Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO): Press Start

2023 has wrapped up on a high note for the Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO), closing it with their annual concert, Press Start. With Ipoh City listed in the new UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the category for Music on World Cities Day (31st October 2023), all the contributing efforts by this Ipoh-based non-profit organisation, along with its sponsors, to bring quality music to the community have paid off.

Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO) sponsors with Kinta Valley Symphonic Society (KVSS) President Jeffrey Cheong (3rd L)

appreciation to sponsor, IRoll Ipoh Sdn Bhd (R)

For KVWO’s annual concert 2023, Press Start, it wasn’t the symphonic orchestral music that one would expect from such an esteemed 70-piece ensemble. Rather, it was a symphonic adventure that took us on a journey into the world of video games, as we were entertained by one game soundtrack after another.

Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra: Press Start emcee for the evening

Kick-starting the 1.5 hours programme was Epic Gaming Themes, arranged by Paul Murtha. Under the baton of Dr. Low Chee Meng, the musicians, most of whom hold full-time employment unrelated to music, expertly caressed melodious notes out of their instruments to take the audience on a mesmerising aural experience.

Next on the repertoire was Riften Wed by Julie Giroux, from the game Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. As the music played to our ears, the backdrop video complemented our enchantment with the complexity of lasting love during turbulent times.

Taking over the baton from Dr. Low Chee Meng was Aaron Chin. Born and raised in Ipoh, he is no stranger to local supporters of orchestral music. His set began with Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. With music by Hans Zimmer and arrangement by Jay Bocook, it was a dramatic track that felt immersive with its surround sound effect.

This track was followed by Final Fantasy X’s To Zanarkand, written by Nobuo Uematsu and arranged by Andrés Soto. This emotional piece with a delicate piano arrangement soothingly captured a sense of nostalgia and melancholy evoking many memories for Final Fantasy X gamers.

Aaron Chin as conductor collaborates with Dr. Low Chee Meng on the alto-saxophone

Up next, Aaron Chin collaborated with Dr. Low Chee Meng, with conductor Dr. Low wearing a different hat, this time as an alto-saxophonist. Yes, an accomplished saxophonist, he took the audience on a rollercoaster ride of musical notes with his version of Oodles of Noodles, a composition by Jimmy Dorsey, arranged by Bob Balfoort.

Following a 20-minute intermission, opening the second half of the concert was Fly Me To The Moon from the popular Netflix series, Squid Game, conducted by Dr. Low Chee Meng. Before hitting the first notes, Dr. Low disclaimed that while he loved the Squid Game, he couldn’t say the same for this particular scene with Fly Me To the Moon. It was purely for the music. Haha! By the way, Fly Me To The Moon was written by Bart Howard, and arranged by Takashi Hoshide.

The musical journey continued with a suite from World of Warcraft, arranged by Douglas E. Wagner. The powerful crescendos certainly did justice to the iconic World of Warcraft video game, bringing the storyline to life.

Then, taking the audience back to almost 40 years ago, was Super Mario Bros. composed by Koji Kondo, and arranged by Takashi Hoshide. Whether we were Mario or Luigi, the track indeed took us back to our childhood days when the world was obsessed with the console game.

bouquets for the conductors from Kinta Valley Symphonic Society (KVSS) President Jeffrey Cheong (R)

Concluding the KWVO year-end concert was The Legend of Zelda: Adventure Through Hyrule. A composition by Koji Konda in just one night, this video game track certainly set the trend for game music. This version was arranged by J. Anonick.

Hold up! While the concert had officially wrapped up, calls for encore kept the orchestra on stage.

Their request was granted by the conductors, back with their collaboration of the jazzy Oodles of Noodles again, with Aaron Chin on the baton and Dr. Low on the saxophone.

Kinta Valley Symphonic Society (KVSS) President Jeffrey Cheong, also the concert organising committee chairperson

As a bonus encore track, the audience was asked to be involved by voting for the track they wanted. Gaining the most votes was Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End – and their wish was granted! Watch the full concert in the video below.

Video: Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KWVO): Press Start (Full Concert)

Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra: Press Start wraps up

View the full photo album of Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KWVO): Press Start on our official Facebook Page by clicking HERE. KWVO also played the same set the following day, but dressed in cosplay costumes.

Event: Kinta Valley Wind Orchestra (KVWO): Press Start
Venue: Auditorium RTM Perak, Ipoh
Date: 28th Oct, 2023
Time: 8pm