Upcoming events
🎭 KL City Opera Presents 1st malaysia opera competition
The Malaysia Opera Competition 2026 (1MOC2026) is Malaysia's premier platform for discovering and celebrating outstanding vocal talent in opera and classical music. Organized by Kuala Lumpur City Opera, this prestigious national competition invites aspiring and established singers to showcase their artistry on Malaysia's biggest opera stage.
Participants compete for the coveted title of Malaysia Champion and a prize purse of RM3,000, gaining recognition as top vocal talents in the country. The competition welcomes singers of all backgrounds—whether classically trained or self-taught—who possess passion, dedication, and exceptional vocal ability. Registration closes on December 14, 2025, with repertoire finalisation and video submission due one month later. Finalisation of the semi finalists has completed on February 10, 2026.
The competition features rigorous judging by an esteemed jury that evaluates voice quality, musicality, diction, and interpretation.
Tickets are on sale right now, for more information visit : https://www.wowtix.com.my/
This is your opportunity to be part of Malaysia's opera legacy—don't miss it! 🎤✨
Meet the juries
Ku Tae Hwan
Praised by The New York Times for his “innately warm and resonant tenor,” Taehwan Ku graduated from Yonsei University and earned his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music on a full scholarship. He further refined his artistry at the Junge Oper Program of the Hannover State Opera in Germany.
Ku is the Grand Prize winner of the Music Journal Competition and the Korea Young Artist Competition, and a prizewinner at the Verismo Opera Competition (USA). He was also honored with the Cultural Contribution Award from the New Jersey State Senate. In 2020, he presented a solo recital sponsored by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA).
His international engagements include invited performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the United Nations Headquarters, and WQXR Classical Radio in New York. He was featured multiple times in The New York Times for his notable performances and has worked actively in the United States as a contracted tenor with Martha Wade Management.
Ku made his Korean debut with the National Opera of Korea in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Since then, he has appeared in major roles such as Faust in Faust with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Uldino in Attila with the National Opera of Korea, and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore. He has also performed leading roles in La Bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Die Zauberflöte, La Traviata, and many others.
Selected as the first Tenor Soloist of the National Opera of Korea, Ku continues to appear as a principal artist with the company. He performed Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi (2023–2024) and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and in 2024–2025 he appeared as Alfredo in La Traviata in multiple productions across Korea. In 2025, he is scheduled to perform Cavaradossi in Tosca.
Recognized for his powerful yet lyrically warm vocal quality, Taehwan Ku remains active on a wide range of stages both in Korea and internationally.
Nancy Yuen
One of the most outstanding singers from Asia, Nancy Yuen made her debut upon graduation from the Royal Academy of Music, London, with the Welsh National Opera, singing the title role of Madama Butterfly to great critical acclaim. She has since reprised the role all over the world, notably with the English National Opera, Scottish Opera, West Australian Opera, Opera Queensland, Opera Northern Ireland, Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO), Bangkok Opera (BO), the New Zealand International Festival of Arts, the Barbados Opera Festival, at the Royal Albert Hall for Raymond Gubbay Limited in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
Other starring operatic roles include Romilda (Xerxes), Violetta (La Traviata), Aida, Gilda (Rigoletto), Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Tosca, Liza (The Queen of Spades), Mimi (La Bohème), Jenny (Mahagony Songspiel), Micaela (Carmen), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Liu (Turandot), Antonia (Les Contes D’Hoffmann), Thaiis and Countessa (Le Nozze di Figaro).
A celebrated recitalist and versatile concert artist, she performs regularly with major orchestras and choral societies. Her appearances have included performances with Christopher Hogwood, Trevor Pinnock, Richard Armstrong, Carlo Rizzi, Helmuth Rilling, Tsung Yeh and orchestras such as the London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Tivoli Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Opera Orchestra.
