First International Choir Competition Sarawak 2025 opens in Kuching
17 choirs from 5 nations are joining the inaugural event in Borneo
Harmony and unity filled Kuching this evening as the 1st International Choir Competition Sarawak 2025 officially opened. This inaugural event, co-organized by INTERKULTUR and Business Events Sarawak, brings together 17 choirs from 5 nations for a celebration of choral music and cultural exchange in one of Malaysia’s most vibrant regions on the island of Borneo.
The Opening Concert began with a warm welcome from the hosts and a greeting in the spirit of Sarawak with “Salam Sejahtera, Salam Segulai Sejalai”, setting the tone for an evening dedicated to friendship through song. Guests were treated to a captivating cultural dance performance by the Petera Dancer group, symbolizing the rich heritage and diversity of Sarawak.
After that, the audience was treated to performances from participating choirs that showcased the diversity of global choral expression.
The Lúćnica Chorus from Slovakia, one of the country’s most treasured cultural ensembles, brought choral traditions from Eastern Europe to life with “Sanctus” from Missa Brevis by Alexander Brezina and “Let the devils take you, lads!” by Eugen Suchoň.
From the host nation, the Jehté Chamber Choir (Malaysia) delighted with expressive artistry and vocal precision in their rendition of “Occhi, Manza Mia” by Orlando di Lasso.
In their speeches, Ms. Jacqueline Png Tiang Hua, General Manager of Business Events Sarawak, and Mr. Johan Rooze, INTERKULTUR’s Senior Artistic Director, highlighted the unifying power of music and the cultural significance of hosting such an event in Sarawak, emphasizing the importance of creating bridges between cultures through shared artistic experiences.
The Opening Ceremony concluded with an entertaining sing-along activity of all choirs, jurors, and guests, conducted by Johan Rooze. A great start of several days of competitions, concerts, and friendship gatherings throughout Kuching!
The competitions will start on October 16, with performances in different categories evaluated by the international jury members Susanna Saw (Malaysia), Woo Hyo-Won (South Korea) and Randolph Stenson (USA/Japan).
The detailed program of the next days can be found in the official program book of the event.
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