MCE VII Festival Programme

Children Category
(Participants 13 years old and below)

1st June 2009 (Monday)

08:30 Registration
09:00 – 10:15 Vocal warm-up and sectional
10:30 – 12:00 Choral session (Dr. Wong)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Workshop 1:
a. Pergendangan Melayu: Encik Kamrulbahri on Malay drums
b. I Got Rhythm: A tutor from Kodaly Colloquium or YCA teaching staff on ‘Rhythmic Games and Exercise’.
14:15 – 15:15 Workshop 2
(Rotation: Participants who took part in ‘Pergendangan Melayu’ would now attend ‘I Go Rhythm’)
a. Learning through kinestatic: Musical movement (Dr. Wong)
b. Game time
15:30 – 17:00 Malaysian Choral Music: A local conductor or composer to work on local Malay choral arrangements
17:00 – 18:00 Free time
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:00 Choral session (Dr. Wong)
21:00 Goodnight

2nd June 2009 (Tuesday)

09:00 – 10:15 Vocal warm-up and sectional
10:30 – 12:00 Choral session (Dr. Wong)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Workshop 1
c. Pergendangan Melayu: Encik Kamrulbahri on Malay drums
d. I Got Rhythm: A tutor from Kodaly Colloquium or YCA teaching staff on ‘Rhythmic Games and Exercise’.
14:15 – 15:15 Workshop 2
(Rotation: Participants who took part in ‘Pergendangan Melayu’ would now attend ‘I Go Rhythm’)
c. Learning through kinestatic: Musical movement (Dr. Wong)
d. Game time
Malaysian Choral Music: A local conductor or composer to work on local Malay choral arrangements
15:30 – 17:00 Malaysian Choral Music: A local conductor or composer to work on local Malay choral arrangements
17:00 – 18:00 Free time
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:00 Choral session (Dr. Wong)
21:00 Goodnight

3rd June 2009 (Wednesday)

09:00 – 10:15 Vocal warm-up and sectional
10:30 – 12:00 Choral session (Dr. Wong)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Presentation of certificates and closing ceremony
14:30 Proceed to concert venue
16:30 – 17:30 Rehearsal
17:30 – 18:30 Dinner
18:30 – 20:00 Get ready for concert
20:00 – 22:00 Concert
22:00 Goodbye!

Youth Category
(Participants 13 to 19 years old)

1st June 2009 (Monday)

08:30 Registration
09:00 – 12:00 Sectional
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 Sectional
15:15 – 17:15 Combined rehearsal (Prof. de Quadros)
17:15 – 18:00 Free time
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:30 Combined rehearsal with orchestra (Prof. de Quadros)
21:30 Goodnight

2nd June 2009 (Tuesday)

09:00 – 12:00 Sectional (Soprano + Alto and Tenor + Bass)
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 15:00 Combined rehearsal (Prof. de Quadros)
15:00 – 15:15 Break
15:15 – 17:15 Combined rehearsal (Prof. de Quadros)
17:15 – 18:00 Free time
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:30 Combined rehearsal with orchestra (Prof. de Quadros)
21:30 Goodnight

3rd June 2009 (Wednesday)

09:00 – 11:00 Combined rehearsal (Prof. de Quadros)
11:00 – 12:00 Presentation of certificates and closing ceremony
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 Proceed to concert venue
14:00 – 16:30 Combined rehearsal with orchestra (Prof. de Quadros)
16:30 – 17:30 Get ready for concert
17:30 – 18:30 Final rehearsal
18:30 – 20:00 Dinner & get ready for concert
20:00 – 22:00 Concert
22:00 Goodbye!

Proposed Concert Programme

20:00 Speech
20:10 Children category (4 to 5 songs with piano accompaniment)
Youth category
20:30 Coronation Anthems by Handel (3 anthems)

MCE VII Competition Programme

Children Category
(Participants 13 years old and below)

30th May 2009 (Saturday)

09:00 – 12:00 Registration
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 14:00 Opening ceremony
14:30 – 17:00 Competition
17:00 – 18:00 Jury discussion / free time
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:00 Friendship concert
21:00 Goodnight

Youth Category
(Participants 13 to 19 years old)

31st May 2009 (Sunday)

