In The Media
New Straits Times, Life & Times, 14 December 2002
Operafest to 'bow-wow' for pooches
By Adam Ismail
COMING together with one voice and heart. That's what the Operafest Children's Choir will be doing after being touched by the plight of 60- year-old Kang Gaik Kee who has dedicated her life to taking care of stray dogs.
The choir will present "One Voice, One Bow-Wow" at the Great Eastern Hall in Kuala Lumpur today, tomorrow and on Dec 20 to raise funds for Kang.
The widow made a commitment to take care of 80 stray dogs that are either sick, abused or abandoned. She has used all her savings to care for the canines despite the hardship endured. But things took a turn for the worse when she was evicted from her rented room earlier this year. Despite assistance from volunteers and a piece of land offered to her and the strays to live on, she still faces difficulties.
The choir's founder and director, Kam Sun-Yoke, took the initiative to help.
The Operafest Children's Choir (all the members are under 18 and well- known abroad as music ambassadors) is the first Malaysian choir to win impressive second and third places in international choir competitions held in Wales and Holland. It has performed in prestigious choir festivals in, among others, the United States, Spain, Greece and Australia.
Kam's fond memories of music in school inspired her to share her love of music with the younger generation because she feels that they have not been given enough exposure to it. She believes children have raw musical talent waiting to be discovered. The choir, established in 1986, concentrated solely on honing the singing skills of the choir members in the first two years. Since then, it has gained recognition abroad, although its presence locally is negligible.
Kam wants to convey a message to fellow Malaysians: "Never belittle the abilities of local talent and appreciate the singing abilities of the young. "The common perception that foreign performances are of a higher standard compared with local ones is nothing more than a myth."
Her point of view is not unfounded due to the vast experience and numerous accolades the choir has gained and won abroad.
The performance starts at 8.30pm.
Tickets are priced at RM30. For enquiries, call SPCA at 03-42535179 or 03-42565312. |
