PHNOM PENH (Kyodo) -- A Japan-sponsored charity concert kicked off Friday in Cambodia to raise funds for poor and visually impaired Cambodian children and to raise awareness among younger people of all types of music.
The Nippon Foundation-supported ASEAN Symphony Orchestra is in Phnom Penh to help raise funds for the Association of the Blind in Cambodia, which will in turn provide help for poor children.
Yoshikazu Fukumura, known as one of Japan's most versatile maestros, conducted the orchestra of 50 regional musicians along with eight Cambodian musicians.
Most of the orchestra members are from the 10 ASEAN member states.
Speaking at the opening of the concert, Boun Mao, executive director of the Association of the Blind in Cambodia, said all money raised will be for a project allowing "low-vision children to gain an education."
He added the project is being run in Kampong Cham and Kampong Speu provinces where many poor and impaired children will directly benefit from the funds donated.
The ASEAN orchestra will return to Cambodia on ASEAN Day, Aug. 8 next year, when Cambodia will be the host and chair of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations.
Maestro Fukumura was appointed as the first chief conductor of the ASEAN Symphony Orchestra at the 17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi a year ago.
He was already known for working with young and emerging orchestras, having made several recordings and conducted at festivals and subscription concerts in many Asian countries.
The ASEAN members are Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar.
(Mainichi Japan) October 8, 2011)
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