Sabah youths to perform with jazz legend Ernie Watts at Sepilok Festival
KOTA KINABALU: A new music-eco collaboration will see Sabah youths take the stage with Grammy-winning jazz legend Ernie Watts at the upcoming Sepilok Jazz Festival.
The opportunity arises from a partnership between Asian jazz icon Jeremy Monteiro and turtle conservation NGO Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research, under a three-year Memorandum of Understanding.
Monteiro will serve as artistic adviser and mentor, helping to design the competition format, refine its curriculum, and create pathways for Sabah's young talents to gain exposure at international jazz festivals.
Bakat Sepilok Jazz music director Cheong Kok Ann said Monteiro's involvement marked a pivotal moment for the programme.
"His presence opens the door to global jazz conversations and helps Sabah youths see music in a broader context," said Cheong in a statement.
The 2025 edition recorded its highest participation yet, with over 105 participants across the open and school categories. Preliminary rounds are being held in Kota Kinabalu (May 2) and Sandakan (May 5), with the finals scheduled for Aug 2 at the Trinity Arts and Music Academy in Sandakan.
Winners will get the chance to perform at the fourth edition of the Sepilok Jazz Festival, taking place on Sept 5 and 6 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok — alongside Watts, who has performed with Frank Zappa and The Rolling Stones.
As part of the collaboration, Monteiro and FOSTER are also planning to establish a Sabah Jazz Digital Archive to preserve original compositions and creative journeys from the local music community as a long-term educational resource.
The programme is designed to be inclusive and sustainable, ensuring equal opportunities for youths from diverse backgrounds, including those from rural and interior areas.
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