The Goethe-Institut Malaysia is very glad to be invited to cooperate with the SoundBridge Festival yet again. With pleasure we have been cooperating with the festival right from its first edition in 2013. SoundBridge stands for contemporary and new music, innovation, cross-media approaches and intercultural exchange between artists from East and West. We are particularly happy that with the Kairos Quartet from Germany we have one of the most prolific string quartets in the area of new music at the festival this year. The quartet is specialized in compositions after 1950 and in premieres. In Greek mythology Kairos is the god of fortunate opportunities and the right moment. Also Berlin-based artist Ya-ou Xie will enrich the festival together with musicians from other parts of the world. Together with their Malaysian colleague musicians and composers they all will develop contemporary music and help to further establish its place in society.
I congratulate the organizers of the SoundBridge Festival 2019, Studio C, Taylor’s University and SMCC, wish the festival great success and the participants and visitors challenging events and an enriching festival experience.
Rolf Stehle
Director of Goethe-Institut Malaysia