CELEBRATING A DECADEOF SINGING TOGETHER!

Choral Competition & WorkshopIPOH, PERAK

15 – 18 NOV 2012

Welcome to the 10th Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod, Ipoh! This year’s competition is special because it is a collaboration with the Perak Society of Performing Arts – a group of old friends whom I am very glad to work with. I have always admired their passion in handling music events for the

people in Perak, and I am very grateful that they are willing to work with us as well.

This competition is organised on a small scale, but we hope that all the participants will be able

to learn from each other, and also from our three friendly and experienced members of the jury.

I would like to extend my deepest thanks and gratitude to the headmistress of SJK (C) Ave Maria Convent, Madam Tan Lee Ei, and the

principal of SMJK Sam Tet, Mr. Lau Swee Mun for allowing us to use their school compounds. Their kindness and support is very much appreciated!

I would also like to say a big thank you to all the participating choir teachers and choir

members for supporting this event, and hope that everyone will enjoy their time in Ipoh.

GREETINGS from THE FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Susanna Saw

Festival Founder & Director of The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod

Choral Competition & Workshopis organised by

PERAK STATE NON-ISLAMIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Choral Competition & Workshopis co-organised by

Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA) is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1996 to encourage and develop a greater knowledge

and understanding of the arts in the state of Perak. The Society plays a crucial role in the enrichment, growth and practice of the

arts and aims to bring about a more vibrant performing arts culture in Perak. To this end, the Society has collaborated with government

departments, schools, music centres and institutes, as well as local and foreign arts groups. It seeks to engage with talents from all walks of life and age groups, harness and tap existing talents in music, song, dance and drama, foster creative expression, and provide exposure

to those who wish to pursue a career in the performing arts.

PERAK SOCIETY OF PERFORMING ARTSNO.28, JALAN SULTAN AZLAN SHAH, 31400 IPOH,

PERAK DARUL RIDZUAN

TEL & FAX : 605-5487814E-MAIL : pspaipoh@gmail.comBLOG : pspablog.blogspot.com

Friends of the Arts,

“Sing …..Sing a song….. Sing out loud! Sing out strong!”

Singers are the harmony of the performing arts world linking all the vital elements to tell a good story. They make a sad story more touching, they enable ‘falling in love’ to transform into a magical and glorious

experience and turn an exciting moment in a story into a huge crescendo.

It is with much pride and pleasure that the Perak Society of Performing Arts on behalf of the Perak State Non- Islamic Affairs Department

welcome all the choirs to our beloved city of Ipoh. We are happy to be able to welcome you during this “Visit Perak Year!” We especially would like to thank YB Dato Mah Hang Soon for his enormous generosity to host this event here at the SUK Dewan Serbaguna which gives the 10th Malaysian Eisteddfod Competition 2012 prestige and official recognition.

This competition would not be possible without the collaboration of the Young Choral Academy headed by Susanna Saw, a dear friend and colleague who spent a good part of her early teaching career in Ipoh.

We are fortunate that Ipoh still holds a dear place in her heart and thus, encouraged her with her team to bring this competition here this year.

The organisation of any event requires many folks joining hands together. Things always go smoothly when there is a excellent lead. This we found in Pak Peter, our organising chairperson. We thank

Pak Peter’s team & Susanna’s team on their excellent support.

To the judges, your presence is most appreciated and I am sure the task although daunting will be indisputedly fair. The scrutiny of your comments, master classes and workshops will be invaluable to every

choir present here. I know you have travelled far and wide to come to our little city and we hope we will send you home with good memories.

Last but not least we thank you, members of the choirs for your dedication and love for your art. We hope we have helped you in a small way to climb to yet another level on your journey of song. We wish for you greater things in the very near future.

Best of Luck!

GREETINGS from THE PRESIDENT of PSPA

Datin RosalinaOoi-Thong President of thePerak Society of Performing Arts

 

CHORAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL JURY

CHORAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL JURY

BRANKO STARK (1954), is a composer, conductor, vocologist and phonopedagogue. He graduated from Zagreb Music Academy.

His creative work includes composing more than 180 vocal and instrumental works for

which he received several prestigious awards and acknowledgements. As a conductor, he

specialized in choral music, and has directed and worked with more than twenty professional and amateur choirs, including the Croatian

Radio &Television Choir, Lado Ensemble and others. He held a position of choir director in the Comedy Theatre (Zagreb City Theatre).

