Permata Seni choir wows audience at Vienna fest

KUALA LUMPUR: The young children of the Permata Seni choir – dressed in traditional costumes – enchanted an international audience at a world music fest in Vienna, Austria.

The performance by the Malaysian children, aged seven to 12, earned thunderous applause from those attending the World Peace Choral Festival 2011 at the Vienna City Hall on Monday.

They rendered Malaysian folk songs like Tepuk Amai-Amai and Sepuluh Budak Hitam.

“We need to show the world that despite our diversity, we practise tolerance and can live happily together.

“I believe this (festival) is a good step for the world because art is an avenue for all to unite,” Permata Seni choir conductor Syafinaz Selamat said.

The young choir of 37 singers, she added, also acted as peace ambassadors for the country.

Syafinaz said the costumes worn by them represent Malaysia as a multi-cultural nation, in line with the festival’s slogan, Coming together to sing, Singing for a better future.

She said the attire and the songs performed were a good way to promote to the world the peace and harmony enjoyed by multi-racial Malaysians.

The Permata Seni delegation, headed by Arts and Culture Department director Datuk Norliza Rofli and five teaching staff, arrived in Vienna last Saturday.

Although the choir was formed just 18 months ago, it provided stiff competition to other more experienced groups after just five months of intensive practice.

The other choir groups which took part in the festival were the Hong Kong Children’s Choir School, Beijing New Talent Academy, Taipei Success Children’s Choir and Shanghai Shangnan Middle School.

Besides performing, the choir members also took part in singing workshops conducted by the teaching staff of the world famous Vienna Boys Choir. — Bernama