Nancy has given masterclasses in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and different parts of China. She regularly sits as an adjudicator for international competitions and music festivals, e.g. the 59th, 65th and 71st Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Competizione dell’Opera organized by Opera Bremen, Germany and ASEAN Vocal Competitions in Bangkok and Singapore and most recently the International Clara Schumann Competition. Since 2015 she has been the Honorary Artistic Director of Singapore Lyric Opera. Recent performances included Mimì in “La Bohème” with Bangkok Opera and her role debut as Senta in Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” presented by the Wagner Society in Singapore and reprisal of her signature role as “Madama Butterfly” and title role in “Aida”. She will have a busy concert schedule in 2026, performing in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil and Italy.
She has been a member of the Artistic Committee of Opera Hong Kong since 2013 and an Examiner and Independent Advisor to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council since 2010. She has been a member of the Arts Form Panel of the HK LCSD since 2018. In 2015 she became the first Honorary Artistic Director of the Singapore Lyric Opera. As an opera director, she has directed “Carmen”, “Le Nozze di Figaro”, “I Capuletti e i Montecchi”, “Die Zauberflöte”, “Don Pasquale”, “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci”.
Nancy was the Head of Vocal Studies at Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 2003 to February 2010. She has been the Head of Vocal Studies of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since March 2010.
In recognition of her achievements as a performer and in education, Nancy was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2014. In 2018 she was appointed as Professor of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.One of the most outstanding singers from Asia, Nancy Yuen made her debut upon graduation from the Royal Academy of Music, London, with the Welsh National Opera, singing the title role of Madama Butterfly to great critical acclaim. She has since reprised the role all over the world, notably with the English National Opera, Scottish Opera, West Australian Opera, Opera Queensland, Opera Northern Ireland, Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO), Bangkok Opera (BO), the New Zealand International Festival of Arts, the Barbados Opera Festival, at the Royal Albert Hall for Raymond Gubbay Limited in 1998, 2000 and 2003.
Other starring operatic roles include Romilda (Xerxes), Violetta (La Traviata), Aida, Gilda (Rigoletto), Tytania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Rosalinda (Die Fledermaus), Nedda (I Pagliacci), Leonora (Il Trovatore), Tosca, Liza (The Queen of Spades), Mimi (La Bohème), Jenny (Mahagony Songspiel), Micaela (Carmen), Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Liu (Turandot), Antonia (Les Contes D’Hoffmann), Thaiis and Countessa (Le Nozze di Figaro).
A celebrated recitalist and versatile concert artist, she performs regularly with major orchestras and choral societies. Her appearances have included performances with Christopher Hogwood, Trevor Pinnock, Richard Armstrong, Carlo Rizzi, Helmuth Rilling, Tsung Yeh and orchestras such as the London Mozart Players, BBC Concert Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Tivoli Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Opera Orchestra.
Nancy has given masterclasses in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and different parts of China. She regularly sits as an adjudicator for international competitions and music festivals, e.g. the 59th, 65th and 71st Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, Competizione dell’Opera organized by Opera Bremen, Germany and ASEAN Vocal Competitions in Bangkok and Singapore and most recently the International Clara Schumann Competition. Since 2015 she has been the Honorary Artistic Director of Singapore Lyric Opera. Recent performances included Mimì in “La Bohème” with Bangkok Opera and her role debut as Senta in Wagner’s “Der Fliegende Holländer” presented by the Wagner Society in Singapore and reprisal of her signature role as “Madama Butterfly” and title role in “Aida”. She will have a busy concert schedule in 2026, performing in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil and Italy.
She has been a member of the Artistic Committee of Opera Hong Kong since 2013 and an Examiner and Independent Advisor to the Hong Kong Arts Development Council since 2010. She has been a member of the Arts Form Panel of the HK LCSD since 2018. In 2015 she became the first Honorary Artistic Director of the Singapore Lyric Opera. As an opera director, she has directed “Carmen”, “Le Nozze di Figaro”, “I Capuletti e i Montecchi”, “Die Zauberflöte”, “Don Pasquale”, “Cavalleria Rusticana” and “Pagliacci”.