In the field of phonopedagogy, he has trained singers, choir conductors, actors, speech

therapists, phoneticians and rhetoricians, and has been involved in the speech therapy of the hearing-impaired. As an invited speaker, he has participated at many international symposiums and academic conferences on voice pedagogy in Croatia and abroad. He is a guest lecturer at many universities. His particular field of

interest lies in the vocal theory and academic and pedagogical research in voice, as well as in publishing scientific papers on the above issues.

He has founded the international societies Phonia, Croatian Association of Choral Conductors and Vocal Academy (a specialized pedagogical

system for the training of the speaking and singing voice). He is also a member of International

Committee of Choir Olympics and International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) where he

participates in the role as an advisor for Croatia.

Branko Stark(Croatia)

Francis Liew, an accomplished Singaporean choral director, was trained as a lyric tenor under

Mdm Huang Phay Ching at the age of 18. He has sung with several premier choirs and conducted his church choir and several combined church choirs from 1980-2004. As a free lance choral

conductor, he now conducts and trains 10 choirs.

His forte is working with young and average choirs and transforming them into respectable choirs in very short time. Several of them have turned into award winning choirs both locally

and internationally. The Singing Saints, the top boys choir in Singapore having garnered 3

consecutive Gold(with Honours) Awards at the biennial Singapore Youth Festival Competition

2008, 2010, 2012 and Gold Diploma at the 36th Festival of Songs, Olomouc, is one fine example.

Believing in providing opportunities for his choirs not just locally, he has led his choirs to festivals

and competitions in USA, Czech Republic, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong.

Francis is a founding member of the Choral Directors’ Association of Singapore having served a term as immediate past President

and 3 terms as Vice President. He is also the Artistic Director of the 21st Century Arts

Festival-International Choral Competition in Genting, Malaysia and organiser of the Choral

Festival - “Concordis” in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

Francis Liew(Singapore)

Yap Jin Hin recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Louisiana State University (LSU). A protégé of the noted American tenor, Robert Grayson, Mr. Yap

has appeared in leading roles with a number of opera companies in the USA. Among his

performances are Anatol in Vanessa with the Nevada Opera; Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville; Tamino in The Magic Flute with both Opera Louisiane and the Acadiana Symphony. In 2012 he performed Rodolfo in La Bohème

with Opera in the Ozarks. At the Italian festival La Musica Lirica he sang Alfredo in La Traviata. His wide-ranging repertoire includes

performances of Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola, the title role in Romeo et Juliet, Narrator (Male

Chorus) in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia.

Mr. Yap has been active, as well, on the concert stage with appearances as featured soloist

with the Baton Rouge Symphony and the Lake Charles Handel Society in Messiah; with the LSU

Symphony in Rossini’s Stabat Mater; and with the McNeese University Orchestra and Choirs

in Dubois’ The Seven Last Words of Christ.

A veteran of two young artist programs---Chicago Opera Theater and the Des Moines

Metro Opera---Yap Jin Hin has been a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and has been a recipient of the Paul Groves

Scholarship, named for the famed international tenor whose birthplace is Louisiana, and the Frances Greer Award, given by the estate of the renowned Metropolitan soprano.

Dr. Yap Jin Hin(Malaysia)

MCE 2012 COMPETITION& WORKSHOP

ORGANISING TEAM

PSPA Management CommitteeDatin Rosalina Ooi-Thong - President

Gavin Tang - Vice PresidentPak Peter - Honorary Secretary

Angeline Lim - Assistant Honorary SecretaryDoreen Kam - Honorary Treasurer

Patricia Vytialingam, Alan Wong, Teng Geok Peng, Datin Mina Ushiama, Sylvia Wong, Stanley Lim, Daimler Tan, Charles

Pooley, Derek Yeap, Michelle Francis - Committee Members

MCE 2012 Organising CommitteePak Peter - Organising Chairman / Markerting PRRyonn Leong, Kevinder Singh - Project Directors

