DR. ANDREW FILMER
Dr. Andrew Filmer is a violist and musicologist. He is a member of the Sutera Ensemble, and has taken on guest roles with Ensemble Virama. His role as an educator has led him to adjudicate for competitions of the MYOF, the Ipoh Music Festival, the Borneo Arts Festival, and the Euroasia Strings Competition. He is also a prize-winning public speaker, and has been narrator for the Selangor Symphony and the Song Weavers. Andrew was a member of the jazz band The Troubles, whose inaugural album was released by Rattle Records, and has performed with New Zealand country artist Matt Langley. He holds a PhD in musicology from the University of Otago, and a master’s degree in viola performance from Indiana University South Bend. He is currently a lecturer at Sunway University.
AZMYL YUNOR
One of the hardest gigging and prolific Malaysian indie/underground musicians for the past decade and a half, Azmyl’s songs are candid observations on life and living, with biting commentary to boot. A storyteller and former street musician, he has performed live at venues and festivals internationally including Australia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Laos, Indonesia, and Thailand. Azmyl is also an academic who has written and published work about Malaysian music subcultures and makes regular appearances on local radio and television stations for both his music and his take on Malaysian popular music, cultural politics and society.
DR. KHOO KHE SIN
Khe Sin received her D.M.A. in Piano Performance from West Virginia University (USA). A multi-award recipient, she had served as graduate assistant to the WVU Opera and Theater Department, as well as studio accompanist and piano instructor at WVU. Since returning to Malaysia in 2014, she has been actively involved in music productions and performances as collaborative pianist, keyboardist, music arranger, and music director. Khe Sin is currently an adjunct lecturer at UCSI University Institute of Music and the music director of Eight
Twelve, a fusion instrumental ensemble.
TAN E-JAN
Executive Judge
E-Jan Tan, a creative producer based in Malaysia. Co-Founder of Toccata Studio, a creative incubator. E-Jan’s multidisciplinary production travels both local and internationally. In 2015, upon invitation of Ministry of Culture, France, she attended cultural seminar in Paris and Nantes. She received invitation to IETM Satellite meeting in South Korea. Awarded twice global fellowship of ISPA in New York City, United States. A member of Asian Producers’ Platform Camp 2014-2017 in Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia, she is now part of steering committee. She strongly believes the best way to see our future is to create it. She currently hold the position of CEO with INXO productions under INXO Arts and Culture Foundation.
NG YUET SUM
Ng Yuet Sum, who is Yamaha electone trained, has been teaching music since 1984. Deciding to enhance her music background, she returned to studying at the then Akademi Seni Kebangsaan (ASWARA) where her first and second studies were piano and vocals respectively. The course also included local traditional music and dance. She graduated in 1999 with her Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Composition and Arranging.
She has also sung with the National Choir and joined their tours to Kota Kinabalu and Singapore. She was also part of the ensemble playing keyboards for The Actors Studio
productions of Tunku the Musical and Ismail – the Last Days.
Yuet Sum still teaches piano and vocals to students of various ages, hoping always to nurture and instill the love for music in them.
CLARENCE CHUA
Clarence helms from a creative background rooted in the arts, with a diverse portfolio of accomplishments that showcase works in both performance and production. He holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) and leads the team at Theater of Sound, an establishment dedicated to nurturing those with a passion for music.
Past accolades include:
– 2011: Passport to Fame Battle of the Bands (Winner)
– 2011 & 2014: Best Musical Director, KLPAC Short and Sweet Musical Competition
– 2016: Best Music & Sound Design, 13th BOH Cameronian Arts Award
Clarence is also an accomplished martial artist, having garnered years of experience specialising in the Filipino Martial Arts schools of Arnis Dagooc and Pekiti-Tirsia Kali. He considers himself a work in progress and continuously aspires to explore all avenues of self-improvement, expression and creativity to better his artistry and the multiple projects he is currently involved in.
