KUCHING: Sarawak wants to promote talents and interest in performing arts to gear up for its new performing arts centre, scheduled to be completed in 2027.

State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the centre would be a proper venue to showcase performing arts events such as the upcoming Sarawak International Band and Orchestra Festival (SIBOFest).

"In Sarawak, there are many enthusiasts for this kind of performance. As people get more affluent, they can appreciate music, theatre and other performing arts.

"We have to keep building up the interest, whether it's in musicals, theatre, orchestra and so forth," he said when announcing SIBOFest here on Monday (Sept 2).

Abdul Karim said Sarawak would be able to hold large-scale events once the new performing arts centre was ready.

"Besides SIBOFest, we have another music festival which involves performances by orchestras and big groups. We are leading up to something like that with tourists coming over.

"One day, we can have performances every two weeks at the performing arts centre and people can appreciate the performances of our local ethnicities," he said.

The performing arts centre is being developed through the renovation and upgrading of the old state legislative assembly building.

It will be equipped with facilities such as a theatre hall, multipurpose hall, dance and music studios and state-of-the-art staging systems.

On SIBOFest, Abdul Karim said it would bring together youth wind bands, orchestras, educators and musicians from Malaysia, Singapore and Japan for a four-day music festival.

He said 210 participants were joining the event, including 60 participants from the Aikodai Meiden High School Symphonic Band, one of Japan's top high school bands.

There will be workshops and masterclasses at Lodge Secondary School here on Sept 17-19, followed by a finale gala concert at Waterfront Hotel on Sept 20.

"This grand event will showcase the talents of local and international musicians, including performances from Sarawak's At Adau and The Band Lab as well as the Aikodai Meiden High School Symphonic Band," Abdul Karim said.

He said the festival's theme song, "Cat on the Waterfront", would also be premiered at the gala concert.

The song was written by 20-year-old Japanese composer Keigo Makino in collaboration with local musicians based on motifs from a Dayak song, "Bampa Lale' Ame' Tuyang".

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/09/02/sarawak-to-set-the-stage-for-performing-arts-boost-with-repurposed-state-assembly-building