INTI Penang’s Chamber Choir Sings for Charity

October 16, 2018

Besides striving to empower academic excellence among students, 21st century academicians are often tasked to discover and groom talents and good qualities among today’s younger generation. As Noah Webster, the great American lexicographer and educator once said, “The virtues of men are of more consequence to society than their abilities; and for this reason, the heart should be cultivated with more assiduity than the head.”

 


The INTI Penang Chamber Choir performs for the INTI Penang Choral Concert 2018: The Beginning of a Musical Journey.

Taking these immortal words into consideration and guided by a vision of grooming eminent talents, INTI International College Penang (INTI) organised a choral music performance, specifically for the purposes of charity.

Aimed at raising funds for the Penang Family Health Development Association (PFHDA), which provides family planning information and clinical services such as wellness screening, the INTI Penang Chamber Choir which includes 13 student choristers from various INTI programmes, for instance 3+0 B.A. (Hons) Mass Communications, University of Hertfordshire, UK; 3+0 B.A. (Hons) in Event Management & Marketing, University of Hertfordshire, UK, trained hard for eight months for the show.

“The INTI Penang Chamber Choir has demonstrated a high level of discipline and perseverance in making this event a success. I am proud of what they have accomplished, and would like to thank the team for putting their heart and soul into this charity project,” said Ms Hemalatha Murugiah, Chief Executive of INTI International College Penang, who was among the audience who graced the show with full support.

Held at the Multipurpose Hall of INTI’s Penang campus, the show, titled The Beginning of a Musical Journey, drew audiences from within and beyond the campus. Also in attendance was Ms Yeap Meng Chee, PFHDA’s chairperson.

Led by Elween Loke, the Choir Master, and the Head of Programme of B.A. (Hons) Mass Communications, University of Hertfordshire at INTI, the performance by 13 INTI’s choristers, who were also joined by 10 guest singers from various choir groups in Penang, presented songs like O’ Salutaris Hostia, Ne Menj El!, De Profundis Clamavi, To the Greenwood, Siyahamba, Rasa Sayang and the finale Thank You for the Music.

“Thanks to their exposure from young, many INTI students are blessed with musical talents spanning various genres. In responding to the idea of forming a choir, these young talents were delighted with the idea of exploring their capabilities, and I believe they truly appreciated not just the process of training, but also the camaraderie in the choir,” shared Loke.

The performance successfully raised about RM2000.00 for PFHDA, and more importantly brought awareness to students and the community on the association’s work in family health.

 


The soprano and alto of INTI Penang’s Chamber Choir getting themselves ready for the show.

Recalling his experience over the months, Samir Lim, an INTI student studying Event Management stated that it had provided him an opportunity to jump into the unknown and explore a totally different aspect of himself. “I believe that I’ve grown throughout this period. Being in a choir is not just about making sure you sound good, but also working alongside fellow singers to ensure the group sings and blends together as one harmonious voice. Being a part of this group, which is now more of one big family, has truly taught me to understand myself better,” enthused Lim.

Mak Chan Yee, an INTI student studying Mass Communication shared, “In the beginning, I joined the choir just for fun. Unbeknownst to me at that time, it would become an activity that I look forward to every single week. I love how the choir has brought us together and has built the camaraderie amongst the members we have today that has been strengthened through each choir practice.”

As part of its commitment towards developing young talents by providing a holistic education, INTI continues its endeavours through these extra-curricular programmes to ensure graduates are not only equipped with academic and practical knowledge, but also with the skills, interests and talents that will help them make our society a better place to live in.