Meet Our Adjudicators

Meet our distinguished panel of adjudicators for the 30th Annual Festival—featuring accomplished musicians and educators from across the region who bring a wealth of expertise and insight to this milestone event.

 
Adriel Wong

Adriel is a versatile drummer and percussionist with a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree (2018). An alumnus of the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, he performs across Southeast Asia in both classical and contemporary settings.

 

Notable highlights include performing with Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Gabrielle Stravelli at America Days Sabah 2018, representing Malaysia as a finalist in the Singapore International Jazz Battle (2018), and competing as a semi-finalist in Bangkok’s International Jazz Battle (2019). He also participated in Tokyo’s One People Project, collaborating with musicians from across Asia.

 

In 2017, Adriel co-founded the jazz ensemble Kangkung Belacan with his brother Alton. Since their debut at the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival, they’ve performed at major events like the Kota Kinabalu Jazz Festival (2018) and the Malaysian Jazz Marathon (2020), as well as renowned venues like No Black Tie and Bobo KL.

 

Today, Adriel plays with leading acts such as WVC Jazz Ensemble and Kangkung Belacan, collaborating with artists like Junji Delfino, Tay Cher Siang, Michael Veerapan, and international talents such as Gabrielle Stravelli and Juan Carlos Allende.

Malaysian-born pianist and educator Alton Wong is currently pursuing a DMA in Piano Performance at West Virginia University. As a graduate teaching assistant, he holds responsibilities that include teaching improvisational skills in one-to-one and group settings, contemporary keyboard skills, jazz history, and coaching jazz combos. Outside of academic duties, he performs as a solo artist, or with his group Kangkung Belacan. He recently released his debut album, “Taking Form,” that features all original compositions written in the styles of luminary jazz pianists he respects.

 

Alton is a 2023 winner in the Downbeat Student Music Awards for the graduate jazz soloist category and honorable mention in the 2024 Jazz Education Network Young Composers’ Showcase. He holds a double Master’s in Jazz Pedagogy and Piano Performance from West Virginia University.

Polish-born violinist Bartosz Woroch is a prize winner at major international competitions such as Pablo Sarasate in Spain and Michael Hill in New Zealand. As a soloist Bartosz has appeared with orchestras across the world, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic, Bern Symphony Orchestra, the Bournemouth Symphony and Polish Radio Orchestras with conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Libor Pešek, Łukasz Borowicz and Henk Guittart. For the past three seasons, he has lead, directed and appeared as soloists with the Sinfonia Cymru, culminating in the orchestra’s first ever international collaboration, ‘Small Nations Big Sounds’ Festival, of which he was Artistic Director.

 

Bartosz performs widely across Europe at venues including Wigmore Hall, Barbican, Royal Albert Hall, The Palais des Beaux-Arts (Brussels), Radio France Festival (Montpelier), Lublin Philharmonie, the Edinburgh Fringe, Brighton, Lichfield, Verbier and West Cork Festivals. Further afield he has toured New Zealand, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore. He has recorded for BBC Radio 3, Radio France and Polish Radio and collaborated with a variety of artists such as Pekka Kuusisto, Sting, Caroline Palmer, Uri Caine, Nicholas Daniel, Walter Delahunt and award-winning director Tom Morris. In 2011 he was selected for representation by Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) in 2011.

 

A committed chamber musician, Bartosz was the leader of the Lutoslawski Quartet and has given recitals throughout Europe with a recent residency at IRCAM in Paris. He continues to explore the world of the solo violin, each concert having its roots in JS Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, giving recitals throughout the UK and in Poland.

 

Bartosz studied at the Paderewski Academy of Music in Poznan, the Hochschule der Kunste Berne and at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he was guided by Marcin Baranowski, Monika Urbaniak-Lisik and Louise Hopkins. Bartosz is currently a violin professor and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Dr. Chiu Ming-Ying

Senior Lecturer, Department of Music & Music Education

Sultan Idris Education University

 

Chiu Ming-Ying, a native of Taoyuan, Taiwan, began her violin studies at the age of ten. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Soochow University under the tutelage of Hsu His-Lung and completed her Master of Music at Tunghai University, studying with Wu Meng-Ping and Tseng Ching-Ren. She then pursued doctoral studies at Louisiana State University (LSU), U.S., where she studied violin and chamber music under Lin He, Espen Lilleslatten, and cellist Dennis Parker. Additionally, she undertook a minor in music theory under the guidance of Jeffrey Perry.

