Our Programmes
all for arts : arts for all
At klpac, our only agenda is to advance the arts in Malaysia. With an open-door policy welcoming people of all backgrounds, nurturing new talent and arts appreciation is part of our DNA.
Besides subsidies and discounted tickets, we run a variety of development programmes, opportunity-oriented platforms and educational initiatives for aspiring performers as well as those who wish to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the arts.
At klpac, our only agenda is to advance the arts in Malaysia. With an open-door policy welcoming people of all backgrounds, nurturing new talent and arts appreciation is part of our DNA.
Besides subsidies and discounted tickets, we run a variety of development programmes, opportunity-oriented platforms and educational initiatives for aspiring performers as well as those who wish to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the arts.
Shows & Productions
klpac presents a varied programming from dance to theatre, concerts to musicals. Made by Malaysians for Malaysians and the world, we premiere many new works as well as new talents. Open auditions are held regularly.
Guided Backstage Tour
Join our all-access, guided backstage tour to learn more about klpac and how an arts centre works. Tours can be customised for private groups as well.
klpac Orchestras
The klpac Orchestra, klpac Symphonic Band and klpac String Orchestra provide free training, networking and performance opportunities along with a full concert season.
Festivals
Home to many festivals, one that everyone looks out for is the annual Short+Sweet Malaysia festival where you can sign up to present your bite-sized work. We also co-produce Malaysia’s largest free-for-all arts festival Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF).
Theatre for Young People
An intensive theatre training programme for those aged between 18 and 25 years old. Entry by audition only.
After battling the pandemic and steering our arts organisation through one of its worst crises, klpac now hopes to reconnect with the various communities it serves to uphold its mantra #artsforall #allforarts.
klpac Connect, an access and development initiative supported by Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), aims to improve access to the arts through various amenities and programmes as well as tackle some post-pandemic through capacity-building projects. It is but a small step to ensuring that more Malaysians can have access to the arts and experience its magic.
This initiative marks another milestone in our 11-year partnership with YSD and was launched in conjunction with klpac’s 19th birthday in May 2024.
500 sponsored students tickets will be allocated to schools with an open call held quarterly over the period of May 2024 to April 2025 in a bid to provide young people with early exposure to the arts. Priority will be given to first-timers to klpac as well as those from rural or out-of-state locations.
Register your interest here bit.ly/klpac-connect-registration. Questions? Email yuemay@klpac.org / maggie@klpac.org
Participating Show:
21 – 23 March 2025: Stage and Screen Spectacular with The klpac Symphonic Band [FULLY REDEEMED]
10 – 23 March 2025: Emerging Artists Residency
During klpac’s in-house shows, 50 booster seats for kids will be available for loan along with ear defenders for children or those sensitive to loud noises.
Parents can also make use of the diaper-changing tables in both washrooms on the ground floor. A cozy kids’ reading corner has been created outside The Actors Studio Academy @ klpac’s studios on the third floor.
Families with young children can enjoy selected casual and educational shows like, Music Play Date, free of charge.
Two wheelchair/pushchair can be loaned from klpac’s Box Office or Front-of-House. In the near future, the Box Office counter will be changed so that it adheres with the Universal Design guide and is accessible for wheelchair users.
Though all klpac’s main theatre spaces (Pentas 1, Pentas 2 and indicine) are wheelchair accessible, four front row seats for klpac’s in-house Pentas 1 shows will be permanently reserved for wheelchair users or those with mobility challenges.
Two pre-show touch tours for the blind will be conducted as part of a pilot project which includes explanation of the show and its staging as well as chance to explore the stage as well as props / costumes.
For full information on disability access and for booking of accessible seating, go here.
Members of the public can enjoy various pre / post show educational talks held in conjunction with selected performances that offers deeper insights into the creation process as well as various talents involved.
Upcoming Pre-show / Post-show Talks
To counter the post-pandemic talent drain, klpac will be running six mentor-mentee projects throughout the year with hands-on opportunities to work on productions. Click here to view upcoming open call/audition notice.
Additionally, klpac will be conducting intensive staff training throughout the year.
We understand that this is but a small step and much more can be done. As a non-profit organisation, klpac also has to look into funding to upkeep its almost two decades old building including hefty theatre and technical maintenance, utilities, overhaul of air con chillers and more.
If you or your organisation would like to help us grow klpac Connect, you can donate via here or sponsor a specific project. E-mail yuemay@klpac.org and maggie@klpac.org.
Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival
The Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival (YSDAF) is the largest free-for-all arts festival in Malaysia. Presented by Yayasan Sime Darby and The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), it takes place once every two years.