Sylvia Wong - Co-Chair / Choral AdvisorSusanna Saw - Advisor

Stella Choo & Angeline Lim - Front of House / UshersDoreen Kam - Treasurer

Stanley Lim - Souvenir Programmes / EditingMichelle Francis - Press / Publicity

Chia Hoo Kit - Technical & Stage ManagerWitzi Leong - Box Office Manager

Alan Wong & Derek Yeap - Logistics / Refreshments / TransportKevinder Singh - Liaisions Coordinator

Teng Geok Peng & Charles Pooley - Individual Liaisons Coordinators

Sara E. Fernandez - Permit & Office SupportJoel Wong - Graphic DesignerChia Hoo Kit - Stage Manager

Andrew Sanjay, Davin Chang - Asst. Stage ManagersFoo Wei Hou - Jury Secretary

CHORAL COMPETITION INTERNATIONAL JURY

Dewan SUK, Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan

Jln Istana, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.

9am-2pm Sound Check

2pm-430pm CompetitionC1 – Children’s Category

C4 – Open Category

430pm-5pm Announcement of Results, Award Ceremony

830pm-930pm Workshop at Dewan SUK

9am-2pm CompetitionC2 – Youth Mixed CategoryC3 – Youth Equal Category

730pm-930pm Announcement of Results, Award Ceremony,

Friendship Concert

Departure Day! Safe trip!

SJK (C) Ave Maria ConventJln Chung Thye Phin, 30250 Ipoh, Perak.

9am-6pm Registration(Choirs from outside Perak)

*3pm-5pm Registration(Choirs from Perak)

* Subject to change

7pm-730pm Meeting with Choir Representative / Conductor

8pm-930pm Opening Ceremony & Dinner

5pm-630pm Choir Exchange & Masterclass

230pm-530pm Choir Exchange, Masterclass &

Meet the Jury Session

Venue

15 NOV(THURS)

16 NOV(FRI)

17 NOV(SAT)

18 NOV(SUN)

COMPETITION & WORKSHOP SCHEDULE15 – 18 NOV 2012

Founded by two Malaysian choral conductors, Susanna Saw and Mak Chi Hoe in 2003, the

Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE) was formerly known as The Young Singers Choral Festival (YSCF).

Two major components of this Festival include:

i. Choir competitionan avenue to showcase their talents and compete

in a choir competition that is judged with the international choral scoring standard guidelines

by a panel of international adjudicators.

ii. Choral festivalwith international renowned guest tutors

conducting various workshops, master classes, and concluding with a closing ceremony concert.

The main objectives of hosting this festival within the Malaysian music community are:

i. Expose young singers to the many differing international choral trends and developments

ii. Educate participants on the various musical aspects and techniques involved in the

art of choral singing and performance.

iii. Encourage the development of choral singing among schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning in Malaysia by providing a platform for young choral singers to meet, interact and learn from each other.

THE MALAYSIANCHORAL EISTEDDFOD

Eisteddfod [ahy – steth – vod], a word in the music tome of terminology, brings forth the meaning of an annual competitive festival of

poets, musicians, writers and artists who are involved in artistic competitions of their craft.

2003 – 2007

2008 onwards

information correct at time of print

1st Young Singers Choral Festival (YSCF)in Ipoh, Perak

• 1 day symposium • approx. 300 participants• Focused on singing, conducting & drama

2nd YSCF in Federal Hotel, KL• 3 days symposium • approx. 180 participants

• 1 foreign guest tutor:Martin Nagashima Toft, Denmark

3rd YSCF in YMCA, KL• 5 days symposium • approx. 250 participants

• 8 performing guest choirs• 2 international guest tutors:

Marcus LaPratt, USAMartin Nagashima Toft, Denmark,

• Featured Saidah Rastam’s composition “Hello”

6th YSCF in klpac, KL• 4 days symposium + 1 day competition

• approx. 280 participants• 2 international & 2 Malaysian guest tutors:

Prof Andre de Quardros, USA | Branko Stark, Croatia | Julliette Lai, Johor | Lee Shiak Yao, KL • Introduction of Children Choir’s Competition

with 8 participating choirs• Premier of Festival theme song,

“Not Alone Anymore”

5th YSCF in klpac, KL• 5 days symposium • approx. 280 participants

• 6 Malaysian guest tutors:Dr. Ramona Tahir | Dr. Joe Chelliah Abdullah

Dr. Chong Pek Lin | Juliette LaiIan Lim Kean Seng | Lee Shiak Yao

• 10 performing guest choirs• Introduction of teacher’s category

4th YSCF in Bangunan Bakti TTDI, KL• 3 days symposium • approx. 250 participants:

• 1 international & 1 Malaysian guest tutor:Dr. Susan Medley, USA | Lee Shiak Yao, KL

• Voices of Hope Charity program performance

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2003 CELEBRATING A DECADEOF SINGING TOGETHER!

