Metro

Friday April 3, 2009

Orchids to bloom at Grand Prix Gala

By JADE CHAN


THE Mayang Sari grand ballroom at the JW Marriott, Kuala Lumpur, will be blooming with orchids as these flowers will be featured as the key decor for tonight’s Malaysian Grand Prix Gala 2009.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah are the guests-of-honour at the gala, hosted by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The guest list includes cabinet ministers, socialites and representatives from F1 teams like BMW Sauber, McLaren, Toyota and Force India.

According to Hafez Mohamed, a director of event organiser Allsports Services Sdn Bhd, the ballroom will be completely decked with orchids, with other items added to create an overall glittery and retro feel.

“We have ordered nearly 1,000 pots of four to five species of orchids. They will be arranged in varying heights and styles around the ballroom,” Hafez said.

Exquisite: Thousands of stalks of orchids in varying shades of purple will be used to adorn the ballroom.

“In keeping with the gala’s purple and gold colour theme, the orchids will come in different shades of purple, or white with shades of purple,” he said.

Hafez said he was grateful to the hotel management for allowing his staff to start the preparations earlier than originally scheduled.

“We did the unloading and technical set-up on Wednesday night and started on the decor as well. We spent the whole of yesterday getting the stage and sound system ready and also conducted the sound check last night,” he said.

Veteran R&B singer JT Taylor, formerly the frontman of Kool & The Gang, will be the headlining act at the gala.

Taylor is the voice, songwriter and producer of some of Kool & The Gang’s greatest hits like Celebration, Too Hot, Ladies Night, Get Down On It, Cherish, Fresh.

Besides these hits, he is scheduled to perform his solo numbers like All I Want Is Forever (his number one hit with Regina Belle) and Long Hot Summer Nights.

Budding local performer Najwa Mahiaddin, meanwhile, will kickstart the gala with a line-up of several cover songs and some of her own.

Taylor: He is formerly the frontman of Kool & The Gang.

“It’s been our tradition to pick an up-and-coming talent to complement the international act’s performance,” Hafez said.

“This is an opportunity for the local act to shine and showcase their talent at an important event, which would also help boost their career,” he said.

Those who had performed at the four previous galas include Jaclyn Victor, Liza Hanim, Greg Lyons and Melissa Indot.

An exclusive post-gala party known as the Fashion TV Party will also be held, with 300 guests comprising the who’s who of KL, at the Shook!@Starhill Gallery. The Fashion TV is presented by renowned watchmaker Richard Mille, with GM Mumm’s Champagne as a co-sponsor.

According to Hafez, Fashion TV will be flying in a team to broadcast the event, including emcee Ania.

“We will be using lasers as part of the ambient lighting to make the dance floor more exciting.

“The decor will be minimalist, while the six private lounges will be dressed up with crystal floor lamps and such,” he said.

“There is also a specially commissioned DJ console enhanced with crystals for the Fashion TV logo.

“The dance floor will have a checkered flag design, in line with it being a party held before the F1 race,” Hafez said.

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