In The Media
New Straits Times, Life Is, 26 March 2001
'Singing angels' soldier on
By
Julia Jaafar
"IT is about time that choirs were highlighted in the media so that people will take notice of the talents we have."
This was the first thing Kam Sun-Yoke said when met at the Raintree Club in Kuala Lumpur recently.
"Believe it or not, Malaysian children can sing and have proven to be on par with internationally-renowned singing groups."
Needless to say, Kam was proudly referring to her "singing angels" - members of the Operafest Children's Choir.
The youngsters have, after all, sung with the Vienna Boys Choir and Trinity Boys Choir, received standing ovations and citations from appreciative quarters who have heard them sing in countries like Spain, Greece , Australia, Singapore, Macedonia and the US.
Since its inception in 1986, the children of Operafest have travelled the world.
Its latest feat was being one of 100 choirs from around the world invited to perform at last year's Cantapueblo Festival in Brazil. The festival, which Kam described as the "singing event of the year", was organised by the Coppla Foundation in collaboration with Unesco.
Ironically, not many of us here have been touched by its reputedly angelic voice.
"Overseas, choir singing is like sunshine and fresh air. The love for singing should be cultivated in young people because they are exhuberant and vibrant," said Kam, whose "children" were invited to perform at the club, which plans to set up its own choir.
Kam described choir singing as fresh, healthy and expressive, aside from helping to develop and strengthen memory and power of concentration, discipline and self-confidence.
"The children get standing ovations and are praised for their beautiful voices when they perform. They are like the nation's little ambassadors, doing Malaysia proud," she said.
"But sadly, the majority of Malaysians do not even know who they are, let alone heard them sing," added the founder and director of the singing troupe.
Operafest consists of 45 boys and girls between eight and 18 years. They have no proper place to rehearse and depend on funds from their families.
"Getting corporate sponsors is a big problem for us, either to hold performances locally or to take part in events overseas.
"Perhaps, it is because choral singing is not really entrenched in Malaysian culture. But what a shame because it is a beautiful and enriching art," said Kam.
However, thanks to support from the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Operafest was privileged to take part in the Cantapueblo Festival.
"It was a magnificent three-week affair which saw choristers unite for the love of song.
"Until Malaysians develop a love for singing, it will be a long time before the glorious union of music and voice can be enjoyed at such as scale."
Determined to encourage the growth of choirs, music and the arts, Operafest, in collaboration with the Culture, Arts and Tourism Ministry, plans to invite the Mandolin Youth Orchestra from Macedonia (under conductor Shukri Ramadhan), the Macedonian Children's Choir and child musicians to perform in Kuala Lumpur.
The performance is scheduled to take place in August, in conjunction with National Day celebrations.
"And if all goes well, there will also be a performance by `The Three Sopranos', consisting of a singer from Macedonia, another from South Africa and me," said Kam, who was the first Malaysian to sing in the Barcelona Music Festival about five years ago.
She also said "her children" have been invited to India to present Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific in July.
Their trip, sponsored by several organisations in India, will cover Bangalore , Madras, New Delhi and Bombay.
Even though they're accustomed to performing before audiences of 3,000 to 4,000, the Operafest Children's Choir gladly entertained some 100 members of the Raintree Club and their children.
From operetta versions of West Side Story, Carmen and Oliver, the crowd was happily tapping away.
Edwin Das, chairman of the club's entertainment and recreation committee, said the club's move to set up a children's choir was motivated by the belief that a singing group offers a fresh healthy and positive form of recreation for its members' children.
* The writer can be contacted at lifeis@nstp.com.my |
