KL City Opera opened registrations for performers to participate in the 1st Malaysia Opera Competition (1MOC) — Malaysia's first ever national singing competition dedicated to opera, open to all Malaysians between the ages of 18 and 32. The competition aims to spotlight local talent through professional adjudication and public performance.
The response exceeded expectations, with over 30 entries received from across the country — a strong turnout given the competition's stringent requirements. Each performer was required to prepare four arias in different languages — Italian, German, French, and English — with at least one aria incorporating recitative or sung dialogue. After careful deliberation, 20 performers were selected to advance to the semi-finals, held at Sunway University.
Adjudication was carried out by a distinguished panel of opera professionals: Nancy Yuen, a soprano acclaimed for her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, who heads the Vocal Department at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and serves as Artistic Director of Singapore Lyric Opera; Liu Gang, a baritone and vocal professor at the Central Conservatory of Music in China; and Ku Taehwan, a tenor and soloist with the National Opera of Korea.
Following the semi-finals, the panel selected 10 performers to compete in the Finals at the prestigious Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
1st Place — Loo Siang Xin (Soprano, Johor) A graduate of Tunghai University, Taiwan, currently pursuing a Master's in Vocal Performance, Loo Siang Xin claimed the top prize of RM3,000 and a trophy.
2nd Place — Liow Pei Yee (Mezzo-soprano, Selangor) A Master's graduate from Tunghai University, Taiwan, Liow Pei Yee has performed in opera productions at the National Taichung Theater as a chorus member. She was awarded RM2,000.
3rd Place — Hii Yi Qing (Soprano, Sarawak) A Bachelor of Music graduate from UCSI University, Hii Yi Qing made her operatic debut with KLCO in Die Zauberflöte in 2019. She received RM1,000.
4th Place — Kee Chun Kiat (Tenor, Johor) A First Class Honours graduate in Vocal Performance from Nanyang Academy of Arts, Kee Chun Kiat is a prize-winning performer — 1st place at the NAFA Vocal Competition and 2nd place at the 44th Malaysian Vocal Competition. He was awarded RM800.
The remaining six finalists — Angie Cheah Aun Jie, Matthias Cheah Xiang Yi, Misha Adryna Muhamad Asroy, Nurul Ainie Binti Muhamad Rosli, Jared Ngoh Jie Ern, and Dhivya Shivani Raviselvan — each received a consolation prize of RM500 and a trophy.
In a special recognition by the panel, Nurul Ainie Binti Muhamad Rosli (Soprano, Johor) was presented with the Emerging Artist Award in acknowledgement of her exceptional promise.
Kenneth Teh was also recognised on the night, receiving RM500 and the Best Accompanist Award.