 

During her time at LSU, Chiu was active participating at LSU Symphony Orchestra and performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. She was also selected to perform in a masterclass with renowned violinist Giora Schmidt.

 

Currently, Chiu serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Music & Music Education, Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), where she teaches violin performance, chamber music, string ensemble, and aural skills. From 2013 to 2018, she held a senior lecturer position at the Department of Music, Cultural Centre, University of Malaya.

 

Prior to joining UPSI, Chiu was a string instructor and orchestra conductor at several institutions in Taiwan, including Kuang-Jen Catholic High School, The Affiliated Jhongli Senior High School of National Central University, Chien-Hwa Junior High School, and Hsinchu Tungmen Primary School. She also served as the music director of M&M Performing Arts Studio.

Christine Augustine holds a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Nova South-eastern University, Florida; Masters in Performing Arts (Music Education) from University Malaya; Bachelor’s Degree of Music (Education) from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris; and LTCL and ATCL (piano) Trinity College of Music, London. Christine is a music educator at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts Faculty, UPSI who previously taught music in a private music school for 5 years. She then started working at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris to present. Her research interests include integrated approaches in music education, music and literacy for pre-schoolers. Christine also held a position of Chief Editor of Malaysian Journal of Music (MJM), a Scopus-indexed journal from 2022-2024.

Christianne Goonting Devaser, better known as Tianne, has been actively involved in art since 1981. Tianne does brush work, water colours, acrylics, oil pastels, natural fiber collages, marbling and mixed media work. She also promotes decorative art & craft featuring recycled materials.


Tianne’s art pieces reflect a versatile, accomplished artist who works in various techniques and media. Her subject matter is unlimited. Her style ranging from realistic to abstract, from detailed delicate work to bold spontaneous creations.


Ever since her launch into the art scene in 1981, Tianne has held over 90 exhibitions – solo and group shows – to date, around Malaysia, in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Brunei, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Australia and Japan. Her works are with private and corporate collectors, and have also been featured in magazines, art catalogues and art event books.


She has also conducted many art workshops, talks and discussions over the years, with the most recent being:-

Demonstration and talk on RTM’s KBI show (Dec 2019)

Panelist – Art in Sabah : Challenges and Perspectives (Dec 2019)

Regional Judge for the Annual KPTNS Exhibition (Sep 2019)

Upcycling workshop at Kinabalu International School (Mac 2019)

Talk on Building Community Through Art, UCSF BANCO (Feb 2019)

Colleen Wong is a senior music educator in the Department of Music and Music Education at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Tanjong Malim, Perak MALAYSIA. She holds a double music degree from the National Arts Academy (previously known as ASK) and the University of Malaya (with distinction) and received her M.A. in Performing Arts from the University of Malaya. Colleen completed her EdD specializing in Instructional Leadership at Nova Southeastern University, Florida. In addition to teaching, she is a senior gamelan player with Rhythm in Bronze (RIB) and has performed with musicians from Malaysia as well as South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and the United Kingdom. She has facilitated workshops using Malay gamelan with both adults and children. She also adjudicates national and international Malay gamelan festivals. Her passion for educating school children in music has also led her to undertake significant research in this field. 

 

Email: colleen@fmsp.upsi.edu,my

Eddy Lim, A Malaysia born Saxophonist has make his name exposed in the music industry throughout the years. Whether international or national, he has perform actively in numerous events, clubs, and Festivals. A Few notable one are, Legend Festival 2015 in Birmingham UK, 2017 Australian Chinese Chamber of Commerce Inc. dinner in Perth Australia, 2019 Miri JAzz Festival, 2023 Huayi Festival in Singapore, 2023 Taipei Lantern Festival in Taipei Taiwan, Sheila Major Bigband Live in Singapore 2023, Hop by the Bay 2024 in FoShan China, and many more.