09:00 – 12:00 Competition
12:00 – 13:00 Lunch / jury discussion
13:00 – 14:00 Free time
14:00 – 14:45 Workshop 1
15:00 – 15:45 Workshop 2
16:00 – 17:00 Meet the jury
17:00 – 18:00 Announcement of results
18:00 – 19:00 Dinner
19:00 – 21:00 Award ceremony & closing concert

Introduction

The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE) is conceived from the 6th Young Singers Choral Festival (YSCF) and 1st Children’s Choir Competition in 2008. These two events have not only opened doors to music enthusiasts but also touched the lives of many keen young Malaysian singers from all walks of life. Many past participants have moved on singing with other prestigious international choir projects such as World Children's Choir (USA), Asian Youth Choir (Japan), Asian Choir Games and World Choir Games (formerly World Choir Olympics) including our locally acclaimed Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

Eisteddfod, a Welsh word in the music tome of terminology is pronounced as [ahy – steth – vod]; which means an annual competitive festival of poets, musicians, writers and artists whom are involved in artistic competitions especially singing. The very first eisteddfod took place at the castle of Lord Rhys in Cardigan back in 1176 but was revived and held in Aberdare in 1860. Eisteddfodau, the gatherings of such talents were typically bards whom set foot annually at different parts of Wales and later in England and Scotland too.

The pavilion of MCE is focused on the international choir competition that has two categories namely Children (ages 13 years and below) and Youth (ages 13 to 19 years). The new highlights are tailored workshops for participants from the respective categories as well as a friendly concert during the 2-day competition; which make this upcoming event more exciting than its predecessor. A panel of international adjudicators will judge this competition.

After the choir competition, the Young Singers Choral Festival will follow suit the 7th year running over a period of 3 days with international renowned guest tutors conducting various workshops master classes. MCE will then conclude with a closing ceremony concert.

MCE VII Adjudicators & Guest Tutors

André de Quadros
Jason Ong ~coming soon!~
Thomas Schüle
Wong Su Sun

Links

Young Choral Academy
Interkultur Musica Mundi
Trinity

Testimonials

Choral Competition

We started to learn choral singing properly and our vocal techniques are getting better. I had a lot of fun singing together in a new group as we gradually got used to team work.
– Ng Vi Vien, 13

I learnt how to perform for a large audience and foreign judges. I now have more confidence after learning how to sing properly. It was a valuable experience.
– Nik Maryam, 13

It was a good experience to listen to various choirs’ style of singing. I got to meet people from other places. We had the opportunity to sing in front of qualified judges other than our school teachers. It was fun to have friends singing with me.
– Nicole Joy Sim, 13

Choral Festival

I had a great time at the 6th Young Singers Choral Festival and enjoyed everything from meeting new friends to learning all the essential points about choral singing as well as witnessing great performances by guest choirs! I just could not wait for the next festival in year 2009! I like the theme song this year ‘Not Alone Anymore!
– Jacqueline Teng, 15

The 6th Young Singers Choral Festival was great! The music directors were awesome and very approachable as well as the festival committee members. There was never a dull moment in during the entire festival. The master classes were very useful as the music directors’ comments on each choir's strengths and weaknesses. Superb experience! I foresee the festival gets bigger and better each year. Thumbs up!
– Siow Ee Lin, 17

As a first timer participating in a choral festival, it was truly amazing to see so many people coming together for one purpose and passion – singing. The master classes under internationally acclaimed conductors also opened my eyes to further learn choral singing. I am indeed looking forward to participating next year!!!
– Rachel Lai, 16

Past Guest Tutors

Branko Stark (Croatia)
Ian Lim (Malaysia)
Juliette Lai (Malaysia)
Kevin Field (Malaysia)
Lee Shiak Yao (Malaysia)
Marc Rochester (Malaysia)
Marcus La Pratt (USA)
Martin Nagashima Toft (Denmark)
Susan Medley (USA)

Contact Us

The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE)

Address
114A Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

Telephone
+603 7726 4691

Mobile
+6014 624 2733

Fax
+603 7726 4691

Email
malaysiachoral@gmail.com

MCE VII FAQs

When is The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE)?
30th May 2009 - 3rd June 2009

• 30th - 31st May 2009: Choral Competition
• 1st - 3rd June 2009: Choral Fest

Where will MCE be held?
SMK Seafield, Subang Jaya

How much are the fees?
Competition only: MYR500 per category + MYR50 per participant (minimum 25 participants).
Festival only: MYR150 per participant.
Both: MYR500 per category + MYR160 per participant.

