THE Taiping International Youth Band Festival was officially launched in a vibrant ceremony held at a hotel in Taiping, Perak.
Deputy Education Minister and Taiping MP Wong Kah Woh officiated the launch.
The festival, set to take place on June 14 and 15, promises to be a landmark event in Malaysia’s cultural calendar.
It will bring together youth marching bands from around the world and across Malaysia for a celebration of music, culture and unity.
The festival is organised by Xi Wang Community Association Taiping in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Taiping, and supported by Tourism Perak and Taiping Municipal Council.
Wong said the festival was the culmination of the joint efforts of his office and the offices of the Pokok Assam and Aulong assemblymen.
Also present at the launch were representatives from Hotel Flemington, which serves as the official accommodation partner and Sin Chew Daily, the main media partner for the event.
One of the highlights of the festival will be the participation of three renowned international bands – Jugendblasorchester Marktoberdorf from Germany, Jingmei Girls’ High School Marching Band from Taiwan and Marching Band Sinar Husni from Medan, Indonesia.
They will perform alongside school bands from Taiping’s SMK King Edward VII and SMJK Hua Lian, as well as guest bands from SMJK Nan Hwa (Sitiawan, Perak) and SMK Sultanah Asma (Alor Setar, Kedah).
Over 800 youth performers are expected to take part, making this one of the largest musical events hosted in Taiping.
The festival not only aims to foster cultural exchange and appreciation among youths, but also to stimulate local tourism and the economy.
The influx of international and domestic visitors is expected to benefit local hotels, eateries and tourist attractions, giving Taiping a timely boost as a heritage and arts destination.
