Sarawak’s music scene hits a high note with SICFest 2025

During the press conference for SICFest 2025, which was attended by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul  Karim Rahman Hamzah (centre), Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Snowdan Lawan (fifth left), CEO of BESarawak, Amelia Roziman (fourth left), SICFest & SICSym Festival Director and Kuching Choral Society Chairman, Benedict Lo as well as representatives from collaborators and partners.

KUCHING, 30 May 2025: Sarawak is set to make musical history with the inaugural Sarawak International Choral Festival & Symposium (SICFest & SICSym) 2025, a landmark celebration of global choral harmony taking place from 13 – 15 June 2025 at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre Kuching.

Jointly organised by the Kuching Choral Society (KCS) and the Young Choral Academy (YCA), with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak and Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), the three-day festival aims to position Sarawak as a vibrant new epicentre for choral music in Southeast Asia.

Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah emphasised that SICFest 2025 plays a vital role in realising Sarawak’s vision of becoming a global destination for tourism, arts, and culture. “SICFest is more than just a festival—it’s a cultural bridge that introduces Sarawak’s rich heritage and creative talent to the world,” he said.

He also highlights the government’s commitment to nurturing the performing arts, citing the development of a world-class Performing Arts Centre in Sarawak by 2027 as a milestone towards building a cultural legacy. “Our culture is rich. Our vision is clear. Through collaboration and creativity, we can position Sarawak as a regional hub for choral excellence and create lasting impact for generations to come,” he concluded.

Supported by Business Events Sarawak, SICFest & SICSym 2025 supports Sarawak’s vision of empowering communities through culture, nurturing talent through education, and strengthening the creative economy through international collaboration. “Through global talent and the universal language of music, Sarawak is not only inspiring futures, but also strengthening its position, beyond the stage, as a creative and collaborative destination. This festival and symposium is a catalyst for talent development, and the growth of Sarawak’s creative economy,” said Amelia Roziman, CEO of Business Events Sarawak.

“This event marks a bold new chapter for Sarawak’s performing arts landscape,” said Benedict Lo, Festival Director and KCS Chairman. “SICFest is more than just a choral festival, it’s a cultural celebration, a learning hub, and a community-building platform for choirs, educators, and audiences alike.” SICFest 2025 will welcome 20 choirs from across Malaysia and the international stage, offering a unique platform for musical exchange, adjudicated performances, and cultural celebration. Choirs will participate in high-quality evaluations by a panel of global experts and compete in the Grand Prix Competition, where category winners will win the festival trophy and a cash prize.

The Opening Ceremony will feature a vibrant showcase of Sarawakian cultural heritage, with performances by the SICFest Children’s Choir and the specially assembled SICFestival Choir. Running concurrently is the Sarawak International Choral Symposium (SICSym), targeting 600 delegates from all over the world, offering a curated programme of masterclasses and workshops led by world-renowned educators, including ‘The Art of Conducting: Mastering Gesture and Expression’ by Vinzenz Weissenburger (Germany), ‘Sing Sarawak! – a journey through local folk songs’ by PUSAK & KCS (Malaysia), ‘Vocal Mastery: Techniques for Choral Singers’ by Snežana Nena Brzaković (Germany) and ‘Folk Song Improvisation’ by Dr Zechariah Goh (Singapore). 

These sessions are tailored for conductors, choral singers, music educators, and anyone passionate about vocal artistry and folk music traditions. Adding to the excitement are the Friendship Concerts, hosted in public spaces like local shopping malls, where choirs perform in a relaxed, accessible setting, bringing the joy of choral singing to the wider community and fostering cross-cultural connections.

The Closing & Awards Ceremony will include a special guest performance by the world-renowned Kinderchor der Staatsoper Unter den Linden from Berlin, Germany, providing an unforgettable finale to this international gathering of voices.

For more information on the SICFest & SICSym 2025, visit: www.sic-fest.com