That is one of the ideas behind the Kuala Lumpur Orchestra Festival (FOKL) 2026, which is offering free performances and educational workshops throughout the month, giving audiences a closer look at the people and instruments behind orchestral music.
Organised by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), the festival runs until June 28 and features orchestras from Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and China.
Among its recent programmes was a workshop introducing participants to the oboe, French horn and flute – instruments that often play an important role in shaping the emotional character of orchestral works and film scores.
For Damrih Banawityakit, head of the creative music department at Silpakorn University in Thailand, the oboe is among the orchestra’s most distinctive voices.
Often entrusted with lyrical melodies, its sound can cut through an entire orchestra despite its relatively small size.
“It often plays beautiful and expressive melodies, which is why we sometimes describe the oboe as the ‘main actress’ of the orchestra – because it naturally draws attention,” he told Bernama.
Damrih, who has over four decades of experience in the oboe, said mastering the instrument requires years of practice.
This is particularly because oboists typically make and adjust their own reeds – a delicate, vibrating mouthpiece – which significantly influence the quality of the sound produced.
Silpakorn University faculty of music lecturer Supreeti Ansvananda, meanwhile, described the French horn as one of the orchestra’s most versatile instruments.
Frequently heard in classical works as well as Hollywood soundtracks, its sound is often associated with heroism, romance, and moments of tension.
“People hear the French horn all the time in movies, especially in Hollywood films, but many may not realise what instrument they are specifically listening to,” he said.
“From soft emotional scenes to battles and heroic moments, the French horn is always there.”
Supreeti addded that the instrument plays a unique role in the orchestra as it can blend with both brass and woodwind sections while supporting harmony and melody.
Elswhere, instructor Worapon Kanweerayothin said the flute brings another dimension to orchestral music as it is capable of sounding bright and playful in one piece, then soft and reflective in the next.
The instrument is commonly associated with romantic melodies and wedding performances because of its light and soothing sound.
Worapan noted that many beginners assume the flute is easier to learn than other wind instruments, but stressed that producing a clear and consistent tone can be surprisingly challenging.
“Without a good tone, so many notes you play mean nothing. The tone is the music,” he said.
For festival organisers, such workshops are part of a broader effort to make orchestral music more accessible, and encourage greater appreciation of the musicians and instruments that bring it to life.
Learn more about FOKL 2026 by clicking here.