A student from the Faculty of Vocational Education at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) has once again brought pride to the university through an outstanding artistic achievement. Intan Theola Methanoia Silaban (Student ID: 251706039), a student of the Diploma Program in English, together with the USU Vocal Group team, won First Place in the Vocal Group category at the 2026 Pekan Seni Mahasiswa Daerah (PEKSIMIDA). This accomplishment qualified the USU Vocal Group to represent both Universitas Sumatera Utara and the Province of North Sumatra at the 2026 Pekan Seni Mahasiswa Nasional (PEKSIMINAS), scheduled to take place in September 2026.

PEKSIMIDA serves as the provincial selection stage organized by the North Sumatra Student Arts Development Board (BPSMI Sumut) to determine the region's representatives for PEKSIMINAS. Through this competition, each province selects its best student artists across various artistic disciplines to compete at the national level.

During PEKSIMIDA 2026, several competition categories—including Vocal Group, Painting, Monologue, and Comic Strip—were hosted by Universitas Sumatera Utara. The opening ceremony and competitions took place on 23 July 2026 at the USU Student Center, while the closing ceremony and announcement of winners were held on 24 July 2026 at the Hall of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) USU.

Before advancing to the competition, every member of the USU Vocal Group underwent a rigorous selection process assessed by experienced judges in music and vocal performance. After successfully passing the selection, the team began intensive rehearsals on 8 July 2026.

Throughout the preparation period, the team practiced two pieces consisting of one mandatory regional song and one optional song in accordance with the PEKSIMINAS 2026 competition guidelines. Rehearsals were held daily at the USU Student Center from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (WIB) under the direct guidance of Prof. Mauly Purba. The team also received coaching from distinguished USU Vocal Group alumni who had previously achieved success at similar competitions, including Yohana Manalu, Eka Dwi, Dedi Sitorus, and Reinhat Goodman. Before the competition, the team completed its final rehearsal and vocal coaching session at Toba Dream Studio to refine its performance.

The Vocal Group competition featured three participating teams representing Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), and Universitas Sari Mutiara (USM). Performances were evaluated by a panel of three judges representing each participating university. Following a competitive event, the final results were announced as follows:

  • First Place: Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU)
  • Second Place: Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED)
  • Third Place: Universitas Sari Mutiara (USM)

This remarkable achievement represents a proud milestone for both the Faculty of Vocational Education and Universitas Sumatera Utara. It also serves as strong motivation for the USU Vocal Group to continue preparing for the next stage of competition at the national level.

In September 2026, the USU Vocal Group, together with champions from other PEKSIMIDA competition categories, will represent the Province of North Sumatra at PEKSIMINAS 2026, which is expected to be hosted by the University of Jember.

The accomplishment of Intan Theola Methanoia Silaban and the USU Vocal Group demonstrates that students of the Faculty of Vocational Education excel not only academically but also in artistic achievement. It is hoped that this success will inspire other students to continue developing their talents, bring honor to their alma mater, and elevate the Faculty of Vocational Education at the national level.

The entire Faculty of Vocational Education community extends its best wishes to the USU contingent as they prepare for PEKSIMINAS 2026. May their dedication and hard work lead to outstanding achievements and bring pride to both Universitas Sumatera Utara and the Province of North Sumatra.