 

As an Active musician, he is actually man with many faces. Part of few bands and orchestra, you can check him out in JSY九十壹，The Frankie Sixes, and Julian Chan JAzz Orchestra. Sometimes he also session for artist like, The Shang Sisters, Tay Cher Siang, Celist Chow, to name a few. Apart from performing, He is also a passionate Saxophone Teacher/coach and he teaches in a few Universities and schools.

Winner of the 2013 BBC Music Magazine’s Best Newcomer award, Foo Mei Yi is recognised internationally as an innovative pianist with a diverse and eclectic repertoire. Described as ‘an artist with courageous individualism’ (Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen), Mei Yi’s concerts are lauded for their ‘liberating’ and ‘virtuoso display’ (The Times) that show ‘astounding perfection and creativity’ (Unsuk Chin).

 

A prolific concerto soloist, Mei Yi has appeared with the Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Nomad, Fort Worth Symphony, Helsinki Philharmonic, Iceland Symphony, London Chamber Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Remix Ensemble and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, working with such conductors as Matthias Bamert, Martyn Brabbins, Claus Peter Flor, János Fürst, Pascal Gallois, Antony Hermus, Kirill Karabits, Peter Rundel, John Storgårds, Jonathan Stockhammer, Bas Wiegers, Mark Wigglesworth and Benjamin Zander. She has performed at the world’s most eminent festivals such as the Lucerne Festival, Ultraschall Festival Berlin, Huddersfield Festival, Suvisoitto Finland, Punkt Festival in Norway and Born Creative Festival in Tokyo.

 

As a new music advocate, Mei Yi works regularly with living composers including Dai Fujikura, Richard Baker, Chris Harman and Unsuk Chin. She was also the featured artist at Southbank Centre’s ‘Music of Today’ series in 2017. Her award-winning solo album ‘Musical Toys’ and her chamber concerto CD ‘ConNotations’ with the Britten Sinfonia have been met with unanimous critical acclaim.

 

A native of Malaysia, Mei Yi resides in the UK after completing her studies at the Royal College and Royal Academy of Music in London with Yonty Solomon, Chris Elton and Alexander Satz.  Currently she holds a teaching position at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and was an Artist-in-Residence at the National University of Ireland 2022-23. Mei Yi was also awarded the medal of Setiawan Tuanku Muhriz for her contribution towards art and music in her home country.

Hamaguchi Yumi
Representative Director, Subako Art Lab General Incorporated Association
Art Education Researcher (Children’s Artistic Expression Education and Art Appreciation Education)
Part-time Lecturer, Tokyo Kasei University
Former Professor, Faculty of Education, University of Fukui

 

 

In April 2024, I embarked on a new challenge by establishing the “Subako Art Lab General Incorporated Association”. I am nurturing an art exchange space that values “self-creation” – a process where each individual’s story is woven together.

 

 

Yumi Hamaguchi – 福井大学教育地域科学部 Associate Professor – Research History

https://share.google/t2gdV1z26jGpPgQEa

Hannah Moujing is a Malaysian movement artist, educator, and somatic practitioner whose work explores the intersection between dance, psychology, and nature. Raised in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Hannah has over two decades of experience in diverse movement forms, including contemporary dance, somatics, and expressive arts. She holds a BA in Dance and a BS in Psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and a TTC-200 yoga teaching certification from India.

 

Her multifaceted career spans international teaching, artistic residencies, and cultural production, with notable contributions in the U.S., China, India, and across Malaysia. Hannah has taught contemporary dance and somatic movement at NYU Abu Dhabi and has facilitated workshops for artists, youth, and communities across Southeast Asia. Her creative practice integrates floorwork, improvisation, and site-specific work informed by her background in mental health and ecopsychology.

 

Currently based in Cherating on the east coast of Malaysia, Hannah co-founded Sesi Tikar Mengkuang, a community-rooted movement platform that combines coastal living, mindfulness, and creative exploration. She continues to lead retreats, performances, and movement research inspired by her indigenous roots and her connection to the land and sea.

 

As an adjudicator for KKMDF, Hannah brings a depth of artistic inquiry, cultural sensitivity, and a nurturing eye for authentic expression in contemporary performance.

