By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 4: St Joseph’s Private Schools (SJPS) has delivered an unforgettable celebration of talent and emotion at its biennial ‘Rhythm and Colour: Wonder – Seeking Truth, Goodness, and Beauty’ concert.
Held on Aug 2 and 3 at Dewan Majma Kuching, the concert, supported by Majlis Seni Sarawak (MSS), featured award-winning student performances that left audiences spellbound and inspired.
“Each biennial ‘Rhythm and Colour’ concert, since its inception in 2016, has carried a meaningful theme, and this year’s is no different.
“True to this year’s theme, the audience was treated to a diverse range of performing arts items that evoked a sense of wonder, guiding them through a full spectrum of emotions and experiences.
“The mesmerising music, songs, and dances offered subtle means to contemplate what lies beyond perceived reality and to appreciate life’s beauty more deeply,” read a press release.
The schools’ award-winning Chinese Music Club set the tone with ‘春华秋实’ (Spring Flowers, Autumn Fruits). Cristal Chung from St Joseph’s International School enchanted the audience with her graceful moves in two solo dances, ‘Whispers of the Garden’ and ‘Wiser’.
Further highlighting the theme was a violin duet by St Joseph’s International School students, who performed Alexander Rybak’s lively piece, ‘Fairytale’. The theme carried through to a charming performance by the adorable Primary School Dancers in ‘Little Wonders, Beautiful Together’. Their seniors, the SJPS Contemporary Dancers, enthralled the audience with synchronised movements in ‘Breakthrough’.
Interlaced among the award-winning performances were several unexpected elements that delighted the crowd. One standout act was the OG Wonder Boys, who brought the house down with their renditions of all-time favourites ‘Nobody’ and ‘Shut Up and Dance’. Their energetic performance of ‘Bekikis Bulu Betis’ even brought some members of the audience to their feet.
Another standout performance was a captivating dance that blurred the lines between traditional and contemporary, presented by the award-winning St Joseph’s Private Secondary School Dancers. Entitled ‘镜·界’ or ‘Border of Reflection’, the piece combined elements of Chinese opera, such as masks and flags, with modern choreography, leaving the audience spellbound while prompting reflection on the meaning of personal identity.
At the other end of the spectrum were the cultural dancers, who honoured traditional dance choreography with their performance, ‘The Rhythm of Warriors’, and the award-winning SJPS Lion Dancers, who had the audience on the edge of their seats with a thrilling duel between two lions. Their acrobatic feats seemed to defy gravity.
The angelic voices of the St Joseph’s Private Primary School Choir then filled the hall with a heartfelt prayer, ‘May a Rainbow Run Beside You’, followed by the ever-popular children’s song, ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’. These young performers recently won a gold award in the Sarawak International Choral Festival’s Children’s Category.
Not to be outdone, their seniors, the well-known St Joseph’s Private Secondary School Chamber Choir, also earned gold awards at the same festival with their renditions of folk songs ‘天黑黑’ or ‘Dark Clouds’ and ‘Pek Ketipak Ketipung’. Their voices reached a harmonious crescendo with the Latin hymn ‘Cantate Domino’, before guiding the audience into deeper reflection with the Korean piece ‘Mon Nee Joh’, themed on life and death.
This emotionally resonant moment set the stage for the concert’s climactic point: a powerful, award-winning dance titled ‘未被听见的滴答’ or ‘Untold Ticks of Time’, performed by the St Joseph’s Secondary School dancers. The piece conveyed a moving message of filial piety.
The schools’ award-winning Concert Band then lifted spirits with lively renditions of familiar favourites like ‘Puteri Santubong’ and a recent composition, ‘Concert March No 1 – Joyous Life!’. Continuing this uplifting theme, the String Ensemble performed a beautiful medley including P Ramlee’s ‘Getaran Jiwa’ and the beloved folk tune ‘Chan Mali Chan’.
For the Grand Finale, the music, combined with the voices of the SJPS Chamber Choir and all performers, culminated in a touching group rendition of ‘Sparkle’ from the animated film Your Name (Kimi No Na Wa), arranged by the concert’s creative director, Benedict Lo.
The impressive set of performances continued the school’s long-standing tradition of excellence in the performing arts.
To carry this tradition forward, a new school building with learning facilities and dedicated spaces for the performing arts is currently under construction. All proceeds from the concert were channelled to the School Building Fund.
St Joseph’s Private Schools chief executive officer (CEO) Christopher Chua expressed gratitude to MSS for their continued support.
“Our school productions serve as a platform that nurtures young leaders not just in the performing arts but also for our society at large.
“We are grateful to MSS for recognising the work we are doing, as they supported us in our 2022 school production, ‘Us and Them: A Story of Ours’, and this year’s ‘Rhythm and Colours: Wonder’. Their support helps our young leaders to achieve greater heights,” he said.
Chua also thanked the teachers, staff, students, parents, supporters and well-wishers who have contributed to the success of the concert.
“At St Joseph’s, performing arts is integral to our curriculum. We believe that true learning happens not only in the classroom but also outside of it.
“Through music, drama, and dance, our students learn to express themselves, to collaborate, to persevere, and to work with others.”
Gracing the two-night event were Archbishop Dato Simon Poh and MSS acting CEO Awang Ikman Awang Sepian on the first night, followed by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and members of the SJPS Board of Management on the second. — DayakDaily