Nancy was the Head of Vocal Studies at Singapore Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts from 2003 to February 2010. She has been the Head of Vocal Studies of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts since March 2010.
In recognition of her achievements as a performer and in education, Nancy was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music in 2014. In 2018 she was appointed as Professor of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts..
Liu Gang
A native of Shandong, he is a baritone singer, opera singer, the first doctoral graduate in vocal performance from the Central Conservatory of Music, a visiting scholar at the Rome Conservatory of Music in Italy, an opera singer in the Asia-Pacific International Youth Program of Ticino Musica in Switzerland, and an associate professor and master's Citizens'
University, a specially supervisor in the Vocal Performance Department of Wuhan Conservatory of Music. He also serves as a doctoral supervisor at Krirk University in Thailand, a specially appointed professor at Yan'an University, a lecturer for the National Arts Fund, a first-level teacher at Hubei Provincial Senior Citizens' University, a specially appointed professor at Shaanxi Provincial Vocational and Technical College of Arts, a judge for the Chuncheon International Vocal Competition in South Korea, the BRUSCANTINI International Vocal Competition, and the Augsburg International Vocal Competition in Germany. He studied under Wang Zhen, He Leiming, Peng Kangliang, and Italian artistic directors Marco Bellei and Umberto Finazzi, as well as Italian opera director Maurizio di Mattia.
During his doctoral studies, he primarily focused on two areas. First, he researched the operas of Donizetti, a composer from the Bel Canto period, conducting a solo recital of Donizetti's operas and completing my doctoral dissertation on the subject. In addition, he systematically studied German and Austrian art songs incorporating Chinese elements, particularly focusing on Mahler's art songs and holding a solo recital of Mahler's art songs.
In recent years, he has been systematically researching the integration of performance art and technology, and will leverage technology in future teaching and artistic practice. By examining the characteristics of German and Austrian art songs and Chinese vocal art, he aims to summarize how to better perform Chinese works using bel canto. Simultaneously, he has published several research articles in major domestic journals and undertaken important research projects related to vocal music.
He has successfully performed leading roles in operas at numerous opera houses worldwide and domestically, including Orff's large-scale oratorio Carmina Burana, Mozart's opera Le nozze di Figaro as Figaro and the Count, Verdi's opera La Traviata as the father Armand, Donizetti's opera L'elisir d'amore as the quack doctor Durcamara, Don Pasquale as the doctor Maletesta, Bizet's opera Carmen as the officer, Puccini's opera Gianni Schicchi as Schicchi, Wagner's opera Der Ring Des Nibelungen as the Stone Man, Rossini's opera La Cenelentola as Count Manifico, and Puccini's opera La Bohème. Boheme has portrayed characters such as Marcello. In July 2015, he released his debut solo album, Italian Songs, published by Beijing Universal Publishing. He has also been invited to perform in Switzerland, Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy, France, Germany, and Macau, successfully holding solo concerts and opera festivals.
KL City Opera presents - Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow
Wedding singer and Malaysia’s Queen of Jazz, Janet Lee stars as The Merry Widow.
KL City Opera is proud to present Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow (originally Die lustige witwe) in English from 3 to 5 July 2026 at Pentas 1, KLPAC. This production is set in Paris circa 1920s during the rise of belle époque and the Art Deco movement.
Performance details :
3 July (Friday) 2026, 8PM
4 July (Saturday) and 5 July (Sunday) , 4PM
• Language: Performed in English with English & Chinese surtitles
• Duration: ~165 minutes (2h 45m) including a 20-minute intermission
• Doors: Open 15 minutes before
• Age recommendation: 6+
• Tickets: Available online via CloudJoi : https://www.cloudjoi.com/shows/the-merry-widow
About:
The Merry Widow (Franz Lehár) is a sparkling Parisian operetta set in the glamour and bustle of the 1920s. The tiny Balkan state of Pontevedro is on the brink of financial ruin, and its embassy in Paris pins its hopes on the fabulously wealthy widow Hanna Glawari. If Hanna marries a foreigner, her fortune will leave Pontevedro - so the Ambassador, Baron Zeta, schemes to pair her with Count Danilo Danilowitsch, a charming Pontevedrian diplomat and Hanna’s former sweetheart. But Danilo refuses to look like a fortune-hunter, and Hanna is determined not to be loved only for her money.
