Yazid, Kamarulzaman, Zubaidah, Ismail and Azizul announcing their collaboration for the Traditional Orchestra of Malaysia Outreach Programme: Sounds of Malaysia. — KAMARUL ARIFFIN/The Star
ISTANA Budaya has organised the “Traditional Orchestra of Malaysia (OTM) Outreach Programme: Sounds of Malaysia” (SOM) in collaboration with three higher learning institutions.
The institutions are Management and Science University (MSU), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).
Istana Budaya general director Zubaidah Mukhtar said the outreach programme’s aim was to provide university students with skills through traditional music workshops conducted by OTM members.
She said the role of OTM was to establish a distinct artistic identity for Malaysia’s music while fostering unity among Malaysians from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
“We wish to preserve and nurture traditional Malaysian music by giving an opportunity for students to learn about it.
“The three higher learning institutions will organise their individual campus programmes under the collaboration,” she said.
Zubaidah also announced that MSU would host the MSU Ethnic Music Festival 2023 as part of the International Music, Arts and Culture Convention.
“The festival will feature Malaysian and international artistes such as Ernie Zakri, Waris, Rojer Kajol and Masue Kato from Japan,” she added.
MSU School of Hospitality and Creative Arts dean Azizul Jamaludin said the festival would be held today and tomorrow, and open to the public.
“Those interested can visit our social media platform @msuimacc2023 to purchase tickets priced from RM30 to RM70,” he said, adding that the tickets were going fast.
UPSI Faculty of Music and Performing Arts lecturer Kamarulzaman Mohamed Karim said they planned to organise workshops and forums on multicultural music in Malaysia for the OTM outreach programme.
“UPSI will get its alumni artistes to collaborate with OTM,” said Kamarulzaman, adding that the programmes would be in June.
USIM Cultural Centre director Ismail Ahmed said they would collaborate with OTM during their Alhan Madaniyah Concert scheduled for Nov 11.
“The concert will showcase OTM artistes and USIM Artistic Employees, such as Datuk Nash, Siso Kopratasa and the Marhean group, as well as USIM students.
“The concert will also be graced by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan as a way of showing support for USIM’s collaborative initiative with the government to promote a cultured Malaysia,” said Ismail.
OTM conductor/music director Yazid Zakaria said “Sounds of Malaysia” could help introduce traditional music to the public and campus community.
He said OTM’s live performances of traditional orchestral music aimed to capture the interest of the younger generation and ensure the continued relevance of traditional Malaysian music in the digital era.
“Through performances and exhibitions, Malaysians can listen to 25 to 30 musical instruments, including sape, sitar, gambus, yangqin, kompang and gamelan.
“This programme is seen as edutainment as it focuses on music education rather than mere entertainment,” said Yazid.
Meanwhile, Zubaidah said more university students and the public are invited to join the programmes organised by MSU, UPSI and USIM to further promote traditional Malaysian music.