YSDAF is proud to feature almost entirely local talent. Nowhere else will you be able to sample such a wide variety of what the local arts scene can offer from the traditional to the contemporary, dance to theatre, mainstream to the experimental. And by sample we don’t mean just performances but hands on workshops, demonstrations, installations, screenings and more.
What sets it apart besides its scale is that it offers a highly engaging and interactive festival experience that is unrivalled locally.
The Festival also aims to be inclusive by having a diverse representation in its line up and by also engaging different communities including under-served communities. It is possibly the first festival crew that has received Disability Equality Training (DET) and Disability-Related Services Training (DRST).
Themed “Shout It Out: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow”, YSDAF 2020 aims to celebrate all things Malaysian.
Past Festivals
SHORT+SWEET MALAYSIA began with a 10-minute theatre festival in 2008 and dance was added in 2009. And in 2010, musical theatre was welcomed to the SHORT+SWEET Malaysia family! In 2012, we had some brand new laughs with stand-up comedy as well as a Penang edition of the festival! 2013, welcomed the newest member to the family, SHORT+SWEET SONG, and in year 2014, the musical theatre category has expanded to include an additional week and its own gala night! 2015, we had new categories for SHORT+SWEET, choral and classic. In 2018, we welcomed Short+Sweet Junior Dance and 2019 we had a whole new category for SHORT+SWEET which is Short+Sweet FILM Malaysia.
SHORT+SWEET is the biggest short play festival in the world that first started at the Newtown Theatre in Sydney in 2002. Today each major city in Australia boasts its own SHORT+SWEET festival. Internationally, the festival has hit Singapore, New Zealand, India, Dubai, United Kingdom, United State of America and of course Malaysia!
SHORT+SWEET is a fantastic platform to showcase both veteran and emerging talents in a highly collaborative and professional environment. It will showcase 10-minute plays, dance pieces, musicals, stand-up comedies and songs by some of the most exciting writers, directors, actors, choreographers, dancers, composers, lyricists, musicians, comedians and singer-songwriters. The content is original, presented in all Malaysian languages and assessed by specially invited judges from various industries as well as the audience.
Past Productions
Backstage Bites
Join this all-access guided tour of Malaysia’s only fully-integrated arts centre.
Find out why this 122-year-old building is an important historical landmark and what makes it an award-winning architectural icon. Explore areas normally off limits to the public such as the catwalk and step onto the very stage used by world class performers.
Ask our team any burning questions you may have!
You’ll be served a sumptuous local brunch, pre-packed for hygiene reasons, to enjoy anywhere on the grounds of klpac or to be brought home.
Places limited to 25 pax only. Backstage Bites is supported by Yayasan Sime Darby.
Enquiries: E-mail to maggie@klpac.org
Read More:
A look backstage at klpac by BASKL
窥探剧场后台的奇幻旅程 吉隆坡表演艺术中心导览 《星洲日报》
众声喧哗导览 艺文剧场的穿梭与漫游 by 8TV
FAQ
1) What language will the tour be conducted in?
It will be conducted in English. If you’ve a group of 20 pax who would like a tour in another language, do e-mail maggie@klpac.org and we will see if we can accommodate.
2) What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing and closed toe shoes must be worn for safety reasons (no heels, no sandals etc).
3) What should I be aware of?
You will need to have a reasonable level of fitness as the tour involves walking up and down stairs. Masks must be worn throughout & physical distancing must be ensured. Please read the health declaration portion in the registration form.
4) Can I take photos?
Certainly. We will allow time for you to take photos and recommend the best spots. However, video recording of the tour is not permitted. We will also have a photographer on hand.
5) Can children join Backstage Bites?
Yes if they are above 10 years old. Parents must be responsible for their own child. We may consider tours designed for children in the future.
6) What if I am late?
The tour will proceed as planned. If you are late, please alert our team (contact will be provided in reminder e-mail).
7) Which areas will be covered?
Each tour will differ depending on the space availability. We aim to cover as many areas as possible each time.
8) If I am a wheelchair user, can I join this tour?
We can tailor tours to wheelchair users. Or if you require other mobility considerations, do e-mail maggie@klpac.org if you’d like to explore.
9) What if I am diagnosed with Covid-19?
For the safety of others, you will not be able to join this event and we will refund you or allow you to swap to another edition down the road.
Past Tours
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 Clavier 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 “Golden 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)
Lee Kok Leong, Resident Conductor & Music Director
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 Sonate 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.
Past Productions
Soon after The klpac Orchestra was formed, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) established The klpac Symphonic Band in 2009 which made its debut with “Friendship in Concert”.
