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Metro Philharmonic Society (MPS) 60th Anniversary Concert

Ocean of Songs 1959-2019 歌声的海洋

《九歌》The Nine Cantos

Composer: Leong Yoon Pin 梁荣平

Conductor: Ng Eng Kee 黄荣基

Solo: Teng Xiang Ting 丁湘庭

Piano accompanist: Pauline Lee 李锦玥

Performance collaboration between 4 choirs:

Metro Philharmonic Choir 星市合唱团

Schola Cantorum Singapore 习唱堂

Xiyao Cultural Association 喜耀合唱团

Vocal Associates 声乐联盟合唱团

The Metro Philharmonic Society (MPS) held its 60th Anniversary Concert on 25th August 2019 (Sun). The concert was a collaboration between 4 choirs - the Metro Philharmonic Choir, Schola Cantorum Singapore (SCS), the Vocal Associates Festival Chorus and the Xiyao Cultural Association. We had a great time working together with Mr. Ng Eng Kee (Music Director of MPS), solo soprano Ms. Teng Xiang Ting and highly accomplished pianist, Ms. Pauline Lee in performing composer doyen Mr. Leong Yoon Pin's 45 min long Cantata, the "Nine Cantos".

It was also SCS's honour to perform a thematic set of three rain songs, arranged or composed by Mr. Leong Yoon Pin's students; Dr. Zechariah Goh's《雨夜花》(Blossoms in the Rain), Mr. Albert Tay's《相思》(Longing) (with Mr. Ng Eng Kee as baritone solo), and Ms. Liong Kit Yeng's《伞内 伞外》with Ms. Chong Lee Khim on the ivories.

Thank you for attending the concert and showing us your support!


Schola Cantorum Singapore wishes all seasons greetings and a happy new year! We Wish You A Merry Christmas (arranged by Kirby Shaw) Auditions are open all ye...

Merry Christmas from all at the Kodaly Academy of Music (Singapore) and Schola Cantorum Singapore!

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SCS Chamber Choir and the Tanglin Club Choir before the gigantic tree.

During this season, Schola Cantorum Singapore Chamber Choir made our regular appearance singing with the Tanglin Club Choir for the Tanglin Club Tree Lighting Ceremony earlier this month. This also marks SCS' second performance together with brilliant pianist Miss Neo Ming Wei, who accompanies the Tanglin Club Choir.

The standard repertoire of Christmas tunes was punctuated by new additions this year, particularly John Rutter's I Will Sing with the Spirit, an uplifting new favourite amongst members.

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After that, SCS was invited once again to perform at the cocktail event for the Accademia Italiana della Cucina at the Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay. The audience was enthusiastic and sang along with the choir for more of the Christmas tunes.

With this performance, SCS concludes 2018 and we look forward to meeting everybody, old and new back in January!


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Picture from Zaobao.sg

Rhapsody in Verse is a four-act concert billed as a literary concert. Lasting approximately 90 minutes, the concert was a highlight of this year's Singapore Writers Festival as it also coincided with the year-long 95th Anniversary celebrations of the local Chinese mainstream newspaper Lianhe Zaobao.

The concert features Schola Cantorum Singapore performing alongside big leagues in the music community: mezzo-soprano Anna Koor, tenor Johnathan Charles Tay, soprano Phoebe Chee, baritone Sun Zhaorui, the Dingyi Music Company, and other brilliant musicians and thespians at the Victoria Theatre.

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Members of the SCS Festival Chorus consisted of the SCS Chamber Choir and members who joined through the open call. The set of four songs for the performance was indeed special for the choir of 30, as they were all premieres by local composers based on their interpretation of the works of local writers.

The first immediate reactions by SCS members was the Mandarin texts. SCS members are no stranger to the language, SCS members has just finished a year-long exploration with Mandarin and Chinese dialect songs through our performances at "Fighter Writer - Yu", and at Cantus 2017 with the Formosa Singers (Taiwan).

As a choir with diverse demographics, the language did pose as a challenge for some of our members who had to learn how to make the Chinese seem native while singing it. Caleb Liu, an open call member shares, "My mandarin is atrocious so I fear I did not do this music justice, but I learned a great deal, made many new friends and fell in love with new pieces of music."

