Dithyrambic Singers

Dithyrambic Singers

News: Night of Enchanting Vocals

The Star May 15, 2010

Musical ProperGanda
co-organiser
UCSI University & Dithyrambic Singers

CROWD favourites such as Pak Ngah’s Keranamu Malaysia, classics by Chopin and Mozart as well as songs from well-loved operas like La Boheme and Le Nozze di Figaro were given a fresh rendition at the Properganda Musical, co-organised by the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall Choir, UCSI University and the Dithyrambic Singers.

The musical, under the artistic direction of Ian Lim Kean Seng starred UCSI University alumni Bui Yik Ling, Shah Johan Shahridzuan, Rachel Tan Cheng Suan and Tay Chai Ying. The musical featured opera arias from The Old Maid, Thief and Faust, operatic scenes from Die Lustige Witwe, La Traviata, and powerful vocal solos, duets and quartets from various other operas.

Classic number: Guest performer, Terence Au Eng Yee (far right), performing alongside Rachel Tan, Shah Johan, Nickson Choong, Stephan Chang and Ang Joonkie in an operatic scene entitled ‘Quando me’n vo’. A few classic Chinese opera numbers were also blended into the mix, among them the memorable Ala Muhan from a Xin Jiang folk song, performed by Lim Huey Hsiang, Karen Tan, Shah Johan, Ang Joonkie with Tay on the piano.

After the intermission, the Dithyrambic Singers performed Saloma’s Di Mana Suara Burung Kenari, to the delight of the crowd.

The Dithyrambic Singers, comprising mostly UCSI University music students, are one of Malaysia’s leading choral ensembles, having made appearances at various international events, including the 2008 Busan Choral Festival and Competition in South Korea, the 1st Asian Choir Games in Indonesia (2007) and at the 21st Century International Choral Festival, Oriental Concentus in China.

A week before the Properganda musical, the group was invited to the Distinguished Concert in New York, and performed under the direction of Eric Whitcare at Carnegie Hall.

The Musical Properganda featured some of the best vocals from among the performers and great musical expressions for the operatic arias and scenes that delighted the crowd. All the four main performers were under the tutelage of UCSI University lecturers and have been awarded scholarships to pursue their Masters in Vocal Performance and Piano Accompaniment at the Birmingham Conservatoire in the United Kingdom.