SoundBridge Festival 音桥当代音乐节 2025

The biannual 7th SMCC “SoundBridge” Contemporary Music Festival is a collaborative initiative organized by the Society of Malaysian Contemporary Composers, Studio C, the SoundBridge Festival Team and kluangdays Arts & Cultural Space, with strong support from composers, musicians, and institutions across Asia. 

The festival’s mission is to celebrate and preserve the rich legacy, heritage, and traditions of diverse voices through a multidisciplinary program that includes dialects, languages, music, dance, theatre, wayang kulit (shadow puppetry), improvisation, live art sketching, and video arts. Performances by artists from Malaysia, Southeast Asia, and beyond highlight the festival’s commitment to fostering intercultural dialogue and artistic innovation.

7th Society of Malaysian Contemporary Composers (SMCC) SoundBridge Contemporary Music Festival 2025 Schedule: 18–23 November 2025

• Festival Opening Concert concert 1: “Traditions and Innovation”

7:30 PM 

A grand opening celebration uniting outstanding artists from East and West. Sape virtuoso Salomon Gau brings the evocative sounds of Borneo’s Kenyah tradition, while Stepp Wind Ensemble from Inner Mongolia performs vibrant works inspired by the vast spirit of the grasslands and diverse ethnic traditions. Belgian pianist Jan Michiels presents Ligeti’s brilliant piano études and joins Semara Ratih Gamelan for an exploration of Balinese music, dance, and shadow play. Resident ensemble Studio C showcases contemporary works shaped by both Eastern heritage and Western modernism — opening the SoundBridge Festival with brilliance and artistic energy.

Venue: SJK(C) Chong Hwa 2 Auditorium

• concert 2: “MASTER Series 1” – Miniature portrait concert of Prof. Dr. Ramon Santos (Philippines)

10:30 AM

This concert showcases the composition works of Philippine National Artist Professor Emeritus Dr. Ramon P. Santos, to be performed by the festival Ensemble Studio C and guest artists.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 3: “MASTER Series 2” – Miniature portrait concert of Prof. Gao Wei Jie (China)

11:30 AM

Renowned Chinese composer and educator Prof. Gao Wei Jie’s compositions will be performed by Ensemble Studio C and guest artists, providing insights into his creative process.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 4: “Malaysian Voices X” – Improvisation Music vs. Notated Music

2:30 PM

This concert features the Burn Duo musicians Yong Yandsen (Sax), and Siew-Wai Kok (Voice), alongside Ensemble Studio C. The performance juxtaposes improvisational works with compositions by Malaysian composers.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 5: “SoundBridge VII” – Asian Young Composers Showcase

4:30 PM

The "SoundBridge" concert plays the role of a bridge, and its main purpose is to provide young composers with cross-domain collaboration and exchanges with various artists. This year's music festival ensemble and artist guests will perform works by young Asian composers.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 6: “Connecting Cities VI” 

7:30 PM

The festival ensemble will play composers from different cities to present their multiculturalism and combine contemporary music works with eastern and western characteristics.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 7: “South Wind” – Woodwind Quintet Recital by Pan Pacific Ensemble (USA)

11:00 AM

The Pan Pacific Ensemble continues its mission to build cultural bridges through music from Southeast Asia.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space

• concert 8: “From Bach to Asian Composers – Encounters Across Time and Space” – Piano recital by Xie Sisters Piano Duo (China/Germany)

1:00 PM

Renowned Xie Sisters Piano Duo will perform masterpieces by J.S. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, and works by various Asian composers.

Venue: Kluang Days Café & Space 

• concert 9: Piano recital by Jan Michiels (Belgium) – "Hungary Masters Meet Asian Composers"

3:00 PM 

Prof. Jan Michiels, currently a professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and guest professor at the University of the Arts Berlin, will perform masterpieces by Hungarian composers alongside works by living Asian composers.

Venue: Kluang Country Club

• concert 10: “Voices from Heaven” by soprano Lini Gong and pianist Ya-ou Xie (China/Germany)

5:00 PM

A one-of-a-kind composition specially created for the exceptional soprano Lini Gong and renowned pianist Ya-ou Xie, blending their unique artistry in a truly original and intimate musical collaboration.

Venue: Kluang Country Club

• concert 11: “Dream for Future”

7:00 PM

The Pan Pacific Ensemble, bassoonist Christoph Wichert, composers Scott Wilson, Pradit Saengkrai, and students of PGVIM (Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music, Thailand) will present an innovative new composition showcase.  

• concert 12: “Traditions and Beyond”

8:00 PM

A vibrant farewell celebration! Salomon Gau brings the soulful sounds of Borneo’s Kenyah tradition, while Stepp Wind Ensemble from Inner Mongolia evokes the vast beauty of the grasslands. Belgian pianist Jan Michiels performs Ligeti’s piano masterpieces, and Semara Ratih Gamelan fills the stage with the radiant colors of Bali. The evening culminates in the world premiere of The Rite of Spring for piano four hands, two percussionists, and shadow play, performed by Ya-Ou Xie and Ya-Shuang Xie, merging dance, Kecak, and visual art into a dazzling finale that bridges tradition and modernity.

Venue: Kluang Country Club

This schedule showcases a rich variety of performances, workshops, and discussions designed to foster cultural exchange, artistic innovation, and community engagement throughout the festival.

With the participation of numerous composers and artists, this festival aims to foster profound intercultural dialogue and knowledge exchange in new music composition among artists from Southeast Asia and beyond. It proudly showcases original works by composers from the Southeast Asian region as well as from countries worldwide. Our festival maintains close collaborations with music partners throughout Asia and across the globe.

In these challenging times marked by global conflicts and economic downturns, I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all individuals, organizations, and friends whose unwavering support has made this festival possible. Your contributions have nurtured a vibrant exchange of contemporary music among artists across Asia and internationally. Despite turmoil, you have brought this festival to life, illuminating local dialects and musical traditions on an international stage.