The RondoFest Music Festival 2023 (RondoFest), organised by The Rondo Production, makes its return for the 2023 edition at the Performing Arts Centre of Penang (penangpac).
Beginning on 30 May, the festival’s programme features various lessons, workshops, masterclasses, and performances over the course of five days.
Participants will have the chance to work with and learn from international talents from orchestras across South East Asia — including Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand – and the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
The programme covers all levels of musical studies, from beginner, and intermediate to expert level, ensuring that there is something for every attendee, regardless of their level of experience or expertise.
The festival is set to take place from May 30 to June 3 2023, and promises to be a celebration of music, culture, and community.
Engaging participants in collaborative music-making alongside local and international musicians alike, this marks the 4th consecutive year that the festival will be held, with the backing of entities such as the Embassies of the Netherlands and Italy, Yayasan Sime Darby, ABRSM, Tanjung Point Residences and E&O Trading Sdn Bhd.
The purpose of the festival was to highlight the importance of music education — specifically that of the classical genre — to the community.
More than offering holistic training in areas such as performance and conducting techniques, career development, performance preparation and audience engagement, the festival also highlights the organisation’s commitment to nurturing young talents.
“Music education — especially for the younger generation — is a way for our society to curate diversity and creativity among ourselves while fostering a social culture that values art.
Music offers an outlet, a way to explore and express one’s inner selves, and it’s not just a personal opinion either. Studies have shown how early exposure to classical music contributes to improved health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes.” – Kenny Ooi , Founder and Chief Executive Officer.
Native to Penang, Kenny has been a driving force behind the latest era of Malaysia’s classical music education scene, having founded the inaugural Penang International Brass Festival in 2019, which soon morphed into RondoFest after the subsequent founding of The Rondo Production.
Dedicated to building community and spreading music education across Penang, Malaysia, and beyond, he aims to develop Malaysia into a country which provides top-notch quality music education and performance.
Currently, tickets are available for audience to attend the Closing Gala on 3 June 2023, ranging from RM35 to RM50. Observer passes are available for attendees who are interested to attend the workshops and masterclasses too.
To learn more about The Rondo Production and their upcoming activities for the 2023 season, please visit https://therondoproduction.com.my/.
For more information about the RondoFest Music Festival, please visit https://therondoproduction.com.my/rondofest/.
- The festival was previously known as the Penang International Brass Festival and was first held in 2019 — it was subsequently rebranded to RondoFest to encourage more inclusivity in terms of instruments.
- Regarded as one of the top classical music festivals in Southeast Asia in its role of bringing together music educators and students from around the world, this year’s edition also marks the involvement of the full orchestral and conducting programme.
