‘Choral Bridges’ strikes a joyful note of unity

‘Choral Bridges’ brings together nearly 150 volunteer singers from Penang and Selangor. (Aldwin Lee pic)

KUALA LUMPUR:

When Brenda James first floated the idea of “Choral Bridges” to Mak Chi Hoe, she didn’t know how big it would become.

“We just felt like we needed to do something collaborative in the spirit of community choirs,” she recalled. “And what better way than to build a bridge – across states, across generations, through music?”

This month, “Choral Bridges” brings together around 150 volunteer singers from The Philharmonic Society of Selangor (The Phil) and the Penang Philharmonic Chorus (PPC) – marking the first time these two community choirs share a stage.

James is The Phil’s chairperson, while Mak is the artistic director and conductor of the PPC.

“Choral Bridges” isn’t just a concert – it’s a celebration of community, connection, and pure joy. The name itself captures its heart.

“The Phil started in 1958. The PPC started in 2019. So you have a 67-year-old choir and a relatively new one. That’s quite a lovely juxtaposition. It really cements the idea that community building knows no age,” said James.

And while the event is musically ambitious – with singers tackling everything from classical harmonies to body percussion – the vibe is anything but rigid.

“People often think choral music is stuffy or exclusive. It’s not! Our repertoire is super accessible. You’ll hear everything from ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ to African folk songs and even Enya.”

The 85-minute concert promises a musical experience where audiences will sway to familiar tunes like the Jackson Five’s “I’ll Be There”, and then get goosebumps from lesser-known gems like “You Do Not Walk Alone” by Elaine Hagenberg.

The Phil chairperson Brenda James says contrary to what one might think, choral music is very accessible. (Goh Bong Hiang pic)

“Some songs hit you because of their lyrics, some because of their melodies,” said James. “But we want people to walk away feeling uplifted, joyful.”

One crowd favourite? A rousing piece titled “Sing Like There’s No Tomorrow”.

“It’s like that quote: ‘Dance like no one’s watching, sing like no one’s listening.’ That’s the energy this song brings: big and full of life,” said James.

Concerts will be held in Penang this Sunday and in Kuala Lumpur on July 13. There’s also a vocal workshop on July 12, run by Mak and Koh Tian Yi, conductor of The Phil.

“Even if you know nothing about singing, just come,” James encouraged. “You’ll learn how to engage your vocal space, understand your voice better, and maybe even be inspired to join a choir.”

And while “Choral Bridges” is this year’s big event, The Phil is already brewing more ideas. They have an ongoing project, “Lagu Lagu Tanah Air”, which reimagines nostalgic Malaysian songs with rich choral arrangements.

James also lit up as she spoke about a recent performance of “Tanah Pusaka”, which opened with a “Dondang Sayang” intro: “It felt so warm and evocative. Even Ahmad Merican – the original composer – came and watched from the back. He was smiling throughout.”