In The Media
The Star, News & Features, 9 December 2005
THE renowned Operafest Children’s Choir is approaching its 20th Anniversary and does not seem to be slowing down at all. In fact, this month alone, the 35-strong choir will make various charity appearances around Kuala Lumpur as a run-up to Christmas.
On Wednesday, the choir, under the baton of musical director and founder Kam Sun-Yoke, will perform at the Trumpeting for Elephants Concert and Bazaar hosted by Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.
Leading the charities is A.P.E.S. – the Fund for Awareness and Preservation of Elephants Survival. This was set up by a group of young Malaysians concerned about the environment, and who want to help preserve our eco-system. They aim to create public awareness on the conservation of elephants in Peninsular Malaysia.
NGOs that have confirmed participation include Hati; Various Single Work at Home Mothers; Beautiful Gate Foundation for the Disabled, and the Centre for Environment, Technology and Development, Malaysia.
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File photographs which show the
Operafest Children’s Choir during
rehearsal and in action.
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Besides the Operafest Children’s Choir, there will be a performance by the Melbourne Grammar School Orchestra Australia. Our very own Zainal Abidin will make a special appearance at the concert and bazaar.
Operafest was formed in 1986 to promote the arts and provide a sound education to Malaysian children through music. Kam drew inspiration from both the late opera conductor Dr Jan Popper of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the then director of the Vienna Boys Choir, Dr Tautschnig. They had both convinced her that any project tempered with patience, love and dedication must succeed.
In 1991, through hard work and perseverance, the choir won second prize at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales with its presentation of Purcell’s Sound the Trumpet. It was then placed third (in the light music category) at the Koorfestival of Arnheim, the Netherlands, a choir Olympics held every four years.
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The Operafest Choir waltzing away to
The Merry Widow Waltz.
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Since then, the choir has been invited to perform at festivals which promote cultural exchange and friendship among nations. It has been to Spain, Argentina, Greece, Macedonia, Australia, Singapore, and Britain. In 2003, it was among 20 selected from 150 participating groups to perform at the International Choral Festival in Montana, the United States.
In Malaysia, it was the opening act for the Vienna Boys Choir’s performances in 1992 and 2004.
The charity bazaar (admission is free) will open at 5pm. The concert starts at 8pm and tickets, at RM30 each, are available at Legend Hotel (03-4042 9888); The Mall Information Counter (03-4044 3888); Grand Seasons Hotel (-3-2697 8888); Rayma Sdn Bhd, 2B, Jalan SS24/13, Taman Megah, Petaling Jaya (03-7804 4666), and Subang Pharmacy, 21, Jalan SS19/6, Subang Jaya (03-5634 7398). |