Around them, a second romantic complication threatens to cause embarrassment at the embassy: Zeta’s young wife Valencienne is tempted by the ardent Frenchman Camille de Rosillon, and a few careless moments could be misread by all the wrong people. Through parties, misunderstandings, and a riotous finale in Hanna’s garden— where she playfully recreates the atmosphere of Maxim’s - Hanna and Danilo are forced to confront what they truly feel. In the end, wit and courage untangle the romantic knots, reputations are saved, and love—rather than greed—wins the day.
Meet the cast
Janet Lee
Janet Lee is a Malaysian vocalist and performer whose career spans jazz, cabaret, opera, musical theatre, and concert stages. Widely known as Malaysia’s Queen of Shanghai Jazz, her work centres on a repertoire that bridges mid-century Mandarin pop, classic American songbook standards, and Malayan swing, presented with strong theatrical sensibility.
Classically trained, Janet completed Trinity College of London’s Performer’s Certificate with distinction in 2004 and received the Outstanding Achiever’s Award. Her vocal training was shaped under baritone Cha Seng Tiang and sopranos Cecilia Yap and Wong Kooi Lan. Since 2008, she has collaborated closely with jazz pianist and composer Tay Cher Siang on numerous projects, and is a founding member of the multilingual vocal trio The Shang Sisters.
Janet’s discography includes three solo albums: Restless Heart (2015), Cinnabar Rouge (2017), and Tea for Two (2023). In addition, she released The Shanghai Sisters EP (2019) and the self-titled The Shang Sisters album (2022) with the trio. The first two solo albums were launched with sold-out concerts at Damansara Performing Arts Centre. Cinnabar Rouge was nominated for Best Popular Evergreen Album and won Best Album Cover Design at the 2018 Malaysia PWH Music Awards. Tea for Two continues to tour locally and internationally.
In August 2025, Janet marked 20 years on stage with Lucky Lee: The 20-Year Journey On Stage with Janet Lee, a self-produced, sold-out three-night concert.
She has appeared in concerts with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, including The Best of Rodgers & Hammerstein (2017), and will return in 2026 for A Journey Through Mandarin Classics. Her theatre credits include I Have a Date with Spring, Butterfly Lovers, Hansel & Gretel , and M ! The Opera. She will star in the title role of The Merry Widow in 2026.
Gui Foo Chen
Sabahan tenor Gui Foo Chen is thrilled to return to his home country and resume his musical journey both within the region and internationally. Praised for “setting the stage for the high caliber of vocals the audience could expect,” as well as for his “perfect clarity” and “incredibly strong voice,” Gui earned his Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Iowa School of Music in 2025, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Élise DesChamps. During his time in Iowa, he had the opportunity to work alongside internationally acclaimed musicians, including opera legend Frederica von Stade, Martin Katz, the renowned male ensemble Cantus, and jazz icon Wynton Marsalis.
Gui’s musical engagements in the United States include operatic roles and appearances as a soloist in major choral works. His operatic credits include Justice Scalia in Scalia/Ginsburg, Rodolfo in La Bohème, and Paolino in Il matrimonio segreto. He has also appeared as tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, among many other works. His recent
achievements include winning the University’s Concerto-Aria Competition 2024, Champion and Lieder Prize at the Chin Yong Vocal Competition 2023, Gold Medal at the National Operatic Singing Competition 2021 organised by Kuala Lumpur City Opera, and Second Runner-Up at the Malaysia National Vocal Competition in 2019.
