KUCHING: Performers at the Sarawak International Festival of Music and Arts (SIFMA) kept the crowd spellbound until the event drew to a close here today (Dec 4).
Sifma chairperson, Geraldine Law Lee hoped it would one day become an excellent international platform for the creative arts industry.
Performances at the closing of the event included that of the Rhythms of Asia group, Sifma Choir, Sifma Orchestra and the dancers from Karya Terindah and Dekiit Leto Dumit dancers, followed by Dr.Gilbert de Greeve, an award winning pianist from Belgium who performed solo.
Local Malaysian artistes such as Stanley Maringai, Vivian Teo, Jeffrey Tang and Laura Munan also took to the stage.
However, the highlight of the evening were performances from the UITM Chamber Choir.
Their international awards were evident, as they ended their four choir performance with the classic ‘Ewa Bule’, which wowed and got the audience cheering.
Halili Cruz School (Philippines), La Danse Studio (Malaysia), Sugapriya Ashok Solo Artist (India), and Esme Wong, a Sarawakian born who is a residing pianist in the United States (US) also performed and delivered.
Another mesmerising performance was delivered by Singapore’s Victoria Chorale, singing Christmas songs and also Simon Carrington’s ‘That’s What Friends Are For’.
A combined local choir featuring three of Sarawak’s best choristers, namely Dole Chanticleer, St.Joseph’s Private School and Lodge Secondary School also performed at the closing.
Present to grace the event was Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and his wife Datin Seri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
