The 20th BOH Cameronian Art Awards' theme, '20 Years of Legacy, Igniting Inspiration for Tomorrow,' is exemplified by these nominees who are both artists and educators.
By DANIAL FUAD
Introduction
BOH Cameronian Art Awards (BCAA) celebrates outstanding performances in dance, music, theatre and musical theatre performed in the previous year. Started in 2002, they are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year with the aptly theme 20 Years of Legacy, Igniting Inspiration for Tomorrow. They have more than 35 categories acknowledging various contributions such as Best Choreographer in a Feature Length Work, Best Production Values, Best Lighting Design, and Best Actor in a Leading Role to name a few.
Academics has always played a vital role in shaping the future. Thus, it is crucial for them to have a good understanding of their relevant industries. We can see back then artists such as Redza Piyadasa, Sulaiman Esa and Syed Ahmad Jamal holds respected positions in academic institutions inspiring future generations.
Nestled between all the nominees, seven names stand out. On top of being a practicing artist, they are all educators in local institutions be it public or private. These are all respected names not only in the industry but also hold high positions in academics such as Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli, Che Kem, Dr. Syahrul Musa, Walid Ali, Dr. Ang Mei Foong, Dr. Bernard Tan and Dr. Poom Prommachart. This article will investigate how their academic roles intertwine with their artistic achievements and how their practice and scholarship synergize.
Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli [UiTM] – Best Director | Randai “McBeth”
Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli is the Head of Performance Studies at College of Creative Arts Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). She focuses on theatre acting, directing, intercultural theatre and traditional Malay theatre focusing on Mak Yong. For her, knowledge and skill are two crucial elements that need to be embedded for theatre makers and stated that “my talent and skills as and actor/director shaped my teaching methodologies as I guide the students to be practitioners.”
As a theatre director, Dr. Norzizi engages traditional Malaysian performance and intercultural adaptions where she mentioned, “in making an adaptation works, the ability to find connection between two different texts, are the most crucial element.” One of her nominal works would be Mak Yong Titis Sakti where she adapts Shakespeare ‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream fusing them with the traditional Malay Dance.
Dr. Norzizi is nominated for Best Director at the 20th BCAA for her work on Randai McBeth. This is the second time she got nominated at the BCAA where the first time was in 2012 as she co-directed Oedipus with Fairul Zahid. This retelling of McBeth took the form of Randai, a traditional theatre form originating from Minangkabau culture.
After Titis Sakti, this is the second major Nusantara adaptation of Shakespearean play where she mentioned, “it is vital for the legacy of Malaysian theatre that this exploration could inspire others to create an intercultural theatre, especially in giving breath to the dying traditional arts form.”
Che Kem (Kamarulzaman Taib) [ASWARA] – Best Actor in a Leading Role | Randai McBeth
Kamarulzaman Taib or fondly known in the industry as Che Kem is currently the Dean for Pusat Seni Pentas Tradisional (PuTRA) at the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan (ASWARA). His expertise includes theatre, drama, traditional arts and creative writings. One of his major contributions towards the academics is being the core-team for the structuring and the establishment of ASWARA back in 2006.
He is well known in the industry and has worked with various directors such as Dr. Anuar Nor Arai, Datuk Rahim Razali, and Datin Paduka Suhaimi Baba where with the latter, he portrayed Tunku Abdul Rahman for 1957 Hati Malaya and Tanda Putera. “Lecturers of the arts should always produce works in order to stay relevant as well as getting a deeper understanding about the development of the industry and keep sharpening their skill and talent so that we can inspire confidence for students,” Che Kem states.
Che Kem is nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in Randai McBeth at the 20th BCAA. This is not his first rodeo as he previously acquired Anugerah Pelakon Harapan Lelaki Terbaik Festival Filem Malaysia ke-21, Pelakon Filem Pilihan at the 2008 Anugerah Oskar PPFM as well as Pelakon Lelaki Terbaik Telefilm Anugerah Tribute P. Ramlee RTM 2017.
This is the second intercultural work collaboration with Dr. Norzizi with Titis Sakti Mak Yong being their first collaboration together. He mentioned, “what is interesting about this project is that it challenges me to delve deeply into both cultures in order to give out a good adaptation,” showing that being a researcher aids in the betterment of his artistic practice.
Dr. Syahrul Musa [UiTM] – Best Director | Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor
Tim Crouch who focuses on ‘liberating constrictions’ in his creative process are one of Dr. Syahrul Musa inspiration. As the Head of Creative Media and Technology at UiTM, Dr. Syahrul Musa research interest focuses on alternative theatre and minimalism in which he states, “my obsession with alternative theatre and minimalism is less about theory and more about survival.”
