By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 22: The Kuching Choral Society, in collaboration with the Young Choral Academy Kuala Lumpur, is organising the inaugural Sarawak Choral Festival, which will take place from June 21 to June 23.
According to a statement released by the Kuching Choral Society today, its president, Benedict Lo, warmly invites local and international choirs and music enthusiasts to participate in this festival.
“In addition, Kuching will be the host of an international choir competition in 2025,” Lo said in the statement, with the Sarawak Choral Festival playing as a prelude to the prestigious event.
In addition, the festival will feature a panel of esteemed judges, including Serbian Assistant Professor Vladimir Opačić, who is recognised for accolades such as the ‘Outstanding Choral Teacher Award’ at the World Choir Festival 2023 in Hong Kong.
Joining him will be Tommyanto Kandisaputra and Susanna Saw, renowned figures in regional choral circles. The former serves as founder and artistic director of Studio Cantorum Bandung Choir and Orchestra, Bandung Choral Society, and the Bali International Choir Festival, and the latter is a lecturer and choir director at the Faculty of Music at the University of Malaya (UM) and the Malayan Institute of Art (MIA).
Following this outstanding panel of judges, Lo said, “Having a panel of international adjudicators on our shores in Sarawak’s first-ever choral festival provides a rare and golden chance for participating choirs to learn more and hone their skills.
“It is a platform to cultivate young talents and pass the baton of musicianship and cultural tradition to our youths”.
Kuching Choral Society is a non-profit organisation that has brought together choir members from diverse backgrounds since 2019. Some members formed the Kuching Christmas Concert Choir, which won the Christmas Song Category at the Second World Virtual Choir Festival 2020.
Registration for the choir festival will be open until May 26, and volunteers are more than welcome. They may contact the organiser at kuchingchoralsociety@gmail.com for more details. — DayakDaily