FOO CHI WEI
Executive Judge
A graphic designer by profession, Foo Chiwei studied the Graham Technique briefly under Eugenie Knox of The Dance of Life while pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Visual Communication at RMIT in Melbourne. Later back in Malaysia, he studied Odissi under the tutelage of Ramli Ibrahim at Sutra Dance Theatre from 2002–2012. Foo’s interest in Butoh propelled him in taking numerous workshops by local and international practitioners. Most notably with Butoh Master Yukio Waguri. Foo had performed for Donna Miranda, Aida Redza, Dr Zulkifli Mohamad, Rithaudin Abdul Kadir, Nibroll Dance Company, Yukio Waguri, Nyoba Kan, Yumiko Yoshioka and Soubi Sha. He has been serving as a dance judge since 2015 and as an executive judge for Kakiseni from 2017 to present.
ALLA @ AZURA ABAL ABAS
Alla holds a Diploma in Dance from the National Art Academy, and a Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Universiti Malaya, where she also pursuing her Master’s and was a part-time lecturer from 2011 to 2016. She has more than 25 years’ experience as a performer, teacher, trainer and choreographer in traditional and contemporary dance, sharing her expertise in TV talent shows like HMI, Zoom in, Akademi Fantasia, Sehati Berdansa, Mari Menari, Muzik-muzik, and JuaraLagu. Alla has also served as a juror and facilitator for dance workshops and competitions organised by the National Department For Culture And Arts (JKKN).
RATHIMALAR GOVINDARAJOO
Rathimalar Govindarajoo (Rathi) specialises in Indian Classical Odissi, Bharata Natyam and Modern Contemporary dance. She spent her formative years with Sutra Dance Theatre for over two decades and continues to teach and perform with Sutra Foundation. She worked full-time as one of the pioneer dancers of Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company (SJDC) London, UK for five years.
When she returned, she ventured into Education and began her journey with Fairview International School Dance Educator in the Middle Year Program (IB) for two years, and later a Dance Educator Specialist (DES) in the GCSE Secondary syllabus in Help International School from 2016 to 2018. Currently, she is a Dance Educator Specialist (DES) in the Preschool, Primary & Secondary syllabus in MAHSA International School, and she continues to contribute her extensive dance experience towards the performing arts and education in Malaysia and
abroad.
YUNUS ISMAIL
Yunus Ismail is professionally trained in Malay and Chinese folk and classical dances as well as Indian Bharatanatyam. He has previously worked under Datuk Ramli Ibrahim of Sutra Dance Company and other Malaysian contemporary dance choreographers like Umesh Shetty, Joseph Gonzales and Choo Tee Kuang. Between 2012 and 2014, he performed as the principal dancer under the ASWARA Dance Company in productions such as 3 Faces, Take Off, and Crossing Borders in Bharatanatyam, as well as collaborating and performing internationally in Singapore, Thailand, South Korea and the UK. Yunus is currently a full-time lecturer at the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) while pursuing his Master’s degree at Universiti Malaya.
LOW MING YAM
Trained at the Central School of Ballet, London. He then danced professionally as an independent contemporary dancer in Germany, Ireland, France and UK. He co-founded Bi Ma Dance Company with Loh Pit Fong in 1991 with the support of The Arts Council of England, British Council, The Place Theatre in London and Dance City in Newcastle. The company created original full length works from 1991 to 1999 touring extensively in UK, Europe, Taiwan, Malaysia, Japan, USA, Egypt and Eastern Europe.
He was also involved in the West End musical production of ‘King & I’ playing the principal role of ‘Simon of Le Gree’ in 2000 and 2001. Ming created his own work and also in collaboration with other artists. ‘Half Man Half Myth’ (1991 and 2016), ‘The Little Man’(1997), ‘Bumming in Beijing’(1998), ‘Game Over’ (2008), ‘Cross Words’ (2009), ‘A Song Within’(2012), ‘Double
Punctum’(2013) and ‘The Corridor’(2016).
He relocated back to Malaysia in 2008, he has been involved in local dance and musical
productions and teaches at the Kwang Tung Dance Company, DPAC Dance Company
and DPAC Dancers Training Program.
