SRI AMAN – St Luke’s Church in Sri Aman marked a milestone in church music on 18 October 2026, becoming the first Iban choir in the Diocese of Kuching to join the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM).
The announcement coincided with the church’s Patronal Day and Awards Day celebrations, which brought together members of the church music community, including four representatives from the Cathedral Choir of St Thomas’s in Kuching.
The occasion also featured St James’ Choir from Quop, recognised as the first Bidayuh choir under the RSCM. The participation of both choirs highlighted the involvement of Iban and Bidayuh musical traditions in organised choral worship within the diocese.
The development represents a new step for St Luke’s choir as it joins a wider framework dedicated to choral music and its role in Christian worship. The RSCM provides a context for developing musical standards and supporting the contribution of singing to church services.
For the Diocese of Kuching, the inclusion of the Iban choir alongside the Bidayuh choir offers an opportunity to recognise the diversity of languages and cultural traditions represented in church music. Choral worship can bring together congregations from different backgrounds while allowing communities to retain their linguistic and cultural identities.
The Cathedral Choir of St Thomas’s, Kuching, shared its participation in the celebrations, describing the occasion as a meaningful and historic event. Four of its members attended St Luke’s Church to take part in the gathering and mark the choir’s entry into the RSCM network.
The presence of the visiting singers also reflected the connections between church choirs across the diocese. Such gatherings can create opportunities for singers to exchange experiences, develop musical relationships and encourage collaboration between congregations.
The participation of St James’ Choir from Quop added another dimension to the occasion, bringing together representatives of Iban and Bidayuh choral traditions. Both communities have distinct cultural and linguistic identities, while church music provides a shared setting for worship and collective expression.
Singing in different languages does not prevent choirs from sharing common musical and spiritual objectives. Within church settings, choral groups often combine the preservation of local traditions with efforts to develop vocal skills, maintain musical discipline and contribute to services and religious celebrations.
The RSCM affiliation may also provide a platform for further engagement among participating choirs. Opportunities for collaboration, training and the exchange of musical knowledge can help singers develop their abilities while supporting the continued place of choral music in church life.
The celebrations at St Luke’s therefore brought together several aspects of church music: the recognition of a new milestone for an Iban choir, the participation of a Bidayuh choir and the support of visiting singers from Kuching. The gathering also underscored the importance of maintaining relationships between church communities across the diocese.
For the participating choirs, the event offered an occasion to celebrate their shared commitment to worship through music while recognising the different traditions represented in their congregations. Continued interaction between groups could help foster lasting relationships and create opportunities for future joint performances and church activities.
The Cathedral Choir of St Thomas’s expressed hope that the milestone would lead to further cooperation, stronger friendships and continued development among choirs associated with the RSCM. Its message placed particular emphasis on using music to strengthen faith, serve the church and bring congregations together.
The event at St Luke’s Church on 18 October marked the reported entry of the first Iban choir in the Diocese of Kuching into the RSCM, alongside the participation of the first Bidayuh choir under the organisation. It highlighted the place of cultural diversity and shared faith in church music across Sarawak. — Sarawak Daily