Like the other music ensembles under klpac, The klpac Symphonic Band is a community-oriented initiative aimed at providing a platform for brass, wind and percussion players to hone their skills and perform regularly. It was established to fill a gap in the local music scene where many band musicians who started playing during their schooling years were left with no avenue to grow and pursue their interest after leaving school. Its members are musicians and music lovers from different backgrounds and age groups who are admitted based on an audition.
The klpac Symphonic Band has been under the leadership of Music Director and Resident Conductor Cheryl Mah since 2011. It performs a packed concert season yearly and its “Ultimate Music Crawl” concert bagged the “BEST OF 2019” Award at the 17th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards 2020.
Since 2022, the band has been running an all-important Outreach Collaborative Project annually with some of the best music educators in town and it culminates in a public concert entitled “An Uncommon Journey”. The outreach project has benefited 71 wind musicians and percussionists aged 16 to 22 from Klang Valley as well as beyond.
On the audience development front, the band initiated its “Music Play Date” series in 2022, which is an interactive concert held outdoors for families particularly those with young children.
2023 marked another major milestone for the band as it proudly represented Malaysia during its first international tour to the Chiayi City International Band Festival (CCIBF) in Chiayi, Taiwan where it performed alongside over 100 bands from five different countries.
PAST CONCERTS & TOURS
November 2024 A Dash of Nature: Earth, Sky, and the Life Within
August 2024 An Uncommon Journey III – An Outreach Collaborative Project
March 2024 This Is It: Tribute to Michael Jackson
December 2023 The 31st Chiayi City International Band Festival (Taiwan)
November 2023 Childhood Revisited
July 2023 An Uncommon Journey II – An Outreach Programme
April 2023 A Bit of This, A Bit of That Too – A Charity Concert with The Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (Ipoh)
April 2023 Music Play Date
March 2023 Let’s Rock 3
October 2022 Halloween Hantu Ball 2
August 2022 An Uncommon Journey – An Outreach Programme
July 2022 Music Play Date
April 2022 Back To The Classics
Oct 2020 October Pop
Dec 2019 Ultimate Music Crawl
June 2019 Let’s Rock 2
March 2019 Sunny Side Up
December 2018 Ticket to Ride
November 2017 Let’s Rock
May 2017 Salam Konnichiwa
December 2016 Much Ado About Shakespeare
June 2016 Everything Japanese
December 2015 Godzilla Eats Las Vegas @ klpac… Burp!
June 2015 Happy Birthday Concert
November 2014 Halloween Hantu Ball
May 2014 A Bit of This, A Bit of That
November 2013 Let’s Go European
June 2013 3 Conductors, An Uncommon Journey
September 2012 Change
November 2011 Dance in Symphony
November 2010 Big & Brassy
October 2009 Friendship in Concert
The klpac Symphonic Band Committee for Year 2025
Executive Producer: Dato’ Dr. Faridah Merican
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Music Director & Resident Conductor / President: Cheryl Mah
Vice President: Chew Sze Gee
Secretary: Tan Su Fen
Vice Secretary: Chrissie Kuan
Treasurer: Lai Pak Kin
Librarians: Pah Chee Choong
Publicity: Tai Wen Ying
Creative Content Creators: Vanessa Yap, Hong Ji Lam
Section Leaders for Year 2025
Flute: Chew Sze Gee, Evynne Lim Ee Wenn
Clarinet: Yong Song Yeu, Chong Tao Xin
Saxophone: Ian Chan
French Horn: Jon Handley
Trumpet: Yeow Boon Sim, Tan Kai Xiang
Trombone: Low Wei Xiang
Euphonium & Tuba: Chris Wong, Chrissie Kuan
Percussion: Bryan Cheah, Lee Si Yuan
Cheryl Mah, Resident Conductor & Music Director, The klpac Symphonic Band
After graduating from the Elder Conservatorium of Music (Australia) with concurrent majors in Piano Performance and Music Education, Cheryl Mah completed a performance-based Master’s Degree in Conducting and Directorship from Salford University (England, UK) under the tutelage of Professor Dr. David King and the late Dr. Roy Newsome, specialising in Brass Band Conducting.
As an active music educator, Cheryl regularly conducts the UCSI University Orchestra (Malaysia). She has been the Resident Conductor and Music Director of the award-winning klpac Symphonic Band, which is part of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac), since 2011.
Apart from directing various ensembles, Cheryl actively advocates for music education. Four education and outreach initiatives she has led up-to-date were collaborative band programmes that involved young band musicians of diverse backgrounds, ethnicities and culture, local band directors, local community bands and a university.
