St Josephs’ Private School Strings Ensemble plays a piece from Mozart.
KUCHING: The biennial variety show Rhythm and Colour by the St Joseph’s Family of Schools Kuching, was staged last weekend to a sold-out audience of 1,500.
Themed ‘Family and Friends’, it was held over two nights at the Grand Hall of the Archdiocesan Curia and Cathedral Pastoral Centre (ACCPC), St Joseph’s Cathedral.
In a press statement yesterday, St Joseph’s Private School (SJPS) said that it was the schools’ second variety show following the success of their production of the historical musical ‘The White Rajah of Sarawak’ last year, and their first Rhythm and Colour variety show the year before.
“Each production aims to develop students’ interests and appreciation of the performing arts. This year’s showcase placed an emphasis on the role of family and friends in a world where culture and tradition are constantly challenged by newer and bolder expression of one’s identity and will.
“The show follows a day in the life of a family who struggle with current issues, generational gaps and community life. Such serious and meaningful threads are interwoven creatively and intelligently into the 19 diverse items,” said the statement.
SJPS said that this creative collaboration had brought together the primary, secondary and international schools’ students and staff.
The audience, it added, was treated to a spirited performance by the schools’ own lion dance troupe in the opening act, followed by the introduction to the Lim family, whose thought-provoking conversations and antics injected energy and mirth to the whole show.
“The pièce de rèsistance of the show was surely the performances by the award-winning SJPS Chamber Choir. They recently garnered a Silver Grade 1 award at the recent 11th Orientale Concentus International Choral Festival held in Singapore,” said the statement.
SJPS said that the grand finale that celebrates the people’s unity and identity ended the show with a bang.
It said the concert band, strings ensemble, chamber choir and various other musicians and performers came together to perform ‘Setia’ and the schools’ original theme song, ‘Kamek Orang Sarawak’, from their previous production ‘The White Rajah of Sarawak’, drawing thunderous applause from the crowd.
“The students and staff of the schools had shown dedication and perseverance in the last few months when working together for the event; putting their best foot forward has borne results. This was evident in the appreciation shown by the audience.”
Present were Archbishop Simon Poh, Dato Sri JC Fong and other members of the school’s board of directors.
St Josephs’ Private School Lion Dance Troupe performs the opening act of the show.