The Band Lab to hold first international band and orchestra festival in Kuching

KUCHING (Aug 2): The Band Lab, the advocacy platform for wind band and music education for youths in Sarawak, is proud to announce its upcoming initiative, the inaugural Sarawak International Band and Orchestra Festival (SIBOFest) 2024.

The dynamic four-day music festival, themed ‘Music, Culture and Friendship’, is set to take place from Sept 17 to 20 at Lodge Secondary School here.

“Its primary objectives are to expand access to music education by providing affordable, professional workshops for musicians and educators, as well as enhance professional development through masterclasses that improve skills of local musicians and educators,” said a press release yesterday.

Facilitating the transformative event are several esteemed figures in band education and music, including 60 members from the Aikodai Meiden High School Symphonic Band from Japan, which has won a record 17 Gold Medals at the All Japan Band Competition, the highest number in Japan.

Other notable tutors include band and orchestra conductor Sensei Hiroki Ito, Singapore-based mixed instrument ensemble K⼝U, Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia and the Euroasia Association of Performing Arts.

SIBOFest 2024 will culminate in a Finale Gala Concert on Sept 20, showcasing the talents of both local and international musicians who participated in the festival.

“The concert will feature music from renowned local composer Yeo Chow Shern and the global debut of SIBOFest’s theme song, inspired by Sarawak’s ethnic music, by rising Japanese composer Keigo Makino,” it added.

Affordable, quality wind and percussion repair services by professional Japanese technicians will be available on-site for festival participants on a first-come, first-served basis at a flat fee of RM50.

Additionally, a complimentary basic wind instrument repair workshop by guest Japanese technician Tohru Taniguchi will be available to band educators, teachers and the public on Sept 19 during the festival.

The workshop is open to the public, but spots are limited.

Beyond music, SIBOFest 2024 aims to promote community engagement through immersive educational activities focused on local traditions and cultures.

“The festival also seeks to showcase Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage through diverse music arrangements and activities, celebrating and preserving the region’s unique cultural identity,” it said.

SIBOFest 2024 will include Community Kamek workshops, where participants can learn to prepare local delicacies and perform traditional dances, along with a Borneo Adventure session that engages teams of participants in activities offering a firsthand experience of local life in the city.

Supported by the Education Ministry and the Department of Education Sarawak, the event offers free admission for Malaysian government schools, with a fee starting from RM100 for other institutions.

Observers including music educators and accompanying teachers can register for selected events for RM30.

The Finale Gala Concert is free for registered observers, and tickets are also available to the general public at RM30.

Registration is now open at https://thebandlab.com/sibofest/, and further details will also be available on the website.