KENNY SHIM
Kenny Shim completed his BA in Contemporary Dance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and subsequently his Post Grad at London Contemporary Dance School (Masters in Contemporary Dance Performance). He joined the EDge Dance Company (London) 2016. During his training in the U.K., Kenny has worked with choreographers and company’s members from around Europe such as Wayne McGregor, Tom Roden, Alexander Whitley, Phillipe Blanchard, Gary Lambert, Alison Curtis-Jones, Lea Anderson, Joseph Toonga, Jeanne Yasko and Fred Ghedrig. With an aptitude in choreography, Kenny has crafted works that have toured Europe namely, ‘Within’ and ‘Rite’. Recently, Kenny produced his debut production: TRIPLE BILL of Contemporary Dance Works, featuring two new choreographies – Winged Wolves and the Bamboo Mew and Pieces of Three Movements. He is also the commissioned choreographer for the 15th Boh Cameronian Arts Awards. Kenny has a strong interest in film and has collaborated with Chicago based NEON 35 MEDIA Company in choreographing the recent H&M advert. He is also the movement director of the acclaimed musical The Edge, 10th Anniversary production written by Nick Choo, directed by Christopher Ling.
DR. WONG OI MIN
Executive Judge
Dr. Wong Oi Min has a PhD in Arts. She is an actor, director, drama/theatre educator. Currently, she is a full-time lecturer at the National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) in Malaysia. She mainly teaches Physical Theatre & Applied Theatre as her orientation of the subject is in promoting and developing theatre arts and education. She believes in crossing boundaries towards multicultural co-existence in her work.
CHRISTOPHER LING
Christopher Ling is the co-founder and artistic director of theatrethreesixty. His work as a director of plays, operas and musicals has been seen in Malaysia, Singapore and London, UK. He has served as a BOH Cameronian Arts Award Theatre Category Judge since 2018.
Christopher was awarded the BOH Cameronian Arts Award for Best Direction (Musical Theatre) in 2012. He also received the Anugerah Seni Negara (National Arts Awards) Young Talent Award for Theatre Directing in 2009. He trained in Drama and Theatre Arts at Middlesex University, UK and with the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain.
MEGAT SHARIZAL
Megat Sharizal has been acting and directing since college with notable performances in PGL the Musical, P Ramlee the Musical, and Bangsawan Dendam Laksamana. His accolades include Best Director at the Malaysian Theatre Festival 2004, and Best Director for Short+Sweet Theatre Festival 2009. In 2010, he co-founded Playground Productions and produced their first film, Terbaik Dari Langit, that received the Special Jury Award at the 2015 Malaysian Film Festival. Megat’s short film, Bingit, won the 2015 Kuala Lumpur 48-Hour Film Project and was chosen to represent Malaysia in Atlanta.
PAT CHAN LAI NGO
Executive Judge
Pat Chan holds a Master’s in Actor Coaching & Training from the Central School of Speech and Drama at the University of London, and an Advanced Certificate from the British Academy of Dramatic Combat. She is also a senior lecturer at Taylors University where she teaches and coaches acting and directs theatre and musical theatre productions. Pat Chan is the artistic/managing director of her own dance company, Dance Force Production. Her involvement in theatre productions includes Aladdin, A Tribute to Tun Mahathir, Broken Bridges, Cinderella, Nagraland, Palpitation, and Peter Pan.