"The sense of community and lightheartedness in the culture of the choir makes every single session so enjoyable and fulfilling. Also, I think this really creates a conducive environment for learning, where all our hearts are and can be aligned with the music!" Aigner Sng, new member to the SCS Chamber Choir recounts of the rehearsals leading up to the performance.

The involvement of composers in the music-making process is a rare chance for the performers to have a glimpse into what was intended, as well as offer composers a more organic way to further their understanding about writing for choirs and vocal ensembles. Thus as part of SCS' philosophy to support musical excellence and continuing education of music professionals and amateurs alike, a special rehearsal was set aside for the choir to meet the composers and hear what they have to say about the performance of the pieces.

"The meet-the-composers session was great as well since it was with that that we could understand and feel the music as it should be." Bryan Choo, another new member of SCS Chamber Choir shared with us.

Non-music preparatory work for SCS included two staging rehearsals at the SPH Auditorium with the full cast, where Staging Director Mr Lim Chin Huat shared with everybody his vision for the production. Derrick Kam, choir manager, shares of the staging rehearsals, "The sessions were really informative and really provided SCS members with the destination in mind for each act of the show. Chin Huat has succinctly addressed movement and made sure that the performers are comfortable and effectively intuitive to aid memory."

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SCS continuing after staging rehearsals at the SPH Auditorium

The result is a beautiful, breath-taking presentation that covers the themes of Space, Feelings, Seasons and the Earth in four acts.

KAMSG and SCS are grateful to Ms Woo Mun Ngan, Lianhe Zaobao Fukan Editor, for the opportunity to lend our voices to the event, as well as the brilliantly talented composers (Chen Zhangyi, Liong Kit Yeng, Phang Kok Jun, and Wang Chenwei) and writers (Chen Weibiao, Dan Ying, Du Hong, and Tong Nuan) for their work on the pieces.

Not forgetting our gratitude to the artistic vision and guidance of Mr Lim Chin Huat and for his patience while working with us, as well as the wonderful Neo Ming Wei who accompanied us on the piano for the concert.


Rhapsody in Verse is a marquee event of the Singapore Writers Festival 2018, also celebrating local Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao's 95th anniversary, bringing together the works of 16 Singaporean Chinese poets across different generations who are then put to new and original music by six young composers.

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SCS will be performing 4 choral works by Chen Zhangyi, Liong Kit Yeng, Phang Kok Jun, and Wang Chenwei.

In line with SCS' mission of providing a platform for music lovers to explore new artistic boundaries via creative collaborations, the SCS Festival Chorus was organised through an open call for new singers to join in the concert alongside the SCS Chamber Choir.

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SCS members with staging director Mr Lim Chin Huat

SCS is also honoured to be working with the Young Artist Award recipient Mr Lim Chin Huat, a prolific cross-disciplinary artist, as staging director for the concert, which is slated to showcase the beauty of lyricism in Chinese through the various works performed that evening.

More details of the event:

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Rhapsody in Verse happens 10 November, 7.30pm at the Victoria Theatre. Find out more below.

Rhapsody in Verse

10 November 2018 (Sat), 7.30pm

Victoria Theatre

Tickets for the event is available through SISTIC.


Schola Cantorum Singapore was proud to be invited for the Singapore Choral Festival organized by Konzert, on 5th August 2018 (Sunday), 5 pm, at Victoria Concert Hall.

Under our artistic director Mr. Albert Tay, SCS performed alongside other outstanding local choirs, namely Singapore Lyric Opera Children's Choir, The ACJC Alumni Choir, The Graduate Singers, The Vocal Consort, Victoria Chorale and Vox Camerata. The choir was also happy to be responsible for the Singaporean premiere of "Twinkle Star", an adaptation of the beloved children's nursery rhyme by local composer Ms. Liong Kit Yeng (who also appeared as a member of the audience). The choir also performed Hyo-Won Woo's arrangement of Mo Li Hua (Jasmine Flower), as well as Albert Tay's Laudate Dominum (Praise the Lord).