Cheryl co-founded the Kuala Lumpur-based Birdian Saxophone Quartet in 2000 for which she also plays the baritone saxophone. The quartet initiated the “Chamber Wind Project” in 2012 which features distinguished chamber wind ensembles from the region. It has presented six editions since then, receiving significant recognition for promoting the growth of wind chamber playing to a wider community.
Cheryl is currently a lecturer at the Institute of Music, UCSI University.
Past Productions
With more and more players picking up an instrument from a young age, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac) decided it was time to reach out to these young musicians.
The idea of having a String Ensemble was planted back in 2010 and it was swiftly cemented. The klpac String Ensemble was formed in September the same year with its youngest member then aged only nine. The klpac String Ensemble debuted with “Fantastikal Strings” in April 2011 under the baton of Dr. Takahisa Ota.
Over the years, its members grew and the ensemble was officially renamed The klpac String Orchestra in 2017. Under the leadership of Norman Ong, The klpac String Orchestra toured to Penang in 2018 as well as to Bangkok, Thailand, to take part in and perform at the Southeast Asia Music Education Exchange (SEAMEX) 2018.
The klpac String Orchestra welcomed on board its current Music Director and Resident Conductor, Andrea Sim, in 2021. She debuted with the sold out “Reminiscing with the klpac String Orchestra” in June / July 2022.
Passionate about bringing music to more people, particularly young musicians, she spearheaded the inaugural The klpac String Orchestra Exchange in May 2023 involving more than 100 musicians from Chong Hwa High School, Pin Hwa High School, and Tsun Jin High School.
Resident Music Directors:
Dr Takahisa Ota (2012-2014)
Mr Norman Ong (2015 – 2020)
Ms Andrea Sim (2021 – Present)
Andrea Sim, Resident Conductor & Music Director
A well-rounded musician whose passion for music extends to its many disciplines, Andrea Sim was appointed Music Director and Resident Conductor of The klpac String Orchestra in 2021.
She has played as concertmaster for the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, UCSI University Orchestra and The klpac Orchestra, and performed as a violinist with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Kamerata Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur City Opera Orchestra, Yin Qi Festival Orchestra, Selangor Symphony Orchestra, and the Vienna Young Artist Orchestra in Vienna.
Andrea believes that music should be shared and experienced by everyone, a belief that inspired the first String Orchestra Exchange Programme organised by and held in klpac in May 2023. She is passionate about education and has coached the NSO’s Genius Seni Muzik (GSM) violin section. She has also been the assistant coach for the UCSI University Orchestra and Eugene Pook Orchestra Academy, as well as a pre-camp tutor for the Miri Tutti Project 2.0 Outreach Program in Miri, Sarawak. She has also been invited to give violin masterclasses for the violinists in the GSM programme and the Galaxy Chamber Orchestra.
Andrea studied the violin in Vienna’s Prayner Konservatorium for two years with Anna Kandinskaya and Barbara Gorzynsky and is currently pursuing her Master of Music (Performance Studies) majoring in classical violin performance at UCSI University’s Institute of Music where she is on a full scholarship. She graduated with first class honours on a full scholarship from the same university with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree in classical violin performance under the tutelage of Ergys Koni. She is currently also under the conducting mentorship of Lee Kok Leong.
An avid writer, Andrea has written articles for the Global Musicians League, and programme notes for recitals in Malaysia and abroad.
Past Productions
Young people are the future of Malaysian Theatre and our country. We are driven by the idea that the arts can inspire creative, courageous and confident young people wherever they are and whatever they want to be.
In 2008, klpac launched its landmark youth theatre programme, Theatre for Young People (T4YP), which is now the longest-running English language youth theatre training programme in Malaysia.
klpac’s iconic Theatre for Young People (T4YP) programme provides those between 18 and 25 with almost 300 hours of intensive and holistic theatre training, free of charge, through masterclasses by the industry’s top experts, mentorship and performance opportunities. Since 2008, 166 young thespians have benefited from the programme and T4YP has toured to Sabah, Singapore and Russia. T4YP has been a regular feature in past editions of Asian Youth Theatre Festival and Yayasan Sime Darby Arts Festival. It has launched the careers of countless theatre makers who are making waves in the industry today, locally and internationally.
T4YP is an entry by audition only programme and auditions are typically held in the first quarter of the year.
“The training might be ‘torturous’, but the current ensemble of Theatre for Young People (T4YP) is not complaining…despite the strict discipline, tough training and long hours they have to go to through over the next six months, all of them only have good things to say about being part of T4YP: ‘It shapes our character. By September, we will all be different people…’ Gregory Sze, T4YP alumni” The Star, 2009
