KUCHING: The Sarawak International Choral Festival & Symposium (SICFest & Sym) 2026 concluded in grand style with its Closing Ceremony and Awards Presentation held in here yesterday (June 21).
The prestigious event was graced by Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, accompanied by Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.
In his speech, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah reaffirmed the state government’s continued commitment to supporting the development of arts and culture, as well as the hosting of international-standard events that contribute to tourism growth, cultural exchange and talent development.
This year’s festival successfully brought together more than 1,200 registered participants comprising delegates, adjudicators, conductors and choir groups from six countries, namely the United States, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The festival continues to play a key role in promoting artistic excellence, music education, cross-cultural understanding and international friendship through the universal language of music.
Guests were also treated to a special performance by the KCS Festival Choir, featuring singers from diverse backgrounds, ages, ethnicities and countries, reflecting the spirit of unity at the core of the festival’s mission.
A highlight of the ceremony was the procession of the SICFest Golden Kenyalang Grand Prix Trophy, the festival’s highest honour, which drew attention as seven top choir groups from Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines advanced to the final stage after delivering outstanding performances and demonstrating high artistic standards throughout the competition.
The official closing of SICFest & Sym 2026 once again underscored the power of music as a unifying medium across cultures, languages and borders, while further strengthening Sarawak’s position as a leading destination for international cultural exchange and artistic collaboration.
