By Owen Lee
A three-day cultural exchange camp was held by Ipoh Drum Academy which involved 8 secondary schools throughout Perak from June 1 until June 3 at Yuk Choy High School.
The camp, which gathered more than 160 young drummers aged between 13 to 17, aimed to celebrate Malaysia’s unique drumming tradition “The 24 Festive Drums” while fostering unity, cultural appreciation, and technical excellence. The event was also supported by the Perak State Education Department.
“The main goal of this camp is to foster interaction and connection among different school drum teams, while also enhancing their technical skills in the 24 Festive Drums,” said Cayson Chong, the founder of Ipoh Drum Academy.
Cayson, a 24 Festive Drums coach, told Ipoh Echo that they were making it a meaningful and long-awaited return because this is the first time they are back since 2018 due to the pandemic.
“This time, we introduced various competition formats to boost participants’ motivation. The competitive aspect has not only brought energy and excitement but has also encouraged team bonding and personal growth through friendly rivalry,” Chong said.
The camp culminated in a spirited drumming competition. The Lixia (立夏) team from SMK Menglembu emerged as champions, followed by the Dashu (大署) team from Yuk Choy High School in second place. The Guyu (谷雨) team, also from SMK Menglembu, secured third place.
The 24 Festive Drums camp has instilled enthusiasm and discipline in the students. “On the first day, many students were unfamiliar with one another, and some showed signs of hesitation and passiveness. However, by the final day, teams were fully engaged, cooperative, and emotionally invested, with some even moved to tears over competition outcomes,” Chong said.
He described the transformation as “powerful,” which highlights the value of such immersive experiences for youth development in both arts and character.
Roz Hussin, one of the judges for the drumming competition, noted that this year’s format was a significant departure from previous editions. “This is the first time the competition was held without a freestyle segment, and instead focused on 10 specific elements of drumming skills,” she explained.
She added that this structured approach ensured participants were assessed on a comprehensive range of technical abilities. “It allows us to evaluate whether students have truly mastered each drumming element during the performance,” she said.
Roz also praised the students for showcasing valuable real-life skills throughout the camp. She highlighted their ability to manage teams, display leadership, and exercise autonomy. Qualities she believes are just as important as musical talent.
The Ipoh Drum Academy’s 3-day 24 Festive Drums camp not only elevated the drumming skills of young participants but also reinforced the spirit of unity among school teams. As the final beats echoed through the hall, it became clear that the event had struck a deep chord, in the hearts of everyone involved.