Since returning to Malaysia, Gui has been performing actively across the country. He currently serves as President of Bayu Voices Collective, a society of Sabahan classical singers which he co-founded with fellow musicians in Sabah. Since its founding in 2024, the collective has presented numerous vocal recitals, including in Kuala Lumpur, and continues to aspire toward expanding its artistic presence both within and beyond Sabah.
Qahar Aqilah
Recent credits include: Young Mozart Voyager (KL City Opera, 2025), The Golden Age of Broadway (KL City Opera, 2025), and Titus Andronicus (lowercase laboratories, 2024). Qahar Aqilah has been primarily an actor, acting teacher, and a voice enthusiast for over 20 years.
He was trained as an actor at the Michael Howard Studios in New York, where he studied VoiceWork with (to name a few) David Wells and the "Shakespeare in the Present" series of workshops with Patsy Rodenburg. Qahar was a Best Supporting Actor (Theatre) nominee at the 17th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2020..
Sharlene Rani
Sharlene balances a career in the aviation industry with a deep dedication to classical singing. Trained under the esteemed baritone Cha Seng Tiang, she brings warmth and thoughtful musicality to her performances, approaching each project with a genuine love for vocal artistry and ensemble music‑making.
As an active member of VerSeS Music Ensembles, she has participated in the ensemble’s Singing Balcony series and in collaborative lecture‑recitals with local universities. Her 2023 season included the titular role of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, as well as performances of Renaissance and Baroque madrigals at the Georgetown Festival.
With VerSeS in 2024, she focused on Bach motets sung one to a part, strengthening her affinity for chamber music and historically informed performance. In May 2025, she appeared as Pamina in KL City Opera’s Young Mozart Voyager, and later that year performed solo and choral roles in Handel’s Dixit Dominus with the Yin Qi Choir.
Whether performing early music, chamber works, or operatic roles, Sharlene is committed to sharing music with sincerity and heart, always striving to communicate with authenticity and deep admiration for the art of singing.
Khoo Wu Ji
Wu Ji is a versatile performer on both recital and operatic stages. Prior to pursuing graduate studies, he received vocal training in Malaysia under Dr. Yap Jin Hin. He subsequently continued his advanced vocal studies at Louisiana State University with distinguished vocal pedagogue Professor Robert Grayson, acclaimed tenor Paul Groves, and baritone Dr. Brandon Hendrickson.
He was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2023 and the Master of Music degree in 2020. His graduate studies were supported by a full scholarship, graduate assistantship, and tuition award.
Wu Ji has performed several roles with the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera at Louisiana State University, including Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, L’Aumônier du Carmel and the 1st Commissaire in Dialogues des Carmélites, Lacouf and Le Journalist in Les Mamelles de Tirésias, and Little Victor Farrell in the collegiate premiere of Kevin Puts’s Elizabeth Cree. As a recitalist, Wu Ji has performed in Louisiana, Thailand, and several states in Malaysia, including Penang and Kuala Lumpur.
Wu Ji’s research interest is centered on Asian composers at the intersection of Western and non- Western musical traditions. He seeks to enrich and diversify the Western song repertoire with works by composers little known outside their cultural orbit but deserving of wider recognition.
His doctoral dissertation highlights two song cycles by the Malaysian composer Wong Chee Yean: Mementos of Innocence and Three Yeats Songs, both of which Mr. Wong expressly composed for Wu Ji’s doctoral project.
With over a decade of experience as a voice teacher, Wu Ji has had the privilege of guiding students from diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. His teaching expertise includes individual voice lessons, song literature, vocal pedagogy, and music history. He currently serves as a full-time lecturer at Sunway University, mentoring the next generation of musicians. A Gold Prize winner at the 2016 Chin Yong Youth Vocal Competition, Wu Ji continues to develop as both an artist and an educator..
Brian Cheong
From an early age, Brian Cheong was captivated by the magic of musicals and the power of a story in song. His musical journey began with The Operafest Children’s Choir, where he performed in productions such as Oliver!, The Student Prince, and South Pacific. These formative experiences nurtured his love for singing and gave him his first opportunities to connect with audiences through performance.