When is the registration deadline?
19th April 2009 (Sunday); with completed registration form, full payment and supporting documents.

If I am / we are from outside of the Klang Valley or Malaysia, are accommodations provided?
Various accommodation packages are available. Please refer to MCE Packages at ‘Downloads’.

Is there age limit to participate?
Choral Competition:
Children category: 13 years old and below
Youth category: 13 to 19 years old

Choral Festival:
No age limit. Children, youth and adults are encouraged to participate.

COMPETITION: How many singers should there be in a choir?
Minimum 25 singers; no maximum limit.

COMPETITION: How many songs do we need to prepare?
3 songs. 1 song must be a local composition or an arrangement of a song from the country of origin of the choir, and 2 songs of own choice.

COMPETITION: How much time are we given to sing all 3 songs?
Each choir should not exceed 10 minutes of pure singing time.

COMPETITION: Are we allowed to have any accompaniment?
Choirs may sing a cappella or with accompaniments. Permitted accompaniments are piano, percussions, guitar and ethnic instruments. Minus one or any form of recorded accompaniments is strictly PROHIBITED.

MCE VII Organizing Committee

Artistic Director
Susanna Saw

Festival Advisor
Chow Wei Heng

Festival Directors
Mitchell Lim
Ryönn Leong
Tracy Wong
Alvin Chan

Susan Medley (USA)

• Director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at Washington & Jefferson College
• Founding conductor and clinician of Clamegie Hall High School Choral Festival

Martin Nagashima Toft (Denmark)

• Founder and artistic director of the Copenhagen Chamber Orchestra and Ensemble Juvenes
• Committee member in the Association of Danish Conductors

Marcus La Pratt (Malaysia)

• Founder and president of Singers of United Lands (SOUL), a non-profit organization in the US

Mark Rochester (Malaysia)

• Organist of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra

Lee Shiak Yao (Malaysia)

• Conductors of numerous Malaysian bands and orchestral and choral ensembles

Kevin Field (Malaysia)

• Associate conductor of the Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra

Juliette Lai (Malaysia)

• Malaysian Choral Clinician and Arranger

Ian Lim (Malaysia)

• Music lecturer in University of Malaya (UM) and University College Sedaya International (UCSI)
• Conductor of Dithyrambic Singers

Branko Stark (Croatia)

• Founder of international societies Phonia, Croatian Association of Choral Conductors and Vocal Academy
• President of the Croatian Association of Choral Directors, member of the International Council of the World Choir Games and advisor for Croatia in the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM)

Wong Su Sun

Dr. Wong Su Sun is an established artistic director, vocal pedagogist, professional opera singer, choral clinician, adjudicator and speaker at national, regional and international competitions, festivals, workshops and education conferences in Asia. The Voice Association (Singapore) was founded by her where she is the president.

In September 2005, she created OperAsia (OA). It is a unique vocal arts company that provides workshops, master classes, vocal education, voice care and audience development for opera arts. The company received The Excellent Organization Award from 2006 Asia Youth Arts Award in Seoul, Korea. Before creating OA, she was the Artistic Director, Acting General Manager, Choral Director of the Adult and Children's Chorus and Touring Company of Singapore Lyric Opera from year 2002 to 2005. International projects she initiated and organised were First World Voice Day Celebration, First Asia Pacific Voice Symposium, young artists opera exchange and workshop programs with the Hungarian National Opera House, The Kodaly Music School in Budapest and Hong Kong Children's Chorus.

A sought after specialist in training young voice, many of Dr Wong's outstanding students were placed at The International Llangollen Music Competition (Wales), The World Chinese Vocal Competition (Taipei), Asia Youth Arts Awards (Korea), Singapore Young Singer's Award and competitive college awards (Australia and USA). As a professional singer, she performed extensively in oratorios, operas and concerts in the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Canada, France, the UK and Hong Kong. On many occasions, she collaborated with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Lyric Opera and Singapore ballet.