SYAHRUL MUSA
Syahrul Musa or his full name Syahrul Fithri Musa is a Senior Lecturer in Theatre Department – Fakulti Filem, Teater dan Animasi, UiTM. His first involvement with theatre was with a theatre group, the Grup Teater Anak Melaka (G-Team), under the leadership of Yalal Chin from 1996 until 1998. He has represented the country at the Future-Oriented Cooperation Project Seoul, in 2005. He has been actively involved in the theatre world, either as playwright, director or actor in the several productions such as Ronggeng Rokiah, Tunku Kudin, Seribu Peluru Untuk Aku, Obsesi, Rabak X, Jerjak, Mimpi (Midsummer Night’s Dream), 1 Plastik Hitam, Isteriku Tiada Susu, Muzikal Destini Anak Bangsa, Gugurnya Kopiah Putih and Mara! The Musical. Besides doing theatre and writing plays, Syahrul is active in films, TV productions, and advertisements like Wayang, Senario Asam Garam, Gadis Kosmos, and Chowrasta. In 2011, he produced and directed his first short film Epal Hijau Di Luar Pagar, together with FINAS, the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia and his second short film is Parvai (2018) produced and directed by
himself. Parvai has been selected for Official Selection in Hong Kong, India, Singapore
and Bangladesh. He is now doing his PhD in Universiti Malaya.
FAZLEENA HISHAMUDDIN
Fazleena Hishamuddin holds a BA (Hons) in Social Science majoring Malay Literature and Masters in Psychology Counselling at the National University of Malaysia (UKM). She is a producer, director, actor and writer. She has won a few awards for short films, such as Best Script for Experimental Category at the Short Film Festival RTM/FiNAS in 2007 and Special Jury Award for her short film ‘Komunikasi Yang Hilang‘ at the Young Artist Award 2009. She has acted in numerous plays such as Hegemoni, Teater Juta-Juta, Satu Plastik Hitam, Kawan-Kawan Yang Kita Suka, Neo-Romantik, Gadis dan Dua Menara and many more. Teater Juta-Juta directed by Fasyali Fadzly Won Best Group Performance at Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2013. She bagged the Most Promising Actor Inter-university award in 2004 and won Best Actress for the Creative Visual Awards 2012. Fazleena is nominated for Best Director at Boh Cameronian Arts Awards 2016 in Junior Cammies Category for Teater Kota Keli-Kelip. Kota Kelip-Kelip was her first debut play (full-length) as a director, which acted by marginal (orphan) kids/youth under Teach For The Needs (NGO). She is now actively working as a writer with 3 books have been published and Winner for My Writers Unleashed 2018 (best manuscript) organized by MyCreative Ventures. December 2018, Fazleena has directed Theatre Mona Ke Daerah M, a charity project acted by 20 marginal children from all over Malaysia at Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka. The show was sold out for 3 days. Beside being a full time writer, Fazleena is also often invited to become a speaker for poetry and performance workshops all over Malaysia.
DR. MURALITHARAN PILLAI
Hailing from the traditions of the Natya Sastra, a former senior dancer/artist/performer of the
Temple of Fine Arts International, Murali graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama
(Distinction) from the Queensland University of Technology, Australia. Adapting the
approaches of physical theatre, Murali has developed a unique technique of imparting
dance, music and drama by using a synthesis of Western and Eastern formulations, which
he has coined as Quantum Theatre. He is a professional theatre practitioner, actor, director,
playwright and a Drama Educator-Facilitator-Trainer and has workshopped, performed,
choreographed, production and stage managed, designed and directed productions in
Malaysia, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, Denmark, the US and the UK.
A doctoral graduate from Murdoch University’s English Literature & Creative Arts school in
Western Australia, Muralitharan held the positions of Head of Drama Department at
University of Malaya’s Cultural Center and Senior Lecturer at University Science Malaysia’s
School of The Arts’ Drama & Theatre Department. Dr. D. Muralitharan Pillai is the Artistic
Director of Sivashant Dream Maker Productions in Singapore, a production company dealing
with professional theatre practice and academia for stage, film and television. He is also a
Director at Jennifer de Reuck Centre of Creative Arts Malaysia.