Howard Ng is a musician, creative producer, and arts manager. From 2017-2023, Howard worked at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where he co-produced in over 800 events with artists such as Les Arts Florissants, Sir András Schiff, Midori, Masaaki Suzuki, Vadim Gluzman, Nobuko Imai, Igudesman & Joo, and others.

 

As an oboist, Howard Ng has performed for audiences on three continents, often with important ensembles in the region. From 2014-2019, Howard was a grant recipient of the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music for the creation of the Malaysian Wind Music Prize, which has led to substantial development and training opportunities for aspiring young musicians in Malaysia; the Prize continues to be offered by Rondo Production today. In the spirit of life-long education, Howard experienced a brief attachment in 2022 at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, studying with renowned production company Polyhymnia International.

 

Event highlights of 2024-2025 include performing with the Malaysian Philharmonic & Metropolitan Festival (SG) orchestras, performing as a soloist with the NAFA Wind Orchestra (2024), touring with Ensemble Virama (Taichung 2024 and Taipei 2025) and Bachfest Malaysia (Germany 2024), as well as producing for major arts organisations in Singapore.

 

吳書琪是一位音乐家、创意制作人和艺术经理。 从2017 年至 2023 年，書琪在新加波杨秀桃音乐学院工作，与 Les Arts Florissant、Sir András Schiff、Midori、Masaaki Suzuki、Vadim Gluzman、Nobuko Imai、Igudesman & Joo 等艺术家共同制作了 800 多场活动。作为一名双簧管演奏家，書琪曾为三大洲的观众演出，经常与该地区的重要乐团合作。 本着终身教育的精神，書琪于 2022 年在阿姆斯特丹皇家音乐厅管弦乐团和鹿特丹爱乐乐团短暂实习，并在著名制作公司 Polyhymnia International 学习。2024-2025 年的活动亮点包括与马来西亚爱乐乐团和大都会音乐节 (SG) 管弦乐团合作演出、作为独奏家与 NAFA 管弦乐团 (2024 年) 合作、与 Ensemble Virama (2024 年台中和 2025 年台北) 和马来西亚巴赫音乐节 (德国 2024 年) 一起巡演，以及为新加坡的主要艺术组织参与制作工作。

Born in Taiwan, I-Hsuan started her musical journey at the age of 6. After graduating from the University of Taipei under the tutelage of Professor Pei-Chun Liao, I-Hsuan pursued her music education at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Professors Julian Jacobson and Philip Martin. She has completed her Master’s Degree in Music with distinction and Conservatoire’s flagship Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in professional piano performance.

I-Hsuan has also participated in many competitions, and successes include first prize in Taiwan Music Competition in Hsinchu (2009), top awards in the National Student Music Competition in Taiwan, as a finalist in Donohoe Gold Medal from UK(2017), and Regional winner of Osaka International Music Competition in Kuala Lumpur(2018).

I-Hsuan is now settled down in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and is one of faculty in Bentley Music Academy and Malaysia Institute of Arts.

Jerison Harper Zhi Yuan, LEE BA (HEM), MA (HEM)
 
A passionate musician, dancer, pedagogue, Jerison has set his sight on making music accessible to a diverse audience and using music to better one’s life. For this life mission, he has chosen Dalcroze Eurhythmics and its approach to facilitate his work.
 
Jerison received both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts (2016) in Dalcroze pedagogy from Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva . To further develop his knowledge and skills in working with Dalcroze, he has travelled the world to study with various Dalcroze masters. With his strong foundation in ballet and dance, he continued to study ballet and modern dance while in Geneva. The combination of mastery in both music and dance furnishes him with a unique ability to truly deliver the essence of Dalcroze Eurhythmics.

JULIAN CHAN (saxophonist/flute/educator)
Director – Julian Chan Music Productions
Founder & Artistic Director – The JULIAN CHAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA

 

Kuala Lumpur-born Julian Chan is an acclaimed saxophonist, performer, and educator with 20+ years of experience in the Malaysian and regional music scene. He holds a Masters in Jazz Performance from Queens College, New York, where he studied with Antonio Hart.


