Due to COVID-19, many local musicians and bands faced a loss of revenue from live shows and a loss of senior students that they used to rely on as teaching personnel for recruits. As a result, many local bands now find it extremely challenging to restart or introduce a music/band program without these resources. 

The "Winds of Change" project, therefore, aims to empower these programmes to be self-sustainable in the long run by addressing the following:

• The lack of funding and teaching personnel, as well as to improve the playing standards of these bands by providing formal training and upskilling opportunities for musicians and band leaders, and
• To introduce and increase youth participation in music-related activities.

This project is supported by the Sarawak Arts Council under the MySENI Grant Scheme. It encompasses a 3-day program that focuses on band fundamentals that are tailored to the specific needs of each band/organisation after consultation.

After careful selection, the beneficiaries of this project are:

• 1st Sibu Company Boys’ Brigade Band (Sibu)
  Wesley Methodist Church,
  51, Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg, 96000 Sibu
  
• SM Kai Dee School Band (Bintulu)
  SM Kai Dee Bintulu, Lot 490, Tatau,
  Jalan Bintulu Airport, 97000 Bintulu, Sarawak

The tutors involved in this project are as follows:

• Head/Tutti: Jesmond Siew
• Flute: Ashley Jade Ngui
• Clarinet/Saxophone: Jesmond Siew (Bintulu)/ James Wong (Sibu)
• High Brass: Kana Yamamoto
• Low Brass: Akmal Khalish
• Percussion: Aina Yusreen Sam Suri (Bintulu)/Henry Ting (Sibu)
• Onsite Repair Technician: Raymond Sii