Singapore, 7 March 2023 (Tuesday) – Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) celebrates the 20th Anniversary with a line-up of concerts and programmes. The celebration includes the four key concerts titled “Friendship” (谊), “Reunion” （聚）, Legacy” （承） and “Ascend” （腾）, which will be taking place this March to December. A rejuvenated SNYCO 20th anniversary logo is also specially designed to mark this special occasion. Finally, to round up the festive celebrations, the SNYCO will perform at East Malaysia in December.
Together, we strive. There, it begins.
Since augurating in 2003, SNYCO has nurtured numerous outstanding musicians. Nine have successfully joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, establishing themselves as professional full-time musicians. Besides becoming professional musicians and distinguished members of the Singapore Chinese music fraternity, many other SNYCO members have also moved on to become respected professionals in their respective fields, making innumerable contributions to both the Singapore arts scene and various corporations and institutions. Under the leadership of Music Director Quek Ling Kiong and Associate Conductor Moses Gay, SNYCO seeks to nurture aspiring youths to be the future pillars of Singapore’s Chinese music scene.
Currently, there are over 90 members in SNYCO between the ages of 10 and 26 who receive professional tutelage under the guidance of 13 Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) musicians. They also represent more than 40 schools in Singapore. From its inception, SNYCO holds 3 major ticketed concerts annually and since 2017, it has taken the additional step of performing in outreach and educational concerts in neighbourhood schools, the heartlands and communities. Not only do these concerts give the musicians more performance opportunities and stage experience, they also help to promote Chinese music to the communities.
A display of young musicians’ showmanship
The celebration includes the four key concerts titled “Friendship” (谊), “Reunion” （聚）, Legacy” （承） and “Ascend” （腾）, which will be taking place this March to December. A mixture of traditional and modern works is featured, displaying the versatility of youths’ energy. There is much to anticipate in upcoming concerts in SNYCO20.
SNYCO Friendship “谊” concert
SNYCO Friendship concert will be happening on 18 March 2023, 7.30pm, at the SCO Concert Hall. The approximate concert duration is 1 hour 10 minutes long. Sit back and relax, as the SNYCO members serenade the crowd with their captivating performance.
It takes a special fate, to bring like-minded youths in the same Chinese orchestra.
This March, the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) Music Director Quek Ling Kiong and the SNYCO young musicians invites you to join us in Friendship concert. This is the first concert to kickstart SNYCO20 celebration in commemoration of SNYCO 20th anniversary. Voted by current and alumni members of the youth orchestra, the repertoire are the members’ favourite and most memorable pieces; the ones that they wish to perform and present to you once again. Highlights include Bian Ba, an endearing and sentimental piece composed by renowned ruan master and composer Liu Xing, depicting the sincere friendship between Liu Xing and his buddy Bian Ba. Other evergreen masterpieces such as Liu Wenjin’s Jasmine, Xu Jingxin and Chen Dawei’s Flying Apsaras and Wang Danhong’s Strings on Yangko Dance made up these young musicians’ collective music adventures in SNYCO.
Join us, and get awed and inspired by the spirited rigour brought by the young musicians of SNYCO.
Friendship Concert Programme
Bian Ba | Composed by Liu Xing
Strings on Yangko Dance | Composed by Wang Danhong
Jasmine | Composed Liu Wenjin
Flying Apsaras | Composed by Xu Jing Xin and Chen Dawei
Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa | Composed by Law Wai Lun
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SNYCO “Reunion” （聚）and Legacy” （承） concert will be happening on 3 June, and 29 July ,7.30pm respectively. The SNYCO “Ascend” （腾）concert will be happening on 2 December 2023, 7.30pm. It is noteworthy that this “Ascend” concert will be a Pre-Tour concert, as SNYCO will be embarking on a tour to East Malaysia in December. More details will be released at a later date.
