Petaling Jaya, May 2025: Following two decades of creative excellence, the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards (20BCAA) took place on 4 May 2025 at Stage 1 Theatre, Petaling Jaya Performing Arts Centre (PJPAC). As Malaysia’s premier performing arts awards, this milestone event honoured extraordinary contributions in theatre, dance, music, and musical theatre. It was a night of glitz, glamour, and artistic brilliance, showcasing the very best of Malaysian performing arts!
This year, the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards proudly celebrated a significant milestone – 20 Years of Legacy: Igniting Inspiration for Tomorrow. As we honoured the visionaries who laid the foundation of Malaysia’s vibrant arts community, we also cast our gaze forward with hope, pride, and excitement for the next generation of artists. It was a time to reflect on how far we’ve come and to envision all that lies ahead.
In this spirit of celebration, we shone a spotlight on the outstanding nominees of 2024 – each one a shining example of the passion, resilience, and brilliance of the Malaysian performing arts scene. Theatre productions such as The Bee and Randai “MacBeth” led the Theatre category nominations, with Randai “MacBeth” emerging as a standout, receiving seven category awards.
In Dance, we were inspired by Geetha Shankaran-Lam’s moving win for Best Featured / Lead Performer in Samskara – Past Reflections, Present Expressions by GSD Performing Studio – a remarkable feat at the age of 56. Her win not only exemplified artistic excellence and enduring physical discipline but also underscored the legacy that she leaves behind.
In the Music category, Dr. Bernard Tan was honoured with Best Musical Direction, while Dr. Poom Prommachart took home Best Solo Performance – Instrumental. Both are not only accomplished performers but also distinguished academics, further enriching the Malaysian music landscape.
Teater Muzikal Sakti Merong Mahawangsa stood out in the Musical Theatre category, proudly bringing home four awards for its creative and captivating storytelling.
As part of the evening’s highlights, three prestigious Best Of 2024 awards were presented to:
- Randai “MacBeth” by Pusat Seni Pentas Tradisional (PuTRA), ASWARA
- Spice, Magic and Mystique by The Young KL Singers, presented by TAS Seni Teater Rakyat and klpac
- Teater Persiapan Seorang Aktor by Studio Sedar Ruang
These productions reflected the exceptional quality, creativity, and dedication driving Malaysian performing arts today. These were just some of the inspiring wins that made the night unforgettable for the 20th anniversary of the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards.
As we marked two decades of honouring artistic excellence, we were humbled to present the BOH Cameronian Lifetime Achievement Award to Professor Dr. Tan Sooi Beng of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang. A towering figure in ethnomusicology, Professor Tan’s lifelong dedication to the arts had shaped generations of practitioners and academics. Her legacy will continue to inspire, educate, and empower; a true reflection of what this milestone year represented.
As the curtain rose on this momentous occasion, we came together – artists, audiences, seniors, juniors, and advocates – to celebrate a legacy built with passion and to ignite a future filled with promise.
With regard to the 20BCAA Anniversary, Caroline Russell, the Executive Chairman of BOH Plantations said, “It has been BOH’s privilege to walk alongside Malaysia’s vibrant and ever-evolving performing arts community over these two decades and witnessed countless Ummph moments of artistry, passion and innovation. Our heartiest congratulations to the performing arts community on your achievements.”
“As we celebrate this extraordinary milestone, let’s raise a cup of BOH Cameronian Gold Blend to honour the legacy and to look to an inspiring future as arts practitioners live their craft with pride and pursue their artistic expression with tenacity.”
Low Ngai Yuen, President of Kakiseni remarked “The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards is a platform to uplift, discover and connect. With every name announced, we honour not just excellence, but what the Malaysian arts scene is today, and the possibility of what it can become.”
Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen talents evolve into icons, small productions spark national conversations, and audiences grow in appreciation and pride for local voices. As we step into the next 20 years, we carry forward not just the accolades, but the spirit to keep nurturing spaces where ideas flourish, where courage takes the spotlight and where the arts continue to be a catalyst for unity, courage and growth.”
This year was all about legacy – a celebration of where we began, the milestones we had reached, and the stories that have shaped our creative landscape. As we look back on the last two decades, we honour the visionaries and pioneers who laid the foundation for Malaysian performing arts. Their passion, courage, and craft continue to echo in today’s work and light the way for future generations.
It’s a powerful reminder that the past is not just something to remember, but something to carry forward – to reimagine, to build upon, and to inspire a future that’s even more vibrant, inclusive, and extraordinary.
Follow us on social media @kakiseni and explore the full list of award recipients for the 20th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards at www.kakiseni.org/awards.
The BOH Cameronian Arts Awards, fondly known as the ‘Cammies’, is proudly endorsed by the National Department for Culture and Arts (JKKN) under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and generously supported by BOH Plantations, our esteemed title sponsor. Other key partners are Yayasan Sime Darby, Taylor’s University, A Cut Above, Sephora and Capri Communications.
