Reviving Tradition: The Journey of Nada Kencana and Their Caklempong Passion
- WOMCO
- Apr 28
- 4 min read
Nada Kencana was a First Prize Winner in the National Music Category, at the 2025 Season 2 Beethoven International Music Competition UK.
Biography
Nada Kencana is a passionate student Caklempong ensemble from MRSM Kubang Pasu, officially formed on 1st October 2024. Despite being a relatively new group, Nada Kencana has already made a name for itself in the traditional music scene. The group was born from a shared interest in traditional instruments and a deep desire to revive and preserve the art of Caklempong among younger generations.
Under the dedicated guidance of Ms. Hazreen Binti Hamzah, Nada Kencana quickly grew into a committed team of talented students. In their very first competition—the prestigious FESMA (Festival Muzik MRSM Se-Malaysia 2024)—they proudly secured 2nd place, competing against many more experienced teams from across the country.
The group continues to push the boundaries of traditional music by blending cultural influences, modern touches, and expressive choreography into their performances. Through every beat and melody, Nada Kencana hopes to spark interest and pride in Malaysia's musical heritage and inspire more young people especially the students of MRSM Kubang Pasu to connect with traditional art forms.
Members of Nada Kencana
Adriana Binti Azman
Putry Liyana Qaisara Binti Johari
Muhammad Waiz Haqiem Bin Mohd Suhaimi
Isa Aqil Raziq Bin Isa Farid
Annur Arissa Zulaikha Binti Khairul Nizam
Nur Rabiatul Adawiyah Binti Mohd Zamri
Nur Almas Binti Harun
Balqis Humaira Binti Mohd Faizal
Nur Eryna Binti Mohammad Affandi
Muhammad Mifzal Bin Mazlan
Amjad Akmal Wong Hong Xiang Bin Abdul Muiez
Together, they are not just performers, but storytellers, carrying the rhythm, legacy, and spirit of Caklempong into the future. As proud students of MRSM Kubang Pasu, part of MARA's mission to nurture well-rounded individuals, Nada Kencana hopes to inspire their peers and future generations. Their performances showcase how tradition and creativity can go hand in hand, reflecting MARA's vision of producing students who excel not only in academics but also in personal growth, cultural understanding, and leadership. Every student at MRSM Kubang Pasu has the opportunity to make a difference, whether through music, innovation, or any other passion, while staying deeply connected to their heritage.
Could you tell us more about the traditional music of Caklempong, and how you first connected with this instrument and developed your passion for it?
Our Caklempong journey began not too long ago—on 1st October 2024, to be exact. Nada Kencana is still a very new group, but thankfully, we’ve been blessed with amazing milestones in such a short time. One of our proudest moments was securing 2nd place in our very first competition, Festival Muzik MRSM Se-Malaysia (FESMA) 2024, competing against long-established and experienced Caklempong groups from other MRSMs.
What drew each of us to Caklempong is our shared love for music and instruments. More than that, we saw Caklempong as a beautiful piece of tradition that deserves to be revived and appreciated by the younger generation. With the guidance of our dedicated teacher, Ms. Hazreen Binti Hamzah, who believed in our talents and constantly encouraged us to grow and because of her, we were able to form a committed group of members who are passionate about preserving and performing traditional music. After our performance at FESMA, we were thrilled to see a rise in interest from other students who now want to join us. It feels rewarding to inspire others through this cultural art.
Could you tell us about your award-winning video, when the performance took place, what event it was for, and how you approach bringing its traditional sound to modern audiences?
The video we submitted was a performance medley of traditional songs, specially arranged for the Beethoven International Music Competition. The medley was first used during our FESMA performance, but for this competition, we enhanced it with a few creative touches and improvements to make it more impactful. We took traditional melodies and reimagined them using a full Caklempong set, enhanced with cultural elements such as traditional movements, choreographed gestures, and supportive cheers from our own Malaysian background.
What made the performance truly special was the choreography, which reflected the diverse cultural roots of Malaysia. Each section symbolized unity among the different races in our country. With creative input and fine-tuning from Ms. Hazreen, we managed to blend tradition and originality in a way that felt fresh while staying authentic. It was eye-opening for many to see that traditional music like Caklempong can be expressive, vibrant, and relevant even to today's audience.
Would you like to share your experience participating in our competition and thank anyone?
Participating in the Beethoven International Music Competition was such an exciting experience for us since it was our very first international competition. Knowing that we were competing against professional musicians made us feel both honoured and nervous. We had limited time to rehearse and had to learn new techniques and choreography to elevate our performance for this prestigious stage.
Hence, we'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our teacher, Ms. Hazreen Binti Hamzah, for her endless dedication and belief in us. She spent countless hours preparing us, guiding us every step of the way. We are also incredibly thankful to the school management of MRSM Kubang Pasu, for their continuous support in allowing us to explore opportunities like this. Our families deserve recognition too—for being our biggest cheerleaders. And of course, to every member of Nada Kencana, Adriana Binti Azman, Putry Liyana Qaisara Binti Johari, Muhammad Waiz Haqiem Bin Mohd Suhaimi, Isa Aqil Raziq Bin Isa Farid, Annur Arissa Zulaikha Binti Khairul Nizam, Nur Rabiatul Adawiyah Binti Mohd Zamri, Nur Almas Binti Harun, Balqis Humaira Binti Mohd Faizal, Nur Eryna Binti Mohammad Affandi, Muhammad Mifzal Bin Mazlan, Amjad Akmal Wong Hong Xiang Bin Abdul Muiez, Tun Maya Alyssa Binti Mohd Firdaus And Auni Qairina Binti Mohd Hisham, thank you for your perseverance and passion in keeping this traditional art alive.
Together, we hope to inspire more young people to learn and love Caklempong—not just as a performance, but as a way to connect with our culture, identity, and heritage. It's more than music, it's a story we're proud to continue telling, one beat at a time.