聚 means reunion and it is a gathering and reunion of SNYCO alumni with some current members! More details will be release on the “Reunion” concert soon! 承 means “Legacy”, hence this joint concert with SCO focuses on the special connection between SCO instructors and mentors and the young musicians through side-by-side performances and concerto opportunities for SNYCO members. Members get to experience performing alongside professional musicians on the same stage. 腾 means ascend or soar, which has a double meaning. Firstly, it symbolizes SNYCO going overseas for a concert tour. Secondly, it also focuses on sharing the music that embodies Singapore's identity, with the goal of fostering friendships between young people who appreciate and promote the beauty of Chinese orchestral music outside of Singapore. Additionally, the initiative opens up opportunity for cultural exchange through music.
Part of SNYCO’s programme includes opportunities for overseas exposure with its members. The youth orchestra has had numerous overseas collaborations with music conservatories, youth orchestras and high schools over the years. SNYCO has been invited to perform at various music festivals – including the Tainan International Qixi Arts Festival (2006), Taiwan Hsinchu Chinese Music Festival (2013), ASEAN Youth Ensemble (2017), and Macao International Youth Music Festival (2017). In June 2017, SNYCO also held two successful concerts in Beijing and Shanghai, and held an exchange programme with the China Conservatory of Music during its inaugural China concert tour. During the COVID-19 period, SNYCO made its first full orchestra comeback on 30 July 2022, where audiences were able to watch over 80 members back in action together on stage after more than 2 years! It was in December 2019, during the China concert tour, where SNYCO last had the full orchestra on stage. Against all odds, we have reached a significant milestone. SNYCO Music Director Quek Ling Kiong shares that the concert tour to East Malaysia in December will enable members to “gain invaluable experiences and enrich their musical knowledge through overseas programmes and initiatives. Furthermore, by taking our music to the international stage, SNYCO aspires to be the youth cultural ambassador of Singapore, strengthening relations with other countries.”
In addition, the SNYCO team has also specially commissioned Lee Jun Le （李俊乐）, a talented young boy to pen the calligraphic form of the 4 Chinese characters of the concert “Friendship” (谊), “Reunion” （聚）, Legacy” （承） and “Ascend” （腾）.
Calligraphy works by Lee Jun Le. Photo credits: Singapore Chinese Orchestra
As a youth, 16-year-old Lee Jun Le has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and he draws Chinese characters in a unique style. He started to copy the Heart Sutra since the Circuit Breaker during COVID-19 and began practicing calligraphy since August last year. With SNYCO20 as one of the significant milestones, it is especially meaningful and timely for SNYCO to acknowledge the talents of fellow youths who are supporting the community in their own ways.
SNYCO 20th anniversary logo
To mark SNYCO’s 20th anniversary, the logo was thoughtfully revamped. As a prominent representation of SNYCO and members, the new logo is optimistic and youthful. Inspired by the idea of “reunion”, the logo is an abstract symbol based on the numeric “0” and also inadvertently represents our youth members holding hands in a circle, performing together in unity, which resonates with the idea of “reunion”, the title of the upcoming 3 June “Reunion” concert. It also signifies the broad goal of “Together, SNYCO can reach new heights”.
The multitude of corporate colours used in the logo colours speaks to the diversity, seeks to portray positive, vibrant and youthful energy, brings forth excitement and inspiration.
SNYCO logo & SNYCO20 logo. Photo credit: Singapore Chinese Orchestra
SNYCO Audition 2023
Application for SNYCO’s 2023 audition will start on 18 March 2023 and will end on 14 July 2023. The SNYCO Audition is an annual recruitment drive that provides opportunities for the finest young musicians in Singapore to gather and be part of the national youth Chinese orchestra. Managed by Singapore Chinese Orchestra Company Limited, recruited members will be guided by industry professionals, enjoy subsidies for one-on-one lessons*, performances and masterclasses opportunities and many more!
Currently, there are more than 90 members, with 3 non-Chinese members. The youngest member is 10 years old and the oldest is 26 years old.
The audition will be held at 7 Shenton Way, Singapore Conference Hall, Singapore 068810 (Level 1 Exhibition Hall). Head over to SNYCO’s website from 18 March 2023 onwards for more details.
*Terms and conditions apply
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About Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra
The Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) is made up of more than 90 talented musicians between the ages of 10 to 26. SNYCO is managed by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Company Limited, and is under the purview of the National Arts Council and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth since 1 April 2015. SNYCO is under the music directorship of Quek Ling Kiong and Moses Gay as the associate conductor