Dr. Wong earned many accolades as well as several awards - Singapore National Music Competition, Singapore and Malaysia Vocal Competition, South East Asia Vocal Competition, San Angelo Young Artist Award, Austin Lyric Opera Young Artist of the Year, the 1998 International Donizetti Opera Competition in Bergamo, Italy and in 2000, the special Jury Award for outstanding interpretation at the International French Songs Competition in France. National Arts Council grants were awarded to study Dalcroze Eurhthythmic, Estill Voice Training System, and The New York's Metropolitan Opera Education Programme.

Dr. Wong was a student at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and earned her Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate of Musical Arts (in Vocal Performance) at The University of Texas in Austin. She later pursued a one year Post-Doctorate Opera Studies in Verona, Italy. She also holds the LRSM and FTCL diplomas in piano performance.

Thomas Schüle

Thomas Schüle finished his studies of Musicology, Voice and Conducting in the year 1986 at the University of Tübingen, Germany with the Master of Arts Diploma.

From 1993 until 1999 he was marketing manager of the State Theatre and Opera House in Stuttgart. At the same time he was singer in the Opera Chorus and lecturer for Cultural Management at the University of Heilbronn-Künzelsau. He has won several international choir competitions as a singer in ‘Studio Vocale Karlsruhe’ choir.

Since 1999 he is a board member of Interkultur Foundation who is a promoter of events such as World Choir Games, Asian Choir Games and others. Thomas Schüle is responsible for the activities of Interkultur in Asia-Pacific region.

Jason Ong

~Coming Soon!~

André de Quadros

Professor André de Quadros is professor of music, director of the School of Music at Boston University, artistic director of the Tanglewood Institute and a faculty member in Boston University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilisations.

He studied at the Bombay School of Music and the University of Bombay. Graduate studies followed at La Trobe University at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg with a DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) scholarship and Victorian College of the Arts. Violin studies were with Adrian de Mello and conducting studies were with Joachim Buehler (Germany) and Robert Rosen (Rumania).

He has conducted many of the major large choral works as well as standard works of the symphonic repertoire, together with first performances and premieres of new and unusual repertoires. Among his many awards is a first prize in the Australian National Choral Championships. He has taught conducting in Germany, Singapore and Indonesia. Engagements of note include the Prokofiev Symphony Orchestra (Ukraine), National Youth Choir of Great Britain, Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestra (Germany), Shiki Daikunokai Choir and Orchestra (Japan), Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (Malaysia), the Japan International Youth Musicale, the Nusantara Chamber Orchestra (Indonesia), and the Moscow State Radio Symphony Orchestra.

He enjoys a unique relationship with the Studio Cantorum in Indonesia with which he has collaborated in several concerts and professional development projects. He is the artistic director of both the North Sulawesi International Choral Competition and the Aswatuna - Arab Choral Festival. He has conducted the Massachusetts All-State Chorus. He is the Chair of the Multicultural and Ethnic Commission of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) and edits choral works for Earthsongs and Hinshaw Music.

Interkultur President

Greeting,

INTERKULTUR Foundation, with its seat in Germany, is known worldwide as the largest promoter of international choir competitions. The WORLD CHOIR GAMES, the Olympics for choirs, is only one of our numerous activities around the globe. In 2009 INTERKULTUR Foundation will carry out its 100th International choir competition.

Besides the organization of international choir competitions, it is also the task and obligation of INTERKULTUR to promote and support young and leading-edge activities in the area of choir music. One of these remarkable activities is without doubt the "Young Singers Choral Festival" that has been carried out in 2008 for the sixth time in Kuala Lumpur. Since a few years INTERKULTUR Foundation has promoted this event and meanwhile added a competition for Children- and Youth Choirs based on the INTERKULTUR system of evaluation.

In this years edition 2009 we will face a new name for the festival, which follows the Welsh tradition of art festivals: ‘The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod’. Kuala Lumpur can welcome choristers from Malaysia and from surrounded neighbour countries in order to compete and to learn from international experts.

Garrison Keillor pointed out about choral music: “To sing like this, in the company of other souls, and to make those consonants slip out so easily and in unison, and to make those chords so rich that they bring tears to your eyes. This is transcendence. This is the power that choral singing has that other music can only dream of.”

In this sense I wish the ‘The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod’ much success and unforgettable experiences and enrichment through the expansion of knowledge in choral singing for the participants.