Brian later joined The Canticle Singers, where he sang for 14 years both as a chorister and a featured soloist. With the ensemble, he appeared in numerous concerts and staged works, steadily expanding his repertoire and artistry. Known for his melancholic voice and expressive delivery, he has been praised for bringing sincerity and depth to the music he performs, with audiences likening his singing to “watching a story unfold.”
Beyond choral singing, Brian is active in the local theatre and musical theatre scene. He has performed in The Fall of the House of Usher and Dysphoria with TheatreThreeSixty, as well as musicals including Follow the Light and The Working Dead.
Recently he performed with the KLPAC Orchestra in Magical Musicals II where he sang both roles of The Phantom and Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera suite, and multiple roles in the Dama Orchestra musical: Prelude To Peace - The Legacy of Tan Kah Kee.
Brian looks forward to continuing weaving tapestries of stories through his voice.
Thompson Yunga
Thompson Yunga is a classical singer and vocal lecturer whose work bridges operatic tradition with contemporary musical expression. A graduate of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), he received his vocal training under the guidance of distinguished Malaysian sopranos Syafinaz Selamat and Bui Yik Ling. He has also broadened his artistic craft through a masterclass with renowned vocal pedagogue Loh Siew Tuan.
Thompson’s performance experience spans opera, musical theatre, and concert repertoire. His roles include Shush Toosh in The Merry Widow and Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. He has also appeared as Harold in The Music Man performing “Till There Was You,” and as Billy in Carousel singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Alongside stage productions, he has been featured in various company and corporate events as a solo performer.
Beyond the stage, Thompson serves as a vocal lecturer at UiTM, where he continues to mentor emerging singers and cultivate a deeper appreciation for the art of singing.
Wynn Ch’ng Way Sean
Human, performer and arts management practitioner. Wynn was born and raised in Penang. Later on, he ventured further into performing arts, arts management and cultural policy in Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
He was a bass/baritone in Taiwan National Choir, and worked with reputable orchestras and conductors. At the same time, he took a few solo roles not only in classical music but also singing jazz with the Penang Jazz Society whenever he was back in Malaysia. After he resigned from the choir, he started working as a performer at the Thermos Foundation, doing experimental recitals and educational programmes. He is now an active practitioner in the arts and cultural industries through managing different projects and taking up opportunities to perform. He hopes that through his efforts, he can build a more inclusive arts and culture world where people from all walks of life feel joyful as a result of appreciating the differences between them. .
KLCO 2026 Production Fund
In 2026, Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO) is planning to stage two major productions, and we invite you to be part of making them possible through the KLCO 2026 Production Fund.
Early Support Deadline: 31 March 2026. To help us confirm key costs, artist contracts, and competition planning, we kindly ask for donations by this date.
Your generosity helps fund the real costs of producing opera — artists, orchestra, venue, sets, costumes, and the technical team behind the scenes — and helps us fully realise these productions on stage.
Our 2026 KLCO Productions
The Merry Widow — 3, 4, 5 July 2026
Turandot — 17, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25 October 2026 (save the dates — subject to change)
Why these productions are worth supporting
The Merry Widow — joy, charm, and a perfect “first opera”
One of the most beloved operettas ever written, The Merry Widow sparkles with wit, romance, and unforgettable melodies. It’s a production that welcomes newcomers while delighting long-time opera lovers — a meaningful way to grow audiences and bring more people into the theatre.
Turandot — a grand opera experience
Turandot is a monumental work: dramatic, visually spectacular, and musically unforgettable. It demands scale, artistry, and a strong team — and when it lands, it’s the kind of production people talk about for years. Supporting Turandot means supporting ambition, excellence, and the continued growth of Malaysian opera.
KLCO’s 1st Malaysia Opera Competition (MOC) — 11–12 April 2026
As part of KLCO’s commitment to building the future of opera in Malaysia, we are proud to present the 1st Malaysia Opera Competition (MOC) on 11–12 April 2026 — an initiative to discover and encourage new opera talents in Malaysia.
