KL CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL 09
Urban Soundscapes: If a city had a voice, what songs would it sing?


Group photo

Ensemble Mosaik

Ensemble Mosaik
Moritz

Dr. Lisa speaking at the opening of the KLCMF 2009

3 December 2009

To encourage the growth of Malaysian and regional contemporary classical music, Goethe-Institut Malaysia and Malaysian Composers Collective, together with SEGi University College and SEGi College Subang Jaya, co-organised the nation’s first ever Kuala Lumpur Contemporary Music Festival (KLCMF) 09.

The festival, held from 27th-29th November 2009 at SEGi University College in Kota Damansara and The Annexe Gallery Central Market, brought together the best of Malaysian and South East Asian contemporary music. The festival certainly proved successful in its aim to provide Malaysian and regional composers with a platform to have their works performed and discussed, as well as allowing young and talented composers and music academics from the region to engage in meaningful discourse and foster a stronger cross-border contemporary music community. Also providing a platform to introduce new audiences to the genre of contemporary music that is mushrooming in cities around South East Asia.

The main highlight of this year’s festival was South East Asia’s First Regional Young Composers Competition, where 9 young and promising composers from Southeast Asia were selected from over 60 entries to participate in rehearsal workshops as well as the final concert.

Each finalist was asked to compose a work for a chamber ensemble based on the festival theme of “Urban Soundscapes”. The participants chose any configuration of instruments from a selection of flute, clarinet, violin, viola, cello, piano and percussion. Apart from the competition, there were also workshop sessions which were open to the public, daily from 9am – 1 pm as a part of KLCMF 09.

On the closing day of the festival, the finalists’ work was presented by Ensemble Mosaik, one of Germany’s leading new music ensembles, at the concert entitled Building Blocks For the Future which was held at the SEGi University College Auditorium.

Mr. Franz Xaver Augustin, Regional coordinator of the Goethe Centres in South East Asia, Australia and New Zealand, was present to lend his support at the festival and also announce the winners during the closing ceremony.

In his closing address to the participants, Augustin enthused ‘If there is such a thing as a truly international language, then it must be music. I believe that music needs no translation, for it can bind people and minds across cultures, time and space in a way that nothing else can.’

The competition, which was divided into two categories, saw the Malaysian Young Composers Award (Category A) and participants from the Goethe South East Asian Category (Category B) competing in the find round see who would emerge as overall festival winner.

In the Malaysian Young Composers Award for Category A, presented by the Founding Director of Malaysian Composers Collective Mr. CH Loh, Chow Jun Yi triumphed over the other Malaysian finalists to be proclaimed the winner. Jun Yi’s composition titled ‘A Night without Voices – Have you ever talked to yourself?’ received many applauds and was an engaging composition representing a city dweller whose outer appearance looks happy and content, but his inner self suffers from the pressures of city life.

In the final round of the competition, Thatchatham Silsupan (Thailand) and Tan Tuan Ho (Singapore) emerged as joint winners of the Goethe Award 2nd Runners Up, while Chow Jun Yi (Malaysia) was again successful in taking home the Goethe Award 1st Runner up.

But it was Juro Kim Feliz (Philippines) who was announced as the Goethe Overall Winner, taking home the festivals prestigious award. Juro’s composition entitled ‘In Her Glances’ portrayed his vision of a place where nothing exists beyond the horizon, expressing his conception of this years theme.

For more than 30 years, SEGi Education Group (SEGi) has equipped graduates from diverse backgrounds with exceptional foundations for career achievement and personal success. SEGi dates back to 1977 when it first opened its doors as Systematic College in the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s commercial district by offering professional qualifications. Since then, then, the Group has expirenced significant growth by adapting and catering to an increasing demand for higher academic and professional qualifications in Malaysia.

Today, the Group is one of the largest private higher education providers in Malaysia and serves more than 19,000 students through its six major campuses located in the Klang Valley, Penang and Kuching. With programmes tailored to meet both industry and students needs, SEGi graduates have easily found employment and many have on to become leaders of their respective industries.

As a part of their programme offerings under the School of Creative Art & Design, SEGi College Subang Jaya offer the 3 year Diploma in Music, designed for enthusiasts who are interested in furthering their skills and exploring different genres, including areas of contemporary music theory, composition and performance.

This programme is aimed at taking students to new levels of inspired expression and is conducted through visits, seminars and master classes with professional musicians from overseas. The teaching team comprises full-time lecturers with professional experience, supplemented by part-time music specialists.

For further information about related events being held at SEGi campuses nationwide, or for enquiries into the Diploma in Music, please call (03-86001888 or toll-free 1800-888-622), email at infosj@segi.edu.my or log to www.segi.edu.my