Malaysia's UiTM Choir Wins Four Awards In '1st Tele-Chorus International Virtual Choir Competition' In Japan

SHAH ALAM (Selangor, Malaysia), Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysian public university, the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) choir took home four awards in the ‘1st Tele-Chorus International Virtual Choir Competition’ which was held in Japan. In the results announced Monday, the UiTM Chamber Choir (UCC) which sang the Kelantan traditional song ‘Ewa Bule’ won the ‘Most Favourite Audience Award’ as well as the first runner-up in the ‘Entertainment Award’, ‘Musical Award’ and ‘Judge's Special Award’ categories. Dean of the Faculty of Music, UiTM, associate professor Dr Tazul Izan Tajuddin said members of the UCC who presented the song ‘Ewa Bule’ comprised students from the faculty who also wore traditional clothes and performed the traditional dances of various ethnic communities in the country. “The UCC modified the song which was a traditional ‘dikir barat’ folk song into a choir version. It was a creative idea which was performed by the UCC members under the guidance of associate professor Dr Masashi Kishimoto from UiTM’s Music Faculty in UiTM Shah Alam," he said in a statement Wednesday. He said this achievement by the team was the best manifestation of teamwork between the students and lecturers of the faculty. "This is the first time a virtual competition is being held in the new normal, beginning July 31, with participation from 111 countries including Malaysia. It is also the first the UCC participated in. “The judging was based on quality of voice, content and editing techniques. The advantage for UCC was in the quality of voice from people of various races and ethnic groups in Malaysia which was showcased in a virtual performance,” he said. The 1st Tele-Chorus International Virtual Choir Competition was judged by three-panel judges - president of the Osaka College of Music who is also conductor choral, Prof Hideki Motoyama, as well as composers Kentaro Sato and Masaya Ishiwaka. According to Tazul Izan, the three judges were experienced and well-known in the field of choir singing and composing in Japan. -- BERNAMA