Kyoto Male Choir performs in UTAR

Kyoto Male Choir in action

Established in 1965, Kyoto Male Choir chose Malaysia to be their first ever overseas concert tour to commemorate their upcoming 50th anniversary and UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus was fortunate to have them performed on 3 August 2013.

Kyoto Male Choir ready for another song

The 27 men's choir was accompanied a female conductor Nagoko Suzuki and female pianist Ako Kinoshita.   The men's choir were performing with the 16-member UTAR Choir directed and conducted by Osamu Moroe, an established Japanese businessman residing in Malaysia, who is active in promoting Japanese-Malaysian relations.  The men's choir performed the first song titled 'Four Seasons in my Hometown' and the third performance which was their best choral selections.  The second performance by UTAR choir was a selection from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli Chorus Albu.  The two choirs performed the grand finale together which comprised two songs of the famous late Taiwanese songster Terasa Teng, 'The Moon Represents My Heart' and 'A Lonely Woman in Kyoto'.

Moroe (front) and the UTAR Choir

"The UTAR Choir is a young choir which was established in 2011 by students from UTAR Petaling Jaya Campus," Moroe introducing the choir he directs, adding that he would bring the choir for its first overseas tour to perform in four concerts in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan from 1 to 7 October 2013.

Suzuki (front) introducing the choir members to the audience

"Kyoto Male Choir is a community choir established in Kyoto in 1965," said Suzuki introducing the choir to the audience.  She is also the resident conductor of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Cooperation Choir, one of the best corporate-sponsored choirs in Japan.  She added, "Our members, from a wide range of age groups, consist of university students, working adults and retired persons from different choirs and they all love choral music. Kyoto Male Choir has received Grand Prix award from Kyoto Choirs Alliance due to their great contribution to choral music and become the host choir in Kyoto for overseas choirs such as Yale University Choir."

Space Battleship Yamato Captain (left) saving the day

Two choirs at the grand finale

Pianist Kinoshita

Kyoto Male Choir bidding the audience farewell by singing