Julian has performed with international and Malaysian artistes including Laura Fygi, Carmen Bradford, James Morrison, Jonathan Lee, and Sheila Majid, and shared stages with Randy Brecker and Bobby Watson. His festival appearances include Java Jazz, EFG London Jazz, and SingJazz.

 

Highly versatile, Julian performs across diverse genres with ensembles like the Jazz Association of Singapore Orchestra (JASSO) and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. He founded the Julian Chan Jazz Orchestra (JCJO) in 2018, which recently collaborated with Mac Chew for Sheila Majid’s Big Band concerts.

 

Julian also runs his own saxophone studio and conducts workshops.

 

He is a Yanagisawa Saxophones artist.

More than three decades since adopting Malaysia as her home, Junji Delfino is deeply ensconced in local jazz history. With an unbridled sense of class and sophistication, wit and humour, coupled with a generous helping of joie de vivre her live performances have left an indelible mark in the local entertainment scene, setting the bar upon which other local jazz performers measure up to.

 

Her live performance history includes stints at well-known hotels and jazz clubs as well as appearances at several jazz festivals, including the ASEAN Jazz Festival 2015 which she hosted and performed in. She has performed in many parts of Malaysia, Singapore and Bangkok and even as far as San Francisco and Daly City in California.

 

Some of these performances have not gone unnoticed earning her a few well-deserved awards, the icing to what some may consider a pretty illustrious career.

 

But while Junji Delfino has stamped her mark in the world of music, her acting talents have also been put to good use in a number of theatre, television and film productions, including the worldwide cinematic runaway hit Crazy Rich Asians. She also earned praise in pre-pandemic times at The OzAsia Festival in Adelaide in 2019.

 

Though she considers herself a late-bloomer on the acting front, the transition from songbird to thespian couldn’t have been a more natural progression. After all, for her, singing is storytelling set to music. And she has told a thousand stories by now.

 

The years have proven that there is no stopping Junji Delfino in her tracks. She is performing like never before and her star is shining ever so brightly.

 

Dr. Tham Horng Kent was one of the recipients of the Asia Yamaha Music Scholarship in 2007 and graduated from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow with distinction in Master of Music (Performance) degree in 2011. In 2012-2016, he was awarded a full scholarship by the Malaysian Higher Education Ministry and Sultan Idris Education University at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, where he was graduated with a Doctor in Music Performance degree, under Dr. Denise Neary, Peter Tuite, and Prof. Hugh Tinney. In 2015, he has been chosen as an Erasmus Doctoral Student at the Sibelius Academy, Helsinki, Finland, in the classes of Prof. Margit Rahkonen and Prof. Lauri Suurpää. In 2016, he was invited by the European Academic Artists Association to give a piano recital in the Tallinn Town Hall, Estonia, and won the First Prize in the 26th Young Musician International Competition Citta di Barletta (Duo and Ensemble category) in Italy.

 

Academically, he was selected to present a paper in the Ninth Annual Postgraduate Conference of the Society for Musicology, UCSI University Piano Pedagogy Conference 2017, the Second Doctors in Music Performance festival conference at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the Third Doctors in Music Performance festival conference at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, as well as the Performers (‘) Present International Artistic Research Symposium 2019 at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore.

 

He was invited to be one of the juries of the 1st WPTA Finland International Piano Competition, 3rd ODIN International Youth Piano Festival in Estonia, Kingsburg International Piano Competition in China as well as Kota Kinabalu Music Festival in Malaysia. Most recently, he was honored to be one of the recipients of the Emerging Artist Incubation Funding Programme awarded by the Malaysian Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA), in promoting Malaysian Contemporary Art Music.

 

Currently, he is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

May Gavin, Commencing piano lessons with her mother at the age of five, May received a Licentiate Diploma of Music at thirteen. For fifteen years, May appeared with her mother, composer and pianist Val Gavin, in the 2-piano team Duo Gavin. Together they made numerous recordings and performed over 100 recitals. May also played the violin, playing professionally for dozens of shows in Melbourne. She still has a strong interest in music theatre, and enjoys coaching singers.

