Syafinaz Selamat

Syafinaz is currently a lecturer at the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and The National Arts Academy (ASWARA), an advisor and vocal master for The National Choir of Malaysia, as well as a conductor for PERMATA Seni Choir Group. She also provides private voice tutoring and known to have tutored several well known local singers including Misha Omar, Khai Bahar, Ernie Zakri and many more. She was trusted with the responsibility as a music advisor for reality program Audition II, and as a vocal coach in singing competition Bintang RTM 2018. She was also chosen as one of the mentors in the reality show Mentor for the show's 7th season installation, Mentor 7 2018. In Mentor 7, Syafinaz was the only mentor who managed to keep both of her protégés (Lazarul and Ranisha) up to the semi-final until Lazarul was eliminated in the semi-final. Syafinaz also managed to maintain the youngest and only female protégé (Ranisha, 18) from the beginning towards the final of Mentor 7.

To honour her contributions in education, entertainment, art and performances for three long decades, Syafinaz was awarded a Panglima Mahkota Wilayah (P.M.W.) medal of honour by Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King) during the Federal Territory Day 2018. This honour gives Syafinaz an official Datukship title; Datuk Syafinaz Selamat.

Syafinaz has extensive experience as a jury in numerous local singing competitions and reality shows, including Akademi Fantasia Season 3 and 4, Who Will Win, Mentor, One in a Million (OiAM) Season 1, 2 and 3, Pop Krew, The Band, Bintang Kecil RTM, Bintang RTM and AF Megastar 2017. Her partnership with her co-jury, Paul Moss in OiAM landed them a nomination for Best On-Screen Chemistry Award in Shout! Awards in 2009.

Due to her reputation as the region's leading sopranos, Syafinaz is often invited as a special celebrity guest to do classical performances in local as well as international prestigious events, including private functions, fashion shows and product launches. Some of her international shows include the closing ceremony of World Economic Forum in Davos(Switzerland) in the year 2007, special appearance in World Expo in Zaragoza(Spain) in the year 2008, SEA Games in Vientiane(Laos) in the year 2009, Islamic Fashion Week in Monte Carlo(Monaco) in the year 2010 before Prince Albert, and in World Islamic Economic Forum in Kazakhstan in year 2011. Syafinaz also made a performance alongside Rosnan Rahman, Zainal Abidin and Jaclyn Victor during Barack Obama official visitation in Malaysia during his (USA) presidency in 2014.

Syafinaz started off as a pop singer. Her career achievements as a pop singer include a Gold Medal in the R&B/Pop/Rock/Contemporary category during the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles in 1999. Additionally, she's been nominated twice in the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM) for Best Female Vocal for her albums Ingin Bersamamu-1999 and Syyh-2001, a nomination in Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian for Popular Female Singer in the year 1998/99, Sri Angkasa Award and Anugerah ERA 2002.

Syafinaz was trusted with the responsibility as a lecturer assistant by Siti Chairani Prohoeman during her final year in the UiTM. She was then immediately recruited as a lecturer in the UiTM right after she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in the year 1995.

Syafinaz landed her first record deal at the age of 15, and her first album titled after her own name, Syafinaz was launched in 1989.

Datuk Syafinaz Selamat; (born 11 January 1973) , is a Malaysian singer who sings in Malay, English, Italian, Spanish, and German. She is a reputated soprano soloist, well known as a voice teacher/vocal coach in universities and private classes, a leading voice master in adult and children choir groups, and often appeared as a professional jury/critic in local singing competitions and reality programs.