Kota Kinabalu: The 1st International Choir Competition Sarawak 2025 concluded with resounding success at The Waterfront Hotel, Kuching, from October 15 to 19, bringing together 17 choirs from five countries, namely, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, and Slovakia.
Organised by Interkultur in collaboration with Within Earth Holidays Sdn Bhd, the event marked a significant milestone for Sarawak’s cultural scene, celebrating vocal excellence across diverse categories including Mixed Choirs, Choirs of Equal Voices, Youth Choirs, Folklore, Children Choirs and Religious Music.
Under the artistic direction of Johan Rouze from the Netherlands, the competition was judged by an esteemed international panel comprising Randolf Stenson (USA/Japan), Woo Hyo-Won (Korea), and Susanna Saw (Malaysia).
Among the standout performers was Malaysian choir The Male Efficient (TME), who earned top honours in two categories.
In the Choirs of Equal Voices category, TME performed a powerful repertoire including Cantate Domino, Sinaran, Hela Rotane, and Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho, securing a Gold Diploma and emerging as Winner of the Category.
The victory qualified them for the prestigious Grand Prix of Nations in the next international competition.
TME also competed in the Folklore category, showcasing Malaysia’s rich musical heritage with songs such as Sonsomido, Maya Aku Di Maman and Chan Mali Chan.
Their performance earned them another Gold Diploma, along with qualification for the Grand Prix of Nations. Leslie George is the director of TME.
The event highlighted musical talent and also fostered cultural exchange and camaraderie among participating nations, reinforcing Sarawak’s growing reputation as a hub for international arts and performance.