 

May has worked as an accompanist both here and overseas and has also been Music Director for many productions. She toured as the principal accompanist for The Three Chinese Tenors and also as the Music Director for the national tour of The Merry Widow. May and her husband, tenor Raymond Khong have performed extensively in Australia, and have released two recordings on the Move label. May and her brother,  internationally acclaimed tenor Julian Gavin have recently released a recording of music composed by her mother Val, on the Tall Poppies label to high critical praise, She currently works as a regular accompanist for the Melbourne Women’s Choir, who are currently preparing for their second European tour in September, and has released a recording with them My Song in the Night May has a busy performance schedule, both as an accompanist and soloist with local orchestras, most recently performing Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Carnival of the Animals and Rhapsody in Blue. She is a piano examiner both here and overseas, and is Head of Keyboard at Donvale Christian College, loving both the challenges and rewards of teaching.

 

May is married and has four noisy, artistic and extremely messy children. When she is not busy with family or music, she enjoys long bushwalks, accompanied by her enormous Great Dane, cooking, gardening and sewing.

Michelle Efferin, founder and principal of M.E Music Centre, currently also pastoring for IFGF Kids Bandung since 2019. Michelle learn classical piano since she was 4 years old and finished the ABRSM grade 8 exam at the age of 17 years old. In 2005, Michelle finished her study at Australian Institute of Music with Bachelor of Music Performance, majoring in Contemporary Piano. During her time in Australia,she had the opportunity to learn from some great musicians there such as Sean Coffin, Dave Mcrae and Greg Coffin. She also did a Jazz Improvisation Course at Sydney Conservatorium and took leadership class at Hillsong College Australia.

 

 

She had the opportunity to learn from one of Indonesian legendary pianist, Bubbi Chan and did a concert together in 2004. In 2006, Michelle came back to Indonesia and established Michelle Efferin Music Centre, and she also performed in many big Jazz events in Bandung and Jakarta, such as Java Jazz 2007, 2008 & 2009.

 

 

Since 2009, she become a trainer and official representative for Encore Music Education. Currently Michelle still actively teaches masterclass and consulting for other music schools in Indonesia and overseas (Australia, Singapore & Malaysia) focusing on modern music and approach in classical teaching and she is also performing with her jazz quartet.

Misa Yamamoto is a pianist with over 20 years of performance experience, having performed in Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Macau, and the United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, in Brisbane (Australia), and also trained at the Australian National Academy of Music in Melbourne (Australia).


In addition to her performance career, Misa is a passionate educator, highly sought after for her expertise in teaching young musicians. She has also formerly served as an examiner for the ANZCA Music Examinations Board.


Currently, Misa is pursuing training in music therapy, combining her love of music with a desire to help others. She is also a certified yoga teacher and Ayurvedic health counsellor, offering a holistic approach to wellbeing and personal growth.

Associate Professor Dr. Muhammad Fazli Taib Bin Saearani is the Dean of the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia. A respected expert in dance pedagogy and cultural heritage, he also serves as the National Representative of Dance and the Child International (daCi).

 

Deeply involved in academic research, Dr. Muhammad Fazli is the Chief Editor of Jurai Sembah Journal and a member of the editorial boards for UPSI’s Journal of Social Science and Kajian Seni Journal at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

 

Beyond academia, he has played a key role in advising dance performances and festivals across Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China, and Slovenia. His contributions extend to consultancy, keynote speaking, and international conferences, where he actively promotes cultural heritage through dance and helps expand the reach of dance education in Malaysia, Indonesia, and beyond.

 

As a dedicated researcher, he has published over 30 academic papers on dance inheritance, pedagogy, and creative movement education, earning both national and international recognition. In 2024, his contributions to the field were honored with the International Icon (Academician) Award.

 

Dr. Muhammad Fazli’s influence also extends to teaching and mentorship. He serves as a Visiting Professor at Universitas Negeri Semarang and has delivered guest lectures at Universitas Gadjah Mada and Ningxia University, China. Through his extensive work, he continues to inspire and guide the next generation of dance educators, scholars, and practitioners, ensuring that dance remains a vital part of cultural and educational landscapes worldwide.

