One for the album: The students with their lecturer, Mr. Ian Lim (front row, far left)

UCSI University’s Music students, celebrating their Gold award at Taipei

Kuala Lumpur, 24 September 2010 - UCSI University’s School of Music is jubilant after recently winning the Gold award in the Chamber choir category at the International Choral Festival in Taipei city, Taiwan. Twenty six of UCSI University’s best vocalists from the School of Music arrived at the KLIA, euphoric after receiving the trophy, in a prestigious international choir competition which saw 17 participants from China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.

The students were in Yilang, Taipei where the competition was held for 5 days. Prior to the competition, the students had rehearsed for a solid three weeks. The dedicated and passionate students practiced whenever and wherever they could, which included 3 hours of daily vocal class sessions, 2 hours of weekly sectionals and 3 hours as well as 3 times weekly on their own outside of their normal classroom schedules.

The students performed three numbers for the event, starting with Ubi Caritas, a Latin number by world renowned composer and conductor, Giancarlo Aquilanti. For their second number, the students performed an original number, a song written and composed by another fellow UCSI University student, Maxilus Ooi Keng Xhik, titled Tears within the Frost. Maxilus, a final year composition major at the School, had composed the song prior to the competition in time for the students to learn and practice it. The University’s choir group later ended with Daemon Irrepit Callidus by Gyorgy Orban to tumultuous applause from the audience.

Chen Yun Hung, an adjudicator at the Festival and also the CEO and Artistic Director of the Taiwan Choral Music Centre, acknowledged the students’ exceptional talent during the Festival. “The students’ energetic and excellent performance showed their very good understanding of music.”

Ian Lim Kean Seng, the group’s vocal lecturer who trained the students several weeks prior to the event, had accompanied the students to Taiwan. “The students had learnt more than just singing during the preparation for this competition. They had learnt to work together as a team, and to be more independent and responsible,” he said. He also added that the competition was important in the University’s quest towards Internationalisation.

However, not all of the students who participated in the event were vocal majors. Lee Jean and Gan Hui Wan were among those who were not trained in vocals.  As a third year Classical Piano major, Lee Jean who struggled at first, began to realise the importance of team dynamics in a choir group. “Everyone had to work together and pull their weight when singing in a group, only then can the vocals stand out.” She added that this was perhaps one of the main reasons why they won. “Apart from the hours we put in for practice, we also had really good team dynamics.” Meanwhile, Oskar Musaev, (Uzbekistan) a third year Vocal major at the School of Music, said that the international event had taught him a lot. “I’ve definitely learnt a lot from the other participants, and I look forward to applying my knowledge to further hone my technique.”