The Penang Arts Council will celebrate its 70th Anniversary with a gala evening on Saturday, October 25 October, 2025 at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, Penang.
Present to announce details of the dinner was chairman Joe Sidek along vice chairman, Gerard Chan and their committee members at a press conference.
“The Penang Arts Council had its heydays in the 70s, 80s and the 90s. We hope to make a comeback following this anniversary dinner. We already have some 100 members and also invite new members to join our organisation,” said Sidek.
He also added that they have elected a new committee and the proceeds from the dinner will go a long way to promote arts and culture in the state and beyond.
Meanwhile, Chan thanked Texchem Corporation Sdn Bhd for all their generous support over these years. They hope to raise around RM50,000 this time around.
This celebration will feature a curated musical journey through some of the Council’s most acclaimed opera productions, originally staged in Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore over the past seven decades.
Guests will be treated to well loved arias and ensembles from La Traviata, The Magic Flute, The Mikado, The Merry Widow, Carmen, and Turandot, showcasing the enduring cultural legacy that the Council has nurtured for generations.
The evening’s performances will feature a stellar lineup of vocalists — Chaing Yi Ling, Peter Ong, Tan Jin Yin, Wong Jun Wen, and Wilson Loh Titt Tze — with Valentino Loh Chun Han on piano, joined by the vocal ensemble FIAMMA Opera Studio led by Chaing Yi Ling and enriched by the talents of Gray Chan (bassoon), Esther Tee (flute), Dennis Kong (clarinet), Ryan Lim (oboe), and Benjamin Ng (alto saxophone).
Adding a lively twist to the night, they are also featuring Cores Conversa, a renowned jazz band celebrated for their smooth, soulful arrangements and masterful improvisations — the perfect soundtrack for an evening of elegance and celebration.
Enhancing the night’s festivities is an exclusive Art Auction, showcasing works generously donated by celebrated artists including Alex Leong, Lee Joo For, Lee Eng Beng, Tan Choon Ghee, Chan Tat Wai, Da Niu, Foo Hong Tatt, Jason Min, Kek Hoon Pin, Wang Xiao Ling, as well as The Art Gallery, Penang.
Their generosity is a testament to the shared commitment to nurturing Penang’s cultural legacy and supporting the arts for generations to come.Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in pre-dinner online bidding.
The Penang Arts Council was founded in December 1954, the Penang Arts Council is one of Malaysia’s longest-standing arts organizations, dedicated to preserving, promoting, and celebrating the richness of cultural and creative expression. For seven decades, the Council has served as a platform for artists, musicians, and cultural practitioners, nurturing talent and fostering appreciation for the arts across communities.
Tickets are still available for purchase: https://shorturl.at/zI0di
The office bearers for the Penang Arts Council 2025 – 2026 are – Chairman, Rosli Sidek, Vice-Chairman – Gerard Simon Chan Weng Yew, Honorary Secretary – See Liang Teik, Honorary Treasurer – Louise Goss-Custard, Committee Members – Ang Sue Khoon, Tan Shih Toe, Yeoh Su Hui, Tan Ee Lene, Koe Gaik See, Tan Jin Yin, Kumar Kartik Visvaraj, Vergis Mathews, Kenny Ng Yew Leng and Marissa Estelle Bahari.