Na Li, Deputy Director, Associate Professor, Master’s Supervisor of Harbin Normal University.Academic visitor of Walsh Royal College of Music,Member of the Committee of Young Singers of China, Director of Heilongjiang Branch of the Committee of Young Singers of China, Young Innovative Talents of Heilongjiang Province. She presided over one project of Social Sciences in Heilongjiang Province, two projects of Heilongjiang Education Department and Culture Department, and two projects of Heilongjiang Culture Department. Published a monograph and dozens of academic papers, including three CSCI, three national class B, four national class C. She has won many awards for outstanding scientific research projects in Heilongjiang Province, teaching quality awards in Harbin Normal University and excellent young people’s teaching awards in Ningqikun. Five successful solo concerts were held in China and UK. She has been invited to act as an English translator for many international master classes of vocal music.

Richard Sirait, drummer and song writter (gospel music), born in Jakarta Indonesia. As a session musician he still actively involved in many studio recordings and live performances. In 2003, Richard had a change to play jazz together with guitarist Dewa Budjana. Also in 2007, 2008 & 2009 Richard performed at Java Jazz festival along side with his wife, Michelle Efferin (pianist). And until today they still play music together in Michelle Efferin Jazz Quartet.

Rita Liew, founder of Music Matters in Singapore, started this company in 2011 for greater support for music educators and collaborated with many respected musician-educators to provide practical training, valuable resources, and tools to help music teachers reaching across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand.

 

She is a trainer for Encore Music Education (Australia) in Singapore for the Kinder Beat Programme as well as Encore on Keys Programme. 

 

A music graduate from Singapore Bible College’s School of Church Music, Rita spent twelve years (1994-2006) in Thailand as a church planter with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship.  In 2006, she relocated to Singapore and grew her passion as a music educator to entrepreneur. 

SAFEHSE is an acoustic guitar duo made up of Ang Ting and Erica Cho, known for their distinctive blend of R&B, pop, and hip-hop influences within the world of guitar instrumentals. The pair are currently endorsed artists of the South Korean guitar brand, Gopherwood Guitars. They skillfully strike a balance between pop-inspired arrangements and guitar-driven melodies, creating music that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.


Despite having contrasting musical backgrounds, Ang Ting and Erica Cho merge their unique styles to form the signature sound of SAFEHSE. Their rise to fame began on TikTok, where their captivating arrangements and genre-bending guitar instrumentals quickly garnered millions of views.


Their viral covers caught the attention of global stars including Jackson Wang, Jay Chou, ROSÉ of BLACKPINK, J-Hope of BTS, Jay Park, and Firdhaus, all of whom praised the duo’s innovative approach to music. SAFEHSE’s sound has resonated with audiences both locally and internationally, leaving a lasting impression wherever they perform.


They have graced the stage at several international and local concerts, including COLORS OF SOUNDS Guitar Concert (South Korea) and From Friends to Family Guitar Concert (Malaysia). In 2023, they launched their first sold-out mini-tour, the New Beginnings Guitar Concert, across Malaysia and Singapore. They also recorded for the hit South Korean reality show Singles Inferno Season 3. In 2024, they kicked off their Chapter II Asia Tour, with shows in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Hong Kong, and Seoul.


Beyond covers, SAFEHSE has released 20 digital singles and one mini-album, collectively amassing over 400,000 streams.


In 2023, they expanded their creative journey by founding the SAFEHSE Guitar School in South Korea. With a mission to cultivate a love for guitar among the younger generation, they aim to inspire future musicians through their music and mentorship.

South Korean Seho Lee is a pianist, piano accompanist, opera répétiteur and International Relations Representative at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin, Ireland. Seho is also a Guest Professor at the Guizhou Normal University where he teaches Masterclasses, a Professor at the Beijing International Voice Masterclass Series (China). He is Chairman of Jury for the Kingsburg International Piano Competition and a member of jury the Kota Kinabalu International Music festival, Malaysia and High “C” International Singing Competition, China.  He is also Artistic Director of the Clontarf Coffee Concert Series, and ballet pianist for the Irish National Youth Ballet, both in Dublin, Ireland.


