Due to the deep-rooted interest in percussion music and to bolster the efforts to commercialise the genre, PENSO was formed in the year 2013 to cater for these purposes. The group name came from the words Percussion Ensemble of National Symphony Orchestra of Malaysia. Being the brainchild of its leader, Mr. Chia Cheng Kok, Percussion & Timpani player from Malaysia National Symphony Orchestra, the team comprises of 16 regular members.
PENSO is an outreach program by National Symphony Orchestra, and PENSO wishes to introduce more variety of the percussion instruments and percussion ensemble repertoire to the public, especially schools, universities etc. PENSO also will include more young musicians to let them have more opportunities to play together with the entire wonderful professional percussion members in the ensemble.
Musicians from PENSO do not pay any fees to join this ensemble. PENSO depends on donations and sponsors from well-wishes and performance to raise the necessary funds to carry out our vision and mission. PENSO has put up a few free admission concerts, performed at private functions and joined international competition. In addition, members have the opportunities to attend workshop conducted by experienced/ professional musicians.
PENSO Vision & Mission
PENSO was eager to communicate the breadth of its activities to its audiences and we therefore embarked on coming up with a new vision and mission. In coming up with the new vision, PENSO combined the values of innovation, collaboration, curiosity, egalitarianism, education and community with a summary of what the ensemble stands for the vision as follows:
PENSO Achievement/ Involvement
2015- Champion in Winter Guard International (WGI) in International Open Categories and
National Open Categories in Malaysia
(Klpac)
- Invited to perform at Malaysia Institute of Accountants(MIA) annual performance.
2014 - Workshop with David Herbert (Principal Timpanist of Chicago Symphony Orchestra) at Singapore
2013 - Founded by Mr. Chia Cheng Kok, Percussionist/ Timpanist of National Symphony
Orchestra
PENSO Members