KUCHING: The chamber choir of St Joseph's Private Secondary School here has taken first place in the youth category of an international choir competition.
Led by conductor and teacher Benedict Lo, the choir comprising 20 students and two alumni won the Youth Choirs of Mixed Voices category at the 7th Vietnam International Choir Competition held in Hoi An, Vietnam from April 3 to 5.
With a repertoire of Sarawakian and Malaysian songs as well as tunes from around the world, the choir also won a gold diploma for its efforts.
The school said this was the culmination of many months of hard work as the choir members honed their craft and voices to prepare for the competition.
"This was the first time most of the choir members took part in an international competition," it said in a statement on Monday (April 10).
For Lo, it was an exciting and challenging journey as the discipline and passion gained through choral singing was a means of youth development.
"I'm proud of how our students managed to do it all, learning what it means to work, laugh and cry together.
"One of them said the effort in preparing for the competition made him see that everything requires hard work and nothing comes for free," he said.
He added that choir members were also grateful to their parents and the school for their support.
After the competition, the choir went to Da Nang in Vietnam and performed at an old folks' home managed by the Sisters of St Paul.
The group returned to Kuching on April 8.