Born in South Korea, Seho studied piano (BMus, summa cum laude) at the Chugye University for the Arts, and opera coaching (Artistic Diploma, summa cum laude) at the Korea National University of Arts in Seoul. Among the numerous prizes he won were the President’s Prize and Creativity Awards for outstanding academic performance. In 2007 he joined the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) Keyboard and Collaborative Piano Department as a pianist Fellow while studying for a Masters in Piano Accompaniment, in addition Seho was also the first student in the UK to be awarded an MMus (Piano for Dance) as a ballet répétiteur (awarded with Distinction). He then obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Repetiteurship where he also gained a Distinction. Seho was awarded the Piano Accompaniment Award for best accompanist from RCS. During this time he worked closely with the Scottish Ballet and the RCS Ballet School. He won all the Duo Competitions for singer and pianist plus several solo piano competitions while studying at the RCS and was honoured to perform as a representative student at the RCS Graduation Ceremony while also working as a guest accompanist at the Birmingham Royal Ballet, English National Ballet. 


From 2012 – 2014 Seho studied for a Masters in Opera Répétiteur at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama where he was also Fellow Pianist on the Steinway Piano Scholarship scheme. Based on outstanding performances, Seho has completed all of his studies on a full-scholarship basis.


Seho has won over 30 competitions including The Seoul Youth Competition in Korea, Osaka International Competition (Piano Duo) in Japan and the Alberta Conservatory Competition in Canada. In 2012 he won the Delius Prize and performed the Prize-winner Recital in Steinway Hall, London. In 2016 Seho won first prize at the Young Musicians international competition “Citta di Barletta”, Italy.


He has been invited to perform at internationally renowned festivals including the Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival and also the Oxford Lieder Festival. Seho has performed at St James’ Palace in London and Dora Stoutzker Hall, Cardiff in the presence of the British Royal Family, representing the RCS, in 2008 and at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2012.

Suhaili Micheline – Choreographer | Performer | Educator | Visual Artist
Director, Aurora School of Dance (Est. 1989)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 

Suhaili Micheline is a distinguished Malaysian choreographer, performer, and dance educator whose work spans movement direction, dance theatre, education, and visual art. Currently serving as the director of Aurora School of Dance, Malaysia’s premiere dance institution, Suhaili upholds the school’s longstanding legacy of fostering excellence, discipline, and creativity in students through a rigorous and diverse curriculum.

 

A classically trained dancer with a progressive creative vision, Suhaili has toured and presented work across the globe, including New York, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, and Spain. Her artistry has earned her numerous accolades both locally and internationally, and she continues to be a sought-after figure in contemporary Southeast Asian dance.

 

Suhaili made her choreographic breakthrough with Flatland, her debut full-length dance work which premiered at the KuAsh Theatre. The piece was nominated for multiple awards at the 11th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2014 and garnered wins in several categories. Since then, she has built a dynamic portfolio of solo and ensemble works including Musim Monstahs, Lemang Menang (developed during the pandemic), Initiate, Eclectic Shift, and Nasi Ekonomi. Each work blends movement and narrative with cultural, social, and emotional depth.

 

In 2023–2024, Suhaili’s impact expanded beyond the stage:

  • She was invited to exhibit at Art for Heart 2023, a prestigious charity art event organized by RHB Bank, showcasing her evolving work as a visual artist.
  • Her visual art series “Daya”, a collaboration with creative studio KolmeGlu, premiered in Kuala Lumpur in late 2022 and has since gained traction among collectors and the art community.
  • Her paintings—intimately tied to her movement practice—were exhibited and sold at the Godown Arts Market in Kuala Lumpur, reflecting her multidimensional creative expression that emerged during the pandemic.
  • Suhaili continues to be active in arts education, conducting international workshops, movement labs, and artist residencies across Southeast Asia and beyond.
  • She served as a jury member and mentor at various high-profile competitions including the Malaysia Challenge Cup Dance Competition , KK Music Festival (Sabah), Asia Pacific International Arts Festival, and the Ministry of Education (Singapore) SYF Dance.

She was also a TEDx speaker at both University Malaya and TEDxKL, where she spoke on the transformative power of movement and the evolving role of dance in society.

 

Suhaili’s strength lies in her ability to bridge movement, identity, and multidisciplinary expression. Through choreography, education, and visual storytelling, she continues to shape the next generation of artists while expanding the reach of Malaysian dance on a global stage.