Guenter Titsch
President

Founders' Biography

Susanna Saw graduated from the Melba Memorial Conservatorium of Music majoring in piano and vocal singing as a second study. She attained her Australian Kodaly Certificate from the University of Queensland and has performed in various concerts in Australia and Malaysia; both as a soloist and an accompanist. She was selected to sing with the Melbourne Chorale on many occasions and has worked with various internationally renowned conductors such as Mariss Jansen and Neemi Jarvi.

Starting her choral teaching experience with the Australian Boys’ Choir, Susanna moved on to become Assistant Choral Conductor and Vocal Coach at the prestigious MacRobertson Girls’ High School in Victoria in 1998. On her return from Australia in 1999, she realised that the choral scene in Malaysia was not as vibrant as she had hoped it to be. Thus, she resolved to raise the level of awareness and standard of the local choral scene through education and sharing the experience she has gained whilst in Australia.

With that burning desire, she successfully set up the Ipoh Children’s Choir, The Young KL Singers and The KL Children’s Choir and was involved with the Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus. Further to that, she had also been a choir tutor at various schools in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur, some of which had gone on to become champions at national and international competitions under her tutelage. She is currently a tutor and choir director at the Malaysian Institute of Arts and University of Malaya’s Music Faculty choir.

When not teaching, Susanna immerses herself in the development and advancement of the choral scene in Malaysia. She founded the Young Singers Choral Festival in 2003, an annual festival for young musicians in Malaysia to gain choral knowledge from the various invited choir tutors from the United Kingdom, Denmark, United States of America, Croatia and Singapore. Through her choirs and numerous choral activities, she has created recognition and awareness on choral singing and its importance. Always eager to share knowledge and experience, Susanna has also organised exchange programmes between her choirs and visiting choirs from South Africa, Singapore, Hong Kong, Croatia, Australia and New Zealand.

Her latest venture in the choral scene was the establishment of the Young Choral Academy in Kuala Lumpur, aimed as a venue for choral lovers to learn more about choral music and a venue for young Malaysian composers and arrangers to compose more choral works.

Interkultur Foundation, Germany invited her to be a Jury at the 1st Asian Choir Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia in November 2007. Her choir from SMK Sam Tet, Ipoh, was invited by the Ministry of Education to represent Malaysia for the 2008 World Choir Games in Graz, Austria. Susanna is now venturing into the international choral scene. She has been appointed the Executive Committee Member of the Interkultur Foundation and is a member of International Federation of Choral Music (IFCM).

Chi Hoe graduated with a MMus with Distinction and the Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Performance from the Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, where he studied singing with Henry Herford and Gordon Sandison. He was a finalist in several competitions including the Conservatoire’s prestigious Singing Prize and the Ashleyan Opera Prize and was named among Birmingham’s New Generation Artists for 2008. He is currently studying for a second MMus degree in Choral Conducting at the Conservatoire on a scholarship with Paul Spicer (Finzi Singers) and orchestral conducting with Daniele Rosina (Thallein Ensemble). He continues to maintain a busy singing schedule, balancing solo freelance work with work as a Choral Scholar at the Birmingham Cathedral of St Philips, with regular broadcasts and concerts for the BBC as a chorister and soloist and with Pro Cecilia (a chamber choir of invited choral scholars from around the country). He has sung with Ex Cathedra and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, amongst the most respected and busiest Baroque and Early Music ensembles in the UK today. He is also a member of ADUR Vocal Ensemble based in Spain.

Solo work have included recital, opera and concert performances with the Malaysian National Symphony Orchestra, Penang State Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra among others and recordings with many other UK and international ensembles. As a choral conductor, he worked for many years in Malaysia with choirs in Penang and Kuala Lumpur and is currently on staff at Birmingham Conservatoire’s Junior Department where he conducts the Junior Chamber Choir and the Senior Conservatoire’s Chamber Choir II. He recently completed a successful conducting season with Canzonetta Children’s Choirs in Manchester; formerly the nationally acclaimed Manchester Boys Choir.

Prizes won included 3rd Prize (Sacred Music) with ADUR Vocal Ensemble at the 2008 40th Tolosa International Choir Competition in Spain, two Gold Diplomas and the Grand Jury Prize at the 2005 2nd Voyage of Song International Choir Competition in Malaysia as well as the prestigious 2002 Robert Edler Prize in Berlin as a member of the World Youth Choir for outstanding contribution in the field of choral music internationally. He is a member of the IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), the Association of British Choral Directors and a founding member of the Malaysian Choral Federation (MCF).