7th YSCF renamed toMalaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE)• Held in SMK Seafield, Subang Jaya• 3 days symposium + 2 days competition• approx. 400 participants• Philippines won Category Champion for Youth• Seminar for educators and music teacherson Kodály Method in teaching choral singing• 4 foreign & 1 Malaysian guest tutors:Prof Andre de Quadros, USA | Branko Stark, Croatia | Dr. Suzan Wong, Singapore | Jason Ong, Singapore | Julliette Lai, Johor

8th MCE in klpac, KL• 3 days symposium + 3 days competition• approx. 800 participants• Co organised with Interkultur, Germany• Extended international competition participation from Canada, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Philippines, & Singapore.• Canada won Category Champion for youth.• New competition categories introduced.• 7 international guest tutors & Competition Jury:Aida Swenson, Indonesia | Branko Stark, CroatiaIan Lim Kean Seng, Malaysia | Jonathan Velasco, Philippines | Lai Yuan Kui, China | Sonya Keogh, Ireland | Tommyanto Kandisaputra, Indonesia

9th MCE outreach programme• symposiums across Malaysia:KL, Selangor, Perak, & Sarawak.• approx. 300 participants per state• 5 Malaysian tutors:Susanna Saw | Tracy Wong | Lai Suk YinNg Jin Keat | Lex Balakrishnan

10th MCE outreach programme & MCE International Competition• Series of symposium and festivals across Malaysiasupported by Dana Belia 1 Malaysia• MCE International Choir Competition:15-18 Nov (Ipoh, Perak) | Co-organised withPerak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA)

2009

2010

2011

2012

Ipoh International School

Harmonix Youth Choirsmk damansara jaya

COMPETING CHOIRS

Sam Tet Voicessmjk sam tet

Dunearn Secondary School

SJK (C) Kung Man

SMJK Nan Hwa

SJK (C) Ave Maria Convent

SJK (C) Chung Cheng

SJK (C) Chung Hwa, Damansara

KL Children’s ChoirIntermediate Level

SK Taman Megah

Melodious Singerssmk catholic high

SMK Tarcisian Convent

SMK Seafield

SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman

M.I.A. Ladies Chorus

MCE 2012 SYMPOSIUMPENANG8 – 10 JUNE 2012

MCE 2012 SYMPOSIUMKUALA LUMPUR

25 – 27 MAY 2012

is supported by

The Malaysian youth of today have the talent and the capacity to influence their communities and shape the direction of this

country. Our strength in diversity – in our different ethnicities, our skills and our numerous interests – makes us a potent force.

Dana Belia 1Malaysia is a platform for young people to channel their talent and energy towards promoting youth development in this country.

It offers youth an opportunity to realise their dreams, building upon what Malaysia had come to symbolise: a country where people of all creed and color call home and prosper together as one people.

We welcome the youth of Malaysia to share their dreams, the story behind their dreams and the journey to make them a reality.

Together, we can build a better future for all.

www.1mdb.com.my/danabelia

facebook: Dana Belia 1Malaysia

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSY.B. Dato Mah Hang Soon

Y. Bhg. Datin Rosalina Ooi-Thong (President of PSPA)En Amir Asyraf (Dana Belia 1Malaysia)

En Mohd Izuan Faizal Abu Sujat (Dana Belia 1Malaysia)Mr KC Lam

Ms Jeanne J. SawMr Lee Chai HuatMs Ong Chiew Kim

Ms Vivian LingMr Goh Boon Poh

Mr Chow Wei Heng

SJK(C) Ave Maria Convent, IpohPrincipal, Madam Tan Lee Ei

Puan Phan

SMJK Sam Tet, IpohPrincipal, Mr Lau Swee Mun

Puan Tong Soon Li

Helpers from SMJK Sam Tet

Participating schools, teachers-in-charge of choirs and PrincipalsFamily, friends, & supporters of the Young Choral Academy