The choir's performance also marked Michi-san's last performance with us before he returns home to Japan. Michi-san is a wonderful tenor who sang with us in many productions and gigs over the past three years, including the milestone production of Richard Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. We will miss him dearly, and wish him and his family all the best!

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Many responded positively to the performance, with members of publicsending praises the performance through their friends.

"From a very objective point of view, your choir is the best!" - Shannon

"I prefer your group performance because 茉莉花 and Twinkle Star have a nostalgic feel. I grew up with these songs and they rekindled memories." - Wai Ling

"The festival was exhilarating with heavyweights like the Victoria Chorale and the ACJC Alumni Choir, offering exceptional modern contemporary piecea but it was Schola Cantorum Singapore that stole my heart.

The crisp tones Twinkle Star remake struck like stars in night while 茉莉花 bloomed graciously with a clear and crisp finale. Whoever pulled that off was definitely the star of the day." - Sam

Members of SCS also shared their thoughts on the performance.

"I felt that the pieces given are challenging, especially Ms. Liong's Twinkle Star. With the few of us, I wasn't sure whether we could pull it off. However, after we stepped off the stage, I believe we did the song justice..." -Michelle Yap, Alto SL

"It was interesting having a mixture of familiar and new repertoire. Although it was our third time doing 茉莉花, this was the most enjoyable experience as it felt like the choir and soloist were in sync, and we could bring out the music. This was our first time doing Laudate Dominum completely a cappella, which gave a new twist to the piece. It was a great honour for us to premiere a beautiful work like Twinkle Star. The choir enjoyed the work and hopefully, we did justice to Kit Yeng!" - Ang Shen Ting, Bass SL

"Singing as one of the guest choirs at the (Singapore) Choral Festival was a short and sweet experience. It was also very interesting to premiere Leong Kit Yengs Twinkle Star... In the wonderful acoustics of the Victoria Concert Hall, the song was extra twinkly and star-like." - Marie Anne Chia, Alto ASL

"It was a good experience to participate in a performance featuring many other skilled and seasoned singers, looking forward to more of such opportunities!" - Avinash Vellavan, Bass

After the performance, our Artistic Director, Albert Tay caught up with Ms. Liong Kit Yeng to hear from the composer how she felt about the performance in a video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8G4l1tpCzY

Schola Cantorum Singapore would like to take the opportunity to thank Konzert for allowing us the opportunity to perform at the Singapore Choral Festival, as well as fellow performers for the beautiful performances that evening, and last but not the least to composer Ms. Liong Kit Yeng for her kind words and effort to help shape the song to the way she intended it to be.

All year round, SCS seeks new members to join in the ranks of merry music-making. If you're interested in joining them, please visit this page and sign up for your trial rehearsal today!

Pictures were taken by Yang Xinyan


Following their exciting performance with the Dunman High School choir at EAST 2 WEST, be ready for another exciting concert coming up soon!

The Metro Philharmonic Society Choir is founded by composer doyen Mr Leong Yoon Pin in 1959 and is still performing well into their silver years. The choir holds their annual "Oceans of Songs" concert and Schola Cantorum Singapore is proud to be a fellow collaborator to join the spirited singers onstage!

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Be enthralled by the music of Ola Gjeilo, Ben Parry, Chen Yi and more, conducted by Mr Ng Eng Kee, Music Director of the Metro Philharmonic Society Choir.

Date and Time: 10th June 2018, 7.30PM

Venue: Lee Foundation Theatre, Nanyang Academy of Fine Art (151 Bencoolen St, Singapore 189655)

Tickets at $20, available through the Metro Philharmonic Society Choir and SCS members. Alternatively, please contact Ms Judy Tan at 9273 1770.

Also if you're unable to join us for the concert, feel free to catch SCS in action during combined rehearsals on FaceBook or Instagram (@scholacantorumsg)!


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Schola Cantorum Singapore will be guest performing at EAST 2 WEST, the Dunman High School Choir concert.

Details of the concert below:

Date and Time: 19th May 2018, 7.30PM

Venue: Dunman High School Performing Arts Centre (10 Tanjong Rhu Road, Singapore 436895)

Limited tickets ($10 each) can be purchased via an SCS member, or via email to enquiries@kam.sg.