His portfolio as an actor, director, playwright, and filmmaker is extensive which includes Ronggeng Rokiah, Tunku Kudin, Seribu Peluru Untuk Aku, and Gugurnya Kopiah Putih to name a few. His short film, Parvai even receive international recognition where it was screened at Cannes Short Film Corner. Dr. Syahrul believes that intimate theatre space foster realism and a powerful actor-audience connection.
For the 20th BCAA, he was nominated for Best Director for Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor presented by Studio Sedar Ruang. Inspired by Grotowski’s ‘poor theatre’, the play focused on actor’s performance as it only used simple materials like foam and bathtub as props. He stated, “the intimacy was non-negotiable… Minimalism wasn’t just a style; it was the only way to tell this story honestly.”
The play that was inspired by Stanislavski’s book, An Actor Prepare, Building a Character was the second nomination that Dr. Syahrul has gotten for the BCAA where in the 2012, he was awarded with Best Direction (Musical Theatre.) Focusing on psychological realism and the actor’s process, this play received multiple nominations including Best Original Script, Best Actor, Best Lighting Design and Best Of awards.
Walid Ali [UiTM] – Best Lighting Design | Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor
Previously at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Walid Ali is currently a lecturer at the College of Creative Arts, UiTM since 2022 where he is also the Alumni Network Coordinator. His research includes contemporary theatre, Borneo performing arts specifically Melanau culture and cultural documentation. He emphasizes on cultural understanding in theatre in which he stated that, “by cultivating deep appreciation for diverse cultures, we can enhance our practice as artist and avoid inadvertent offenses.”
Other than being an educator, he is the creative director for Luar Kotak Production creating works that relate to everyday life but uses unconventional methods and surprises. Emphasizing on international collaboration, Walid states, “we have myriads of compelling stories to share and we can certainly learn from global practices to enhance our theatrical productions.” His latest work as a director was for Teater Keluang Man and his international engagement includes the performances at Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Chapters Arts Center (UK).
While primarily known as deviser/director, Walid has been nominated for Best Lighting Design for his work on Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor collaborating with a fellow colleague, Dr. Syahrul Musa. “To reflect the theme, the lighting design employs a contrasting colour palette: realistic colours for moments of realism, shifting to vibrant colours to evoke the creativity and whimsy of the couple’s playful interactions within their home stage.” He explored the concept of stage as performance space for the actors with the couple’s house serving as the stage.
Dr. Ang Mei Foong [UPM] – Best Group Performance, Vocal & Best Solo Performance, Vocal | Opera Si La Bohemia
Dr. Ang Mei Foong holds the position as the Head of the Music Department within the Faculty of Human Ecology at Universiti Putra Malaysia. A prominent researcher, she focuses on voice rehabilitation in which she he is the founder of the Music-based Voice Intervention Protocol (MusVIP), a non-invasive music-driven alternative treatment.
“What drives me is a profound respect for the human voice, not just as an artistic instrument, but as a mirror of our identity, emotion, and resilience,” Dr. Mei Foong states about her drive. Aside from research, Dr. Mei Foong also contributes through affiliation with key organizations such as International Society for Music Education (ISME), Malaysian Association of Music Education (MAME), Malaysian Society for Music in Medicine (MSMM) and the Asia Pacific Community Music Network (APCMN).
On top of being an academic, Dr. Mei Foong is an internationally acclaimed Lirico Soprano, celebrated for her vocal artistry. She mentioned, “Opera, to me, is the most direct form of art that speaks to the heart and soul, through its fusion of many art forms… Opera, is truly the language of the soul.” As the Principal Soprano Soloist with the Kuala Lumpur City Opera (KLCO), she has performed various leading opera roles that includes Mimi in Pucini’s La Boheme, Violetta Valery in Verdi’s La Traviata and the First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote.
As a testament to her talent, Dr. Mei Foong received two nominations in the 20th BCAA relating to her performance in KLCO’s Opera Si La Bohemia: Best Group Performance – Vocal for the duet O Soave Fanciulla and Best Solo Performance – Vocal for the arias Si, Mi Chiamano Mimie & Donde Lieta Usci. This is not her first BCAA nominations where in pervious iteration, she got the Best Solo Performance (Vocal) at the 16th BCAA in 2019. In 2018, she was bestowed the title of Cavaliere (Knight) of the Order of the Star of Italy by the Italian government and the same year as her 16th BCAA wins, she was awarded the prestigious National Academic Award (Performing Arts) from the Malaysian Ministry of Education.