Why MOC is important
Opera in Malaysia needs a strong pipeline of emerging singers. MOC is designed to identify promising voices, motivate young artists to pursue operatic training, and raise performance standards nationally. It is also a way for audiences and supporters to directly invest in the next generation — so Malaysian opera can continue to thrive.
Contributions to the KLCO 2026 Production Fund also support this broader effort to develop Malaysian opera talent alongside our mainstage productions.
Every Ringgit counts
Opera is expensive to produce, but it’s priceless in what it gives back: artistry, training opportunities for Malaysian singers and musicians, and a cultural legacy we can all be proud of. Whether you give RM100 or RM10,000+, your support directly helps us build these productions responsibly and present them at the standard our audiences deserve.
Individual donation tiers (RM)
RM100 — Friend
RM300 — Supporter
RM500 — Patron
RM1,000 — Benefactor
RM3,000 — Producer’s Circle
RM5,000 — Angel
RM10,000+ — Visionary
Donor acknowledgement
Donor names will be listed as provided (or anonymously upon request) in the program booklet and included in the pre-show credit mention.
How to donate (Bank Transfer)
Bank: Hong Leong Bank
Account Name: KL City Opera PLT
Account No.: 00400178697
After transferring, please email your payment slip to klcityopera@gmail.com
Transfer description/reference: [Your Name] 2026 Production Fund
Benefits are subject to availability; KLCO may offer an equivalent experience if needed.
🎭 KL City Opera Presents 1st malaysia opera competition
The Malaysia Opera Competition 2026 (1MOC2026) is Malaysia's premier platform for discovering and celebrating outstanding vocal talent in opera and classical music. Organized by Kuala Lumpur City Opera, this prestigious national competition invites aspiring and established singers to showcase their artistry on Malaysia's biggest opera stage.
Participants compete for the coveted title of Malaysia Champion and a prize purse of RM3,000, gaining recognition as top vocal talents in the country. The competition welcomes singers of all backgrounds—whether classically trained or self-taught—who possess passion, dedication, and exceptional vocal ability. Registration closes on December 14, 2025, with repertoire finalization and video submission due one month later.
The competition features rigorous judging by an esteemed jury that evaluates voice quality, musicality, diction, and interpretation. For complete details on eligibility, rules, regulations, and the application process, download the Info Pack: bit.ly/moc2026. This is your opportunity to be part of Malaysia's opera legacy—don't miss it! 🎤✨
01.
KL CITY OPERA
Formerly known as ‘Eat, Sing & Travel People’, Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO) was established in 2012 and incorporated on 29 October 2015. Our primary objective is to promote western opera music interests among Malaysians through stage performances and concerts whilst also keeping abreast with the objective in promoting Malaysia’s uniqueness in arts, culture and heritage.
With the aforementioned objectives, our artistic initiatives have culminated in the receipt of 5 BOH Cameronian Kakiseni Arts Award for our productions in L'elisir D'amore” (2014), “Voices & Winds” (2014), “Madama Butterfly” (2018), and “A Grand Night of Opera (2022)”.
Today, KLCO has a roster of over 20 principals singers and a resident chorus of 40 members.
OUR VISION
To be an innovative, inclusive and financially sustainable opera company.
OUR MISSION
To promote an appreciation for western opera and to establish opera as an integral part of the arts and
cultural landscape in Malaysia
To present quality programs consisting of fully staged opera, concert and outreach initiatives while broadening
the scope of activities to encourage and increase participation from communities
Developing emerging talents to nurture and to realize their potential by providing a platform for learning,
experience and growth
OUR VALUES
Organization – manage the company with sound procedures and processes to ensure consistency
and fairness
People – work together as a family based on mutual respect and trust
Excellence - committed to strive for high standards in every facet of our artistic, musical,
production and administration output
Relationship – continuously build long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships
Ambassador – be a champion of the opera art form in our communities to encourage participation and enjoyment