Schola Cantorum Singapore was excited to be invited for MOB XI - SHOWTIME -- the Ministry of Bellz's annual concert on 27 January 2018 at the Drama Centre Theatre.

The concert provided an opportunity for a collaboration with MOB on the premiere of Albert Tay's eclectic, ephemeral composition, 神游上河.

Putting together both chorus and handbell was no easy feat, considering it was the chamber choir's first performance with a handbell ensemble, but the final product of solo soprano,solo Chinese bass drum, handbell ensemble andchamber choir melded together amid a vivid 'live-to-screen' moving backdrop of 清明上河图, (an ancient traditional Chinese painting), created an enchanting, otherworldly experience.

We would like to take the opportunity to thank Baba Damien Lim for this chance to have SCS onboard for this performance with the Ministry of Bellz!


Schola Cantorum Singapore Chamber Choir had the honour of bringing festive cheer to a private gathering organized by the Italian Academy of Cuisine (Accademia Italiana della Cucina) at Regent Hotel on 6 December 2017. Our singers delivered a programme consisting of classical hymns, seasonal Christmasmusic, and even gave our connoisseur audience a taste of home with a traditional Italian carol.


Back in 2016, Schola Cantorum Singapore (SCS) executed with style, a cool flash mob performing excerpts of Wagner's opera choruses. This year, KAM-SCS reprised our role once more at the invitation of the German Embassy (THANK YOU, we love German food and music!!), to provide high quality singing and sound production for the German community at the German Unity Day celebrations at W Hotel, Sentosa Cove. It was a beautiful collaboration between soloists and sound artists hailing from the Kodaly Institute (Hungary), Manhattan School of Music (USA) Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA, Singapore).

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The audience had many good things to say about the beautiful live singing of our people... and of course everyone loves it when we went "Freude schöner Götterfunken Tochter aus Elysium..."! You know where to look if you ever want to hear a fab Singaporean choir, suave soloists backed up by solid sound crews, do get in touch!


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Cantus 2017 featuring Formosa Singers

15 August 2017 (Tue), 7:30pm

Victoria Concert Hall $78, $58, $28

Discounts available for students, senior citizens, NSFs and bulk purchases of 10 or more tickets.

这次表演有什么看头呢?

苏庆俊教授是台湾无人不知的合唱指挥老师。他愿意赏脸,带着他难得一见的天团福尔摩沙合唱团来访新加坡真的很难得哦!想先一睹苏庆俊老师教指挥的风采,顺便听听示范合唱团福尔摩沙介绍台湾曲目,敬请报名 8/14 (星期一) Studiorum Series: Taiwan Choral Repertoire 和 Studiorum Series: Conducting Masterclass with Professor Julian Su (Taiwan),在星市合唱团会所 (Oxley Bizhub, near Tai Seng)的两堂课。

除了一些欧美的曲目,演出大部分是台湾的声音,以华语,台语和客家歌曲为主,其中甚至有原住民的编曲《鬼湖之恋》!除了合唱艺术曲以外,也有耳熟能详的《望春风》。

请支持新加坡作曲人和合唱团!成立于2015年的习唱堂 (Schola Cantorum Singapore) 室内合唱团将友情客串,在年轻堂主作曲兼指挥家郑维诚 (Albert Tay) 的带领下唱两首美国作曲家 Joshua Shank 的 Color Madrigals。习唱堂也将于福尔摩沙同台一起合唱 4 首!除了感人的《阿爸的心肝宝贝》,还有新加坡著名作曲家,南洋艺术学院 (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts) 作曲系系主任 (Head of Composition),吴多才博士 (Dr. Zechariah Goh Toh Chai) 的客家编曲《雨夜花》。另外两首是新加坡首演,包括受苏老师委托南洋艺术学院校友 Albert Tay 写的台湾编曲《安平追想曲》,和已普及于欧洲,台湾,深受好评的Laudate Dominum 的混声版,都将在新加坡第一次亮相!