Dr. Mei Foong beautifully articulates her journey in the arts through this statement, “throughout this humble yet long journey, I slowly realized that performance, education, and research are not separate paths but deeply interconnected dimensions of the same pursuit, which is to further and aim on a deeper understanding and expressing the human experience through voice.”
Dr. Bernard Tan [UiTM] – Best Musical Direction | Opera Si La Bohemia
Dr. Bernard Tan specializes in collaborative piano where during his doctoral studies, he studied under the renowned collaborative pianist and coach Martin Katz. “My goal is that collaborative piano will no longer be a nice in the country, but an important pillar of our musical culture,” he stated. Currently, he is the Program Coordinator for Music Performance at UiTM providing platform to disseminate his specialized knowledge through teaching with experiences such as being a coaching fellow at Opera on the Avalon in Canada and the International Lyric Academy in Italy as well as serving as a faculty member at the Veneto Opera Summer School, Italy.
He mentioned, “coming into the world of collaborative piano, especially in vocal music and opera, I wasn’t just learning to play alongside singers – I was trained to acquire a special skill of listening and responding while playing the piano.” His expertise as a collaborative pianist, which involves intricate work with singers and instrumentalists on musical interpretation and ensemble has brought him all over the globe involved in various productions in Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States on top of Malaysia.
For the 20th BCAA, Dr. Bernard is nominated for Best Musical Direction for his work on KLCO’s Opera Si La Bohemia. “My musical direction aimed to enhance Puccini’s brilliant depiction of universal themes—love, friendship, etc., exemplified by Rodolfo’s loving tenor and Mimì’s heartbroken strings—and blend it with local musical styles and voices to create a cohesive cultural fusion in this timeless opera,” Dr. Bernard commented about his direction.
Dr. Poom Prommachart [Sunway University] – Best Solo Performance, Instrumental | Beethoven: His Romance & Fire
Having studied under the likes of Yonty Solomon, Ian Jones, Dina Parakhina, Dan Thai Son and Jean Sualnier, Dr. Poom Prommachart currently is the Programme Leader for the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music Performance within the Department of Film and Performing Arts at Sunway University. Originally from Thailand, he currently resides in Malaysia sharing his extensive global knowledge with future generations in core areas such as principal study, chamber music and overseeing creative projects.
He has performed as a soloist and with orchestras across Europe, America and Asia that includes over 30 pianos concertos. Dr. Poom states, “what I find meaningful is the opportunity to bring my international experience into my academic and leadership role – helping students not only grow as musicians but as a whole human being.” As an internationally recognized Steinway Artist, he has recorded a debut album in 2015 released by Champs Hill Records (UK) featuring works by Medtner, Liszt and Rachmaninoff.
Dr. Poom has amassed an impressive awards and accolades over the course of his careers. He states, “every moment I step into the stage is precious, and it’s difficult to single out on as the most significant. That said, receiving the Tagore Gold Medal from the Royal College of Music, presented by His Majesty King Charles the III, was deeply meaningful,” he commented. Other notable mentions would be winning the first prizes at several international piano competitions the likes of the Orford Music Award Grand Prize in Canada (2020), the Susses International Piano Competition in the UK (2013), the Thailand International Piano Competition (2011) to name a few.
For the 20th BCAA, Dr. Poom is nominated for Best Solo Performance – Instrumental for his performance in the concert Beethoven: His Romance & Fire. This category holds significance for him as this is the second time he was nominated where in 2023, he won the same award at the 18th BCAA. This time, he performed the Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 as the soloist for the KLPAC Orchestra and mentioned, “when I play Beethoven, it’s not about showcasing passion or pleasing an audience. It’s about spiritual connection, humility, and loyalty to the essence of his music. That is what I strive to share with every listener,” revealing his deep connection to the composer.
Conclusion
The profiles of all these nominees vividly illustrate the dynamic and productive interplay between artistic practices and academic engagement. The artist-academic model holds enduring value for the Malaysian arts scene and these individuals contributed significantly toward the vibrancy, sustainability and intellectual depth.
As we continue to develop our cultural landscape, the continued recognition, support, and cultivation of individuals who successfully bridge the worlds of art and academia successfully are vital. Their nominations in this year awards is also a testament to BCAA aspiration to shape, celebrate, and inspire the industry towards greater exploits and sustainable future.
All the best to all the nominees for the 20th BCAA that will happen tomorrow, 4th May 2025 at the PJ Performing Arts Center.
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