History

Choral Festival

The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE) formerly known as The Young Singers Choral Festival (YSCF) now into its 7th year, was founded by two Malaysian choral conductors Susanna Saw and Mak Chi Hoe in April 2003. Both these very passionate music maestros have very common goals. Their objectives to hosting this festival within the Malaysian music community are:

• To expose young singers from all over the country the different international choral trends and developments;


• To serve as an educational festival whereby participants can learn about the various musical aspects and techniques involved in the art of choral singing and performance, with workshops and tutorial sessions led by a panel of specialists in the field;


• To encourage the development of choral singing especially among schools, colleges and institutions of higher learning in Malaysia by providing young choral singers opportunities to meet, interact and learn from one another.

In year 2007, the Young Singers Choral Festival featured debut performance of choral works. All participants and concert audiences were exposed to folk songs from the Kenyah community in Malaysia and Malaysian music percussions. A teacher’s category was introduced for the first time for the benefit of vocal and choir teachers including tertiary music students.

There has been immense growth in this successful festival since year 2003 in terms of:

• The size of the organization
• The direct involvement of local and foreign guest tutors
• The participation of school choirs
• The quality of master class and workshop contents
• The standard of the festival concerts

The festival has since attracted some of Malaysia’s top school choirs and vocal ensembles who have gone on to sing with prestigious projects and choirs abroad such as:

• Asian Choir Games
• Asian Youth Choir (Japan)
• Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO)
• World Children’s Choir (USA)
• World Choir Games

The Young Singers Choral Festival is very privileged to be supported by:

• Alupole Sdn Bhd
• HSBC In The Arts
• Interkultur Foundation, Germany (organiser of World Choir Games and Asian Choir Games)
• Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) Outreach Programme
• Singers of United Lands (SOUL), USA
• The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)Trinity College London, Malaysia

Choir Competition

The choir competition was first incepted in 2008 as 1st Children’s Choir Competition held in conjunction with the 6th Young Singers Choral Festival. The response from the local school choirs was excellent. It provided them an avenue to contest in a choir competition that was judged using international choral scoring standards based on Musica Mundi (Interkultur Foundation, Germany) guidelines by a panel of international adjudicators.

Local choirs now have the opportunity to gain more exposure in the upcoming competition with participants from around the region of South East Asia.

Introduction

The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (MCE) is conceived from the 6th Young Singers Choral Festival (YSCF) and 1st Children’s Choir Competition in 2008. These two events have not only opened doors to music enthusiasts but also touched the lives of many keen young Malaysian singers from all walks of life. Many past participants have moved on singing with other prestigious international choir projects such as World Children's Choir (USA), Asian Youth Choir (Japan), Asian Choir Games and World Choir Games (formerly World Choir Olympics) including our locally acclaimed Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO).

Eisteddfod, a Welsh word in the music tome of terminology is pronounced as [ahy – steth – vod]; which means an annual competitive festival of poets, musicians, writers and artists whom are involved in artistic competitions especially singing. The very first eisteddfod took place at the castle of Lord Rhys in Cardigan back in 1176 but was revived and held in Aberdare in 1860. Eisteddfodau, the gatherings of such talents were typically bards whom set foot annually at different parts of Wales and later in England and Scotland too.

The pavilion of MCE is focused on the international choir competition that has two categories namely Children (ages 13 years and below) and Youth (ages 13 to 19 years). The new highlights are tailored workshops for participants from the respective categories as well as a friendly concert during the 2-day competition; which make this upcoming event more exciting than its predecessor. A panel of international adjudicators will judge this competition.
After the choir competition, the Young Singers Choral Festival will follow suit the 7th year running over a period of 3 days with international renowned guest tutors conducting various workshops master classes. MCE will then conclude with a closing ceremony concert.

MCE VII Forms

Attached here are the forms regarding the upcoming Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod VII. Feel free to download, fill it up and send it back to us!

MCE VII Invitation Letter

MCE VII Rules & Regulations

MCE VII Registration Form

MCE VII Packages

MCE VII Competition Program

MCE VII Children's Festival Program

MCE VII Youth Festival Program