Ms Ang giving a talk on “Malaysia Folk Song: Wau Bulan” during the Pre-Choral Exchange Workshops.
Ms Ang (top row, second from left), together with some of the audience in the virtual choir concert.
TAR UC Choir has once again brought music to life through its Choral Exchange 6 (‘CE6’) held virtually on 23 and 24 October 2021. One day before the choral exchange proper, on 23 October 2021, the Pre-Choral Exchange Workshops were held among choir conductors, leaders and choir members.
The CE6 aims to promote the joy of choral singing to the public as well as provide a platform for choir groups from different countries to showcase their talents. While past choral exchanges were held physically at TAR UC campus, this time around the organising committee decided to hold the event online due to the on-going pandemic. This in a way allowed for more overseas choir teams to participate.
The pre-choir exchange workshops in a way played the role of melting pot for cultural exchange among all the choirs from 8 different institutions of various countries including Chiang Mai University Choir (Thailand), Feng Chia University Chorus (Taiwan), The University of The Philippines Singing Ambassadors (Philippines), Nanyang Technological University Choir (Singapore), Troy University Frequency Choir (United States), The Winthrop Singers from UWA (Australia) and Soul Sounds Academy Intermediate Choir (Sri Lanka) as well as the host, TAR UC Choir and Alumni Chamber Choir (Malaysia).
A total of 6 workshops were conducted by the following conductors including Ms Ang Yaw Feng (Senior Lecturer from FCCI and Choir Society advisor) who gave a talk on “Malaysia Folk Song: Wau Bulan”, followed by Dr Khanithep Pitupumnak, who talked about “Thai Song: Characteristics of Language and Choral Singing”, Ms Nana Lin who narrated on “Introduction of Feng Chia Chorus and Its Recent Status”. Dr Edgardo Lumbera Manguiat discussed the topic on “Achieving Homogeneity in Choral Sound” while Mr Yong Chee Foon, giving his views on “Discovering Notation” and Ms Soundarie David Rodrigo who opined on Sri Lankan Music in the Choral Context.
It is gratifying to note that “Virtual Choir Concert” on 24 October 2021 has achieved its objective of promoting public exposure to various songs and cultures from different countries or regions. Each invited choir presented different genres of songs including folk songs, sacred songs and popular songs from their respective countries or regions beautifully. Audiences were amazed by all the choir performances. TAR UC Choir had also impressed the audience through four virtual video performances namely, “Asiana Medley”, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “William Tell Overture” and “夜空中最亮的星” (The Brightest Star in the Night Sky).
The “Virtual Choir Concert” attracted more than 250 audiences participating via zoom, with more than 300 eager spectators watching via the TAR UC Choir YouTube Channel live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46iFyGPKzJo For anyone who has missed the live streaming concert, you can watch it at the link above.
See you in 2023 for CE7!