MICHAEL XAVIER VOON
Executive Judge
Michael Xavier Voon is our longest serving judge, beginning with the inaugural Awards in 2002. A graduate with degrees with Fine, Graphic and Performing Arts from Colorado Mesa State University, Michael’s work has taken him to Brunei, Sydney, Singapore, Vietnam, and the US. He received the 2012 BOH Cameronian Arts Awards for Best Choreographer, and the 2012 Short+Sweet Dance Festival Award. Other highlights of his career include Bodyguards, Storyteller, KL KO, HipHopera, and Shout! The Mod Musical. Michael has also worked as a performance coach on TV talent shows like Malaysian Idol I & II, One in a Million, and So You Think You Can Dance Malaysia, and for stage companies like the Young KL Singers, KL Children’s’ Choir, Wicked Pitches, Aspects of Broadway, and Tapestry.
COLIN KIRTON
Executive Judge
Colin is the artistic director of Kirton Call Productions and touring theatre company Footstool Players.
His theatre acting credits include Broken Bridges – The Musical, P Ramlee The Musical, Paper Crane, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Shakespeare’s Men and Julius Caesar. Directorial credits include Follow The Light and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Colin was nominated for Best Vocal Performance (Solo) at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2007 for Broken Bridges – The Musical and won for Best Group Performance (Theatre) at the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in 2009 as part of the ensemble for Footstool Players’ Crazy Little Thing Called Love.
On television, Colin is best known for his lead role in the award-winning hit series Ghost 2 on 8TV, and supporting roles in NTV7’s blockbuster Mandarin drama series Age of Glory 2 and Mining Magnate.
Colin is also heavily in demand as a voice talent/actor, theatre skills trainer and professional emcee.
This is Colin’s tenth year as a judge for the BCAA, having also served tenures in the past in both the music and theatre categories.
DOMINIC LUCIEN LUK
Executive Judge
Dominic Lucien Luk has a Bachelor’s in Music from LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore, majoring in vocal performance and pedagogy. He later went to Brandeis University in Boston, where he obtained his Master’s degree in musicology while studying singing for musical theatre and had extended training in choral conducting at Harvard University. Dominic currently lectures at Universiti Teknologi MARA and Universiti Putra Malaysia where he teaches voice and performance. He is also co-founder and creative director of Monday Show Entertainment, which focuses on the education and production of theatre and musical theatre. Dominic’s stage credits include Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Wizard of Oz, Broadway Bites, Angels In America, A Language of Their Own, and The Weight of Silk on Skin.
MERVYN PETERS
Executive Judge
Mervyn’s involvement and experience in musical theatre is as varied as it is extensive- ranging from Producer, Director, Musical Director, Conductor, Chorus Master, Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Technical Director to Actor. Beginning as a Choirmaster in 1970; his made his debut on stage in Die Fledermaus (’75); as Musical Director for Camelot (’77) – both with the Malayan
Drama Council;as Producer/MD/Conductor for almost all the musicals with The Philharmonic Society of Selangor from 1976 to 1990; and subsequently working with The Actors Studio in the capacity of MD/Conductor/Lighting Designer/Chorus Master from 1991; as Resident Conductor with the KLSO from ’84 to ’90; and as Orchestra Manager with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra from ’99 to 2010.
He has attended a Conductors’ workshop in Nice, France in ‘81; a Directors’ course with the British Theatre Association in London in ’86 which included two other studies- Lighting and Set Design; attended two other Lighting Design workshops under he late Francis Reid; and has been a Technical Director over the years for numerous imported productions The STAR, the Danish Embassy, Sime Darby Bhd, and The British Council.
SANDRA SODHY
Executive Judge
Sandra is a founding member of the Instant Café Theatre Company and was with them for a decade. As managing director of the Straits Theatre Company, she produced, publicised and acted in critically-acclaimed plays by Huzir Sulaiman and other award-winning playwrights. In 2006, she wrote Jalan Impian as a platform for children and co-produced it for charity with Farah Dato’ Seri Sulaiman. She was a member of the 2006 International Writing Program under the auspices of the US State Department, and has had her plays staged in the US. She has enjoyed over 35 years in theatre and TV, in Malaysia and abroad. Today, Sandra teaches theatre and musical theatre, trains people in the corporate sector and media industry, writes and edits, and performs whenever she can.