First appearance by RTM Orchestra on National Day parade 2022

KUALA LUMPUR: The challenge to conduct a 30-member Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Orchestra in an open area to accompany performances during the National Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka today will remain etched in RTM music director Datuk Mokhzani Ismail's memory.

It was his first involvement in such an event. Despite the heat and standing on an open stage, the performance, with him conducting the 65 musicians and 65 choir members, went smoothly and kept the crowd engrossed by playing patriotic songs.

He said the number 65 was picked to mark the country's 65th year of Independence.

"Thank God, the weather was fine today. The performance went well just now, every segment and part was completed successfully," he told Bernama today.

Mokhzani, who has served with RTM for 33 years, said he felt proud to be abe to bring the country's oldest orchestra live to the Malaysian Family to enliven the National Day celebration at Dataran Merdeka.

Among the songs played by the RTM Orchestra, today were Nyalakan Tekad, Malaysia Berjaya, Gemuruh, Warisan, and the National Day theme song, Keluarga Malaysia Teguh Bersama, which is composed by Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

-- BERNAMA