福尔摩沙最近还荣获六项台湾金曲奖提名,成为被提名最多奖项的团体。天团将在新加坡历史悠久,刚翻新好的维多利亚音乐厅演出。不来亲自体验一下天团感人的声音是您的损失!想购票,请通过 SISTIC +65 6348 5555 (Operating Hours: Mon to Sat: 10am 8pm,Sun and PH: 12pm 8pm)。 您也可以点击以下网址!

https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/ccantus0817

新加坡柯大宜音乐学院在此,鸣谢星市音乐会支持我们这次一系列的活动。

Why should you come for this concert?

  • Come study and learn from Professor Julian Su Ching-Chun. He is a renowned conducting teacher in Taiwan and is overseeing the first Taiwanese doctoral programme in choral conducting at the Fu-Jen Catholic University!

  • You may wish to join us for the Studiorum Series: Taiwanese Choral Repertoire Sharing & Conducting Masterclass with Professor Julian Su (Taiwan), 14 August 2017 (Mon) 7:30pm at Metro Philharmonic Society (Oxley Bizhub, near Tai Seng)

      • Rare opportunity to hear a Taiwanese choir singing live in Singapore!

      • Rare repertoire: Some Western choral works, but predominantly Taiwanese pieces in Mandarin, Hokkien and Hakka. There's even an arrangement of an aboriginal folksong!

      • Support local choirs! Schola Cantorum Singapore Chamber Choir will be performing Joshua Shanks Color Madrigals. SCS will also be joining the Formosa Singers for the 4 finale items.

      • Support local composers! Renowned Singaporean composer Dr. Zechariah Goh's arrangement of Blossoms in the Rain will be conducted by Professor Su and sung by the combined choirs of Formosa Singers and SCS! Albert Tays Laudate Dominum (SATB version) and arrangement of Reminiscences of An Ping will heard for the first time in Singapore.

      • The Formosa Singers have recently garnered a record breaking SIX nominations for the Golden Melody Awards (the Chinese Grammys).

      • Tickets are available at all SISTIC outlets. You may also order tickets by calling +65 6348 5555 (Operating Hours: Mon to Sat: 10am 8pm,Sun and PH: 12pm 8pm)or checking out the website below: https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/ccantus0817

We would like to thank the Metro Philharmonic Society for their kind generosity in supporting this event.


SEEDS

Presented by The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay as part of the Spectrum series

5 March 2017 (Sunday) | 5pm | Esplanade Recital Studio

Seeds a beginning and an end.

Schola Cantorum Chamber Choir explores facets of minimalism in music and how some of the simplest musical seeds can grow into mighty oaks. Delve into the sparse spiritual minimalism of Tavener and Part, treat yourself to the economy of means of Leong Yoon Pin's music, and experience the lean polyphony that creates the lush harmonies of Kelly Tang's music. Join us on our journey as the Schola Cantorum Chamber Choir continues to grow with Seeds!

PROGRAMME

Steve Reich - Clapping Music

Arvo Part - The Beatitudes

Albert Tay - Longing

Leong Yoon Pin - Dragon Dance

Thomas Jennefelt - Villarosa Sarialdi

John Cage - Four2

Kelly Tang - The Wind

John Taverner - Song for Athene

"In Dragon Dance by Leong Yoon Pin, the choir produced vividly colourful singing, full of variety and effect. Even more impressive was its compelling and genuinely beautiful account of The Win[d] by Kelly Tang. The singers revelled in its sumptuous textures and rich melodic detail and the only fault was that it was over far too quickly." - Marc Rochester, The Straits Times


Choral Conducting Level 1

19 March -30 April 2016

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Chong Wai Lun (Course Trainer) and Albert Tay (Course Advisor) led this basic conducting course for music teachers in schools and beginning professional conductors needing to conduct their school, church or community ensembles.

Through the use of choral music, participants polished basic conducting gestures, learnt the art of score preparation and how to employ good music pedagogy in the training of one's ensemble. Apart from lecture-workshop style where conductors practice in a safe environment with fellow classmates, participants got hands-on opportunities to observe, rehearse and conduct Schola Cantorum Singapore's Chamber Choir which culminated in a final showcase on 30 April 2016. 15 hours of contact time comfortably spread over several weeks also allowed participants to consolidate and apply learnt skills with your own ensembles.


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a-fun-choral-education

The Schola Cantorum Chamber Choir was part of the Esplanade's Voices Festival in 2016 as the demonstration choir for a workshop on Kodaly-inspired games conducted by our Artistic Director, Albert Tay and co-facilitated by Gerald Leow.

The choir also presented the following pieces as a prelude to Cantus 2016 and to celebrate Christmas:

  • The Wind, Kelly TANG

  • Friend, LEONG Kit Yeng

  • 望春风,鄭雨賢

  • We Need a Little Christmas, Anita KERR

  • Frosty the Snowman, Traditional

  • Star Carol, John RUTTER

  • Joy to the World, Traditional


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Schola Cantorum (Singapore) presented the inaugural concert for the "Cantus" series on 25 December 2016. SCS was joined by Natus Cantorum (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) in a reprise of the 2015 Asian Cities Choral Exchange in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Mr. Albert Tay, Artistic Director of SCS shared the podium with Natus Cantorum's conductor Mr. Tang Tien Ming in a concert of choral gems by Singaporean composers Dr. Kelly Tang, Liong Kit Yeng, Ernest Thio, by Taiwanese composers 冉天豪、石青如、楊三郎、鄭雨賢, pieces in Mandarin and dialects, as well as beautiful Christmas music by Paul Mealor, Nicholas White and John Rutter.

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Programme

Songs from Taiwan

别丢掉 | 冉天豪

夢見我的鏡 | 石青如

孤戀花 | 曲/楊三郎,編曲/蔡昱姗

望春風 | 曲/鄭雨賢, 編曲/周鑫泉

Songs from Singapore

乒乒乓乓娶新娘 |Ernest THIO

相思 | Albert TAY

Friend | Liong Kit YENG

The Wind | Kelly TANG

Songs of Christmas

O Magnum Mysterium | Nicholas WHITE

A Spotless Rose | Paul MEALOR

Joyful, Joyful | arr. Roger EMERSON

Star Carol | John Rutter

Joy to the World | Arr. Lowell MASON


Catch Schola Cantorum Singapore as the Opera Chorus for this landmark production of The Flying Dutchman! Now playing at Victoria Theatre till this Sunday, 30 October 2016. Don't miss the boat! Get your tickets from SISTIC now at http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/dutch1016

Check out the reviews of the opening performance by John Gee (Richard Wagner Association Singapore) and Alvin Koh (The Mad Scene)

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Image by Tan Ngiap Heng


SCS SIFOM 2015

SCS SIFOM 2015

7 October 2016, The Arts House @ The Old Parliament

The Schola Cantorum Chamber Choir was featured as part of the Singapore International Festival of Music (SIFOM) in 2015 where we presented works by the late composer doyen and Cultural Medallion Recipient, Mr. Leong Yoon Pin.

Pieces Performed

Dragon Dance |Leong Yoon Pin

Bengawan Solo |arr. Leong Yoon Pin

Nightmare |Leong Yoon Pin


A blog post by SCS member Hsin Ching

If you find the following too long-winded or confusing, don't worry, the writer feels equally, if not more, lost upon re-reading. Please scroll to the end for a summary of the text, in convenient point form. As all A-level Literature students eventually find out, who really needs to read the original text when you have point-y notes?!

Apologies for the writing style, I am currently reading The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy and am writing under the influence.

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Long long ago (in this galaxy), when Albert proposed a trip to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to perform, it seemed like a distant, fragile bubble of a fantasy that would never really coalesce into anything remotely concrete. But now as I sit here on new years' day trying to think of something to write for this 'SUBTLY' arrowed assignment (yes, I am referring to this article, to be completely unsubtle) which was due last year (sorry), the reality of our adventure is all too tangible, as evinced by my belly, which now takes up a lot more space in the universe than it did before 19 December 2015.

The process was, as all KAM/SCS adventures usually are, crazy. The sight-reading, hokkien-speaking, speed-learning, late-meeting, note-banging (snack-eating, ape-shrieking, monkey-climbing) chaos of the pre-trip; the people-meeting, consecutive-day-rehearsing, fine (sometimes not so fine)-tuning when we finally met Natus Cantorum (who were as whacky as some members in the SCS); culminating in a memorable, successful concert.

Many of the practices in Kaohsiung saw me blinking daftly and slightly slack-jawed at Tang 老师 and Albert as they conducted practices in Chinese, before turning to my ever helpful partner, Hsin Wen, for a translation. Thank God for her. Even if I may not have understood all instructions, singing each piece through and following each conductor's gestures usually made things clearish, reminding me of the quote "Where words fail, music speaks". For a banana like me, this probably encapsulates my entire Kaohsiung rehearsal experience.

And when our music fails, the follow-up, reassuring quote of the trip kicks in: 没关系 (Tang, 2015).

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Ok, let me try to be serious. I thoroughly enjoyed singing with Natus Cantorum. They are a committed (*Editor's note: Many of them have or are having babies, getting married, engineers, doctors & deans at the highest levels of academia etc.), passionate group of amazing singers who can go from whacky to super focused at the snap of a finger. Each one of them was completely present in the moment when singing, and their musicality, level of responsiveness and ability to process and act on feedback left me extremely impressed and set a high bar for all of us there. It was an absolute pleasure singing with them and I hope the experience in Singapore this December 2016 will be equally enriching and enjoyable for them as it was for us in December 2015.

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Summary of confusing article:

- We went to Kaohsiung, Taiwan to sing with Natus Cantorum in December 2015

- Pre-trip rehearsals were crazy

- Rehearsals with Natus Cantorum were crazier

- All of us left with new friends

- Most of us left with new waistlines

- Some of us were heard to speak more Chinese in the six days than all the days of our life combined

- Some of us left with new names (十七岁, Francesca (Franny) Felicia Teo)

- And one of us left with new understanding of her name.

- This point-form summary is a terribly inaccurate summing-up of the article above, which was the main moral of the story: don't rely on Cliffnotes to get you through your A-level Literature. You will fail.


Schola Cantorum Singapore was featured at the Singapore International Festival of Music (SIFoM)! Held from 26 September - 10 October 2015 at the historic ex-parliament house now known as "The Arts House", this wonderful festival saw a gathering of some of Singapore's finest young artists and music ensembles.

The choir and their Artistic Director, Albert Tay performed 3 representative choral works by renowned pioneering composer doyen, the late Matthew Leong Yoon Pin. After the processional performance of "Dragon Dance", Albert proceeded to share with the audience what Leong was like as a man...

"I first got to know Liang Laoshi in 2002 whilst studying at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He was one of the most patient, mild-mannered man I've ever met. He spoke quietly and always in measured tones. Perhaps his music best reflects his personality... his pieces were not usually dramatic in expression, but always underpinned by solid craftsmanship, expressing the subtlest ideas with an economy of means."

Schola Cantorum Singapore featured at the Singapore International Festival of Music.

Schola Cantorum Singapore featured at the Singapore International Festival of Music.

Leong's unpublished score "Nightmare" and its patriotic overtones were given its due passionate delivery. Before concluding the concert with Leong's arrangement of "Bengawan Solo" to an appreciative audience and long applause, Albert gave a touching tribute to his composition teacher and role model.

"Leong lived at the Bayshore, Marine Parade on a high floor. The beach is never far from his sight... During my repeated pilgrimages to his sea-view home for scores, curry fish head lunches at Bedok, and the many conversations about music, conducting, composition, current affairs and life itself, his sharing revealed a passionate human being who is humble, unassuming and unaffected by the trappings of (what others might view as) 'success'. His kind actions show an extremely considerate character, who is always putting others before self. Thank you Mr Leong for being a living role model to us all."

Music reviewer Dr. Chang Tou Liang wrote an article about Schola Cantorum's performance in "#4: Singapura"! The music review, titled "Protest song warns against apathy" is a direct reference to Schola Cantorum's performance of Leong Yoon Pin's "Nightmare" and was published in Singapore's official newspaper "The Strait Times" on 9 October 2015! Read the original Straits Times article here and Dr. Chang's blogpost here!