Kota Kinabalu: Friends of Sea Turtles Education and Research (Foster) hosted its Annual Review & Mini Concert 2026 at the Mari Mari Cultural Village, recently.
It brought together partners, sponsors, musicians, cultural practitioners, media representatives and members of the public.
The event provided an opportunity to reflect on Foster’s achievements over the past year, while reaffirming its commitment to youth development, jazz music, cultural growth and environmental conservation, particularly sea turtle protection, through its flagship programme Sepilok Jazz and its talent development initiative, Bakat Sepilok Jazz.
Launched in 2022, Sepilok Jazz began as a bold initiative that combined world-class jazz performances with the natural surroundings of Sepilok. Since then, the festival has grown steadily and is now regarded as one of Sabah’s most anticipated annual music and cultural events.
In 2024, Sepilok Jazz attracted more than 1,500 attendees, while the 2025 edition drew over 2,200, reflecting strong public support and the festival’s rising profile at both State and regional levels.
To further strengthen its youth empowerment agenda, Foster introduced Bakat Sepilok Jazz in 2024 as a platform to identify, train and showcase emerging musicians.
The second edition in 2025 attracted more than 100 participants from Sabah and Singapore, offering intensive workshops, professional mentorship and live performance opportunities.
A significant milestone for the programme was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between renowned jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and Foster, appointing him as Technical and Acoustic Advisor to enhance the programme’s artistic direction and professional standards.
During the event, Foster also announced its major programmes for 2026, including Bakat Sepilok Jazz 2026, scheduled for May 1 in Sandakan and May 3 in Kota Kinabalu, as well as Sepilok Jazz 5th Edition (SJ5), which will take place on Sept 4-5 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre.
The evening opened with the screening of a documentary highlighting the journey and impact of Foster and Sepilok Jazz, followed by an energetic mini concert by Australian group band SOULCUTZ, which captivated the audience with a vibrant performance.
Another highlight was the introduction of Foster’s first Youth Ambassador, Ivan Hii, a role aimed at inspiring youth leadership, advocacy and active participation in music and the arts at both national and international levels.
Foster reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to music education, strengthening cross-cultural collaboration and supporting Sabah’s creative and conservation economy, with continued support from partners, sponsors, government agencies and the wider community.
