KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 — Boarding schools are institutions where students head to in the hopes of getting a well-rounded education.
In schools such as Sekolah Tun Fatimah, this includes the option of joining a brass band.
It is not your typical choice, especially considering it is an all-girls school.
But the Sekolah Tun Fatimah Brass Band has been around since 1973, scooping up multiple awards along the way.
Among them are state and national level band competition champions in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, best drumline street parade national level 2015 and silver award in the Red Sonata Festival 2017.
This April 27, the band is set to add another feather in its cap by performing at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur.
The twist to the performance is they will be joined by Orkestra Traditional Malaysia and singers Amy Search, Jaclyn Victor, Fauziah Latiff, Dina Nadzir and Anding Indrawani.
Titled A Night with the Stars, the concert also seeks to raise funds to buy new instruments as well as props for its colour guard team.
So far, it is the only boarding school brass band to have colour guards.
The funds are also for expenses to take part in the Grand Prix Marching Band in Jakarta.
The concert is also a celebration of the school being ranked top in the country for its 2017 SPM results.
Band director Esty Farrah Musa said performing at Istana Budaya would be challenging because of its acoustics.
“But we are going to do our best,” said the former student, who returned to the school to take over the baton in 2003.
Although they have been carrying out fund raising activities for the past few years, Esty said this was the biggest effort yet and they were honoured to be given the chance to perform.
“This is a prestigious venue. It is the Mecca for arts in Malaysia.
“It is all about seizing the day and making sure everything works.”
Esty added that the school hoped to raise enough funds to not only replace the older instruments but to purchase some they have never had before.
She said the need to have better instruments was necessary if the school hoped to place better in competitions it entered.
There were times, she said when quick fix solutions such as taping up the instruments had to be done.
The band, she added, also performs at functions around Johor Baru to contribute to their piggy bank, besides having a fund raising event at the school two years ago.
She said there was no shortage of support from parents, school leadership and the alumni.
The band will be playing 14 songs ― seven with singers, two with Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia and singers, and the rest on their own.
Esty said the songs will be well-known enough for everyone to just “sit back and relax”.
Being part of a brass band, she emphasised was important to show the students that there was more to life than just the books and exams.
“The girls love it. They like being out on the field, marching and playing their hearts out.”
Farah Ahmad Fadhil, 17, said she joined the band because she always loved music.
The Form Five student, who plays the trumpet and is the drum major, added she did not expect to be able to perform in Istana Budaya.
“I am nervous and excited,” she said.
Nur Syazwani Sabirin, a clarinetist, said she found it interesting and challenging to play an instrument while marching at the same time.
She added that they would have to probably control the volume of their instruments considering they would be performing indoors.
“Everything has to be perfect,” said the fifth former of the night’s performance.
Maira Nur Damia Irdina Mohammad Mohid is one of the younger players in the band at age 13.
The cymbalist said she joined her band as she wanted to follow in her brother’s footsteps, who was in Malay College Kuala Kangsar brass band.
She said she too wanted to ensure everything went smoothly on that night.
Being in harmony
Orkestra Tradisional Malaysia conductor Mohd Yazid Zakaria said there would be between 30 and 35 performers playing traditional instruments such as the rebana, gamelan, sape, tabla, sitar and gambus.
“There will be a big contrast between the instruments and the brass band. We have to blend it all in.
“It will be a challenge but experimental. I am very excited.”
He added that while the orchestra has backed singers before, it had yet to perform with a brass band.
Mohd Yazid also said the move to include traditional instruments was a good one as it would introduce the ensemble to a younger crowd.
“Most have never seen traditional instruments before,” he said, adding that blending traditional with modern genres would ensure their longevity.
“It is all about creating new appreciation for traditional instruments and embracing it.”
Jaclyn said she decided to perform as she felt it was important to preserve the traditional of brass bands in schools.
“Besides, I always want to do something that is out of the box,” she said.
“This will be me performing Gemilang, which I must have performed about 2,000 to 3,000 times since 2004, with a brass band and traditional orchestra. So, the song becomes ‘new’ for me.”
Showtime is at 8.30pm and tickets are priced at RM58, RM88, RM118, RM148, RM258 and RM358. They can be purchased at ilassotickets.com.
Mohd Yazid Zakaria says traditional instruments will be used.
