Adjudicators
Dr. James Philip Sheng Boyle
Award winning Music Director and the Dean of the Faculty of Music of ASWARA, Dr. James P.S. Boyle, is a graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music and a graduate of Universiti Malaya with a PhD (Musicology) from the Faculty of Creative Arts, and a Master Degree of Art in Performing Arts.
His topics of expertise include contemporary playing styles on the piano, aural and ear training classes, compositional methods, improvisational skills and song writing classes. James, a pianist and band leader also performs in various Jazz festivals in the Asian region. An active composer and also a researcher with various publications in the field of contemporary music and a composer in the corporate and theatre world, James is also a Certified Movie director and a Line Producer from the Hollywood Film Institute.
With over 25 years of lecturing at the top Public and Private Institutions in the country such as Sunway University, UCSI University, Universiti of Malaya, UiTm, Universiti Putra Malaysia and also ICOM, Dr. James with his unique brand of humour and talent, students always emerge from his classes enriched and empowered by his teachings.
Juwita Suwito
Juwita Suwito is an award-winning recording artist, composer, vocal producer and creative activist. She weaves her words into music to create beautiful tapestries of stories that tug at the heartstrings of listeners, and lends her voice to songs with sweet honesty and confidence.
Juwita’s studio and live albums have garnered an impressive list of nominations at Anugerah Industri Muzik Malaysia. Her well-loved singles: Breathe Again, Stand, and Belle of the Ball have hit international airwaves, while her vocals have been featured in television and movie soundtracks and compilation albums alongside internationally renowned artists like Eva Cassidy, A-Mei, and Stefanie Sun.
No stranger to the stage, Juwita has headlined showcases in concert halls in Malaysia, Melbourne and Moscow. She has also performed in jazz, conservation, and film festivals, as well as prominent events like TEDxKL and David Foster & Friends in Kuala Lumpur.
As the founding director of Four Forty Records, a social enterprise that connects communities through music and media, Juwita spearheaded a two-year mentoring program for musicians and vocalists in Sabah, followed by half-year coaching initiatives in Sarawak. Blessed with a rich journey as a backing vocalist for leading artists and vocal coach for Malaysian Idol Seasons 1 & 2, Juwita also founded VoxFest Malaysia—a platform where aspiring singers receive personal guidance, collaborate, and gain industry insights. Its flagship event, Vocal Fest, is supported by programs such as Vocal Masterclass, Vocal Camp, and the latest addition, Vocal Academy—a series of intensive courses designed to nurture and equip young vocalists.
With 30 years of experience in the industry, Juwita remains deeply passionate about nation-building through music. Whether performing, mentoring aspiring musicians, or coaching top artists, her work continues to inspire others to use their talents with purpose and meaning.
Tom Pierard
Associate Professor and Programme Leader for Sunway University's Bachelor of Contemporary Music (Audio Technology), Dr. Pierard brings a unique blend of performance experience and pedagogical expertise to his role. A seasoned drummer, his musical background encompasses heavy metal, classical, and a deep specialization in jazz performance and composition. Dr. Pierard's performance career includes international and national tours with the acclaimed Strike Percussion (NZ), Desbot (NZ), Dark Matter and numerous other engagements as a professional session drummer.
Beyond his academic commitments, Dr. Pierard maintains a vibrant career as a performing and composing musician. He actively tours, composes music for film and television and regularly collaborates on sonic branding projects. His research around innovative music pedagogy directly informs his dynamic approach to instruction in composition and music technology, enriching his teaching across all areas and providing students with a unique perspective that bridges the gap between theory and real-world practice.
Bihzhu
With a dynamic range that defies genres, AIM-nominee BIHZHU is blessed with a rich, soulful voice that is hauntingly evocative one moment, and spiritedly rousing the next.
This Penang-born nightingale’s genuine songcraft transcends pain and heartache to celebrate life, and love.
Whilst her enchanting brand of “heart music” charms its way to your emotional core, her signature harmonies and uplifting vibes have left audiences finger-snapping, foot-tapping, and dancing; whether at intimate acoustic concerts or at music festivals all over Malaysia, Australia, South Korea, China, Indonesia and India.
