“Winds of Change” reshapes local music

KUCHING: The innovative “Winds of Change” project has revitalised the local music scene in Sarawak.

This transformative music outreach initiative is a collaboration between Persatuan Wind Orkestra Kuching (The Band Lab) and the Sarawak Arts Council (Majlis Seni Sarawak), as part of the MySENI Skim Galakan Kesenian.

Its aim is to bolster local school and community band programmes in Kuching, Sibu, and Bintulu that have been impacted by COVID-19 through various music training and capacity-building activities.

A notable feature of the initiative is the involvement of musicians from The Band Lab, organisers of ‘An Anime Symphony,’ Borneo’s premiere full orchestra anime concert.

From December 15 to 20, these musicians visited 1st and 8th Sibu Company Boys’ Brigade Band and the SM Kai Dee School Band in Bintulu to impart essential techniques for wind and percussion instruments.

Engaging over 70 participants, predominantly youths aged 11 to 20, the programme has been transformative.

“The global pandemic severely impacted local musicians and bands, with many struggling due to lost revenue from live shows and a dearth of teaching personnel. This made sustaining music programmes particularly challenging,” said the founder of The Band Lab and the project’s head instructor Jesmond Siew.

The “Winds of Change” initiative directly addresses these challenges by providing formal training and upskilling opportunities. This empowers local musicians and band leaders with the necessary skills to create self-sustainable programmes.

Furthermore, the project fosters youth participation in music, facilitating personal growth and infusing the local music scene with emerging talent.