Published on: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 |
Kota Kinabalu: Organisers of the 1,000 Voices Mega Concert for Peace are hoping the event would make it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the biggest assembly of choir members during an event.
Organising chairman Dr Saiman @Charles Sandah said the Adventist Development Foundation (ADF) would be mobilising 5,500 choir members to sing together during the mega concert on July 15 at the Likas Stadium.
The current MBR record is held by the Johor Education Department, which assembled 5,277 choir members.
However, Dr Saiman said he strongly believes in the adage that "where there is a will there is a way".
"This is the kind of spirit that led us to organise the mega concert for the glory of God and to bring the best in the choir singing to the public," he said at an agreement signing ceremony between ADF and Sabah Sports Board (SSB), here, Tuesday.
Also present were Senator Maijol Mahap and Sabah Journalists Association President Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said during the concert, world champion of the Gospel and Spiritual category in the 2006 World Choir Games (4th Choir Olympics), the Ambassadors from the Philippines, would also be singing.
The Ambassadors won a gold medal in the Mixed Chamber Choir category and a silver medal in the Musica Sacra category.
Dr Saiman said this gives the Ambassadors the 29th placing in the Musica Mundi world ranking.
In addition, he said the Golden Angels singing group from Korea would also be performing.
He said Korean choir conductor, Pastor Joshua Shin, who is also the founder and leader of the Golden Angels choir, would lead the 5,500 voices.
Pastor Shin, he said, is also the Youth and Music Director of the Northern Asia Pacific Division of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
Dr Saiman said the objectives of the concert is to promote peace through gospel music and to foster closer rapport and understanding among believers of different faiths.
"It is also to raise funds for the ADF School Building Fund, ADF Scholarship/Needy Fund, ASI Project and other organisations for the less fortunate such as the Sabah Kidney Foundation, Sabah Society for the Blind and SOS Sabah Heart Fund," he said.
He said ADF is a non-government charitable organisation registered on April 1996 under the Trustees (Incorporation) Ordinance 1951 Cap. 148 and that all monetary donations to the ADF are tax deductible.
According to him, the mega concert involves a huge budget of more than RM500,000 that would be financed through the sales of ticket and sponsorships from philanthropists.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan is expected to officiate at the mega concert.
The public who are keen to join the choir may call any of the following numbers, 017-8111355, 019-8808168 or 013-8667621.
For tickets, call 088-388337 or 013-8704591 or 013-8667621.