Nicholas Keyworth
Nicholas Keyworth has travelled to over 50 countries and is constantly inspired by their individual history, architecture, culture, people, wildlife, and artistic diversity. Now based in the UK and in Thailand, he has worked in projects ranging from Music to Theatre activities as well as developing festivals and competitions internationally.
He has delivered talks and tours on subjects ranging from history and architecture to the arts, and his YouTube channel ‘Waterways Explorer’ presents a fascinating insight into the background and hidden secrets of canals and rivers of the UK and Thailand.
At the forefront of international arts assessment, Nicholas has appeared on a BBC Radio 3 series exploring exam repertoire. He was one of the Chief Examiners at Trinity College London, focusing on all genres of music. In 2012 he developed and launched the successful Trinity Rock & Pop exams at Trinity in collaboration with Faber Publishing and Peters Edition. He also collaborated closely with the development of Musical Theatre, Speech & Drama as well English Language assessments and has recently launched a series of original monologues and duologues to support teachers and students for drama exams.
As a teacher he has worked in various schools and as an educational advisor on national music curriculums, classroom planning and mentoring teachers and students.
He was Artistic Director of The Pound Arts Trust in the west of England delivering programmes of arts activities and international festivals of contemporary arts, film and literature. He was also elected as an independent councillor as well as a board member for various national organisations giving a voice for the arts in the UK.
Nicholas is founder and director of Revolution Arts which was established in 2011. He has built a successful international company supporting the arts and culture digitally as well as through online and face-to-face workshops and masterclasses for schools, students and teachers.
Creatively, Nicholas’s own composition includes work for the stage and concert hall. This ranges from the world of musical theatre and opera with the epic Revolution The Musical and Hamlyn Town, to the March 2024 The Story of the Great White Horse, and 2025 The Moonrakers - both are an introduction to Musical Theatre for young people with narrator. Recent instrumental music includes his two volumes of original music for piano: Globetrotter, and his latest work for six pianos to be premiered in August 2025: Piano Circus.
Shamsul Kamal aka Acundrums
LECTURER / DRUMMER / PERFORMER
Position/Designation : Head Of Audio Production Program at ASWARA
Shamsul Kamal Bin Abd Rahman aka Acundrum, drummer, performer, and lecturer is also a seasoned professional musician with extensive experience in the music industry. Holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), he is currently pursuing his Master in Creative Arts at ASWARA.
Shamsul has spent over 33 years honing his expertise in music performances and music production, especially in drum and percussion performances. Shamsul’s deep knowledge and proficiency in music performances have made him a respected figure in the industry. His work spans numerous projects, collaborating with artists such as Dato Sharifah Aini, Anuar Zain, Dato Zainal Abidin, Dayang Nurfaezah, Datuk Sri Siti Nurhaliza ect and doing performances across various genres. His dedication and his passion for music have earned him a solid reputation as a go-to expert for high-quality music performances. In addition to his hands-on work in the industry, Shamsul is committed to education and talent development. He frequently shares his expertise as a guest lecturer at several higher education institutions and serves as a panel judge for music competitions and vocal performances. His contributions to nurturing new talent and his continuous pursuit of excellence in the creative industry reflect his passion for advancing the field of music performances in Malaysia.
Dr Choong Hue Yuen
She is a popular music scholar, music educator, drummer, and the Head of Department (Music) as well as Head of School (Film and Performing Arts) at Sunway University.
After completing BMus and MMus degrees in music performance as a drummer in Malaysia and the UK, she worked as a music lecturer before commencing her PhD journey.
Her research interest primarily revolves around the music-learning cultures of popular musicians, and her PhD work explored the impacts of learning histories on the music-making practices, attitudes, dispositions, and musical proficiencies of popular musicians.
Her latest research examines this subject matter within the Malaysian context, and her future research plans include a closer examination of HPME and the disturbances that such modes of becoming popular musicians are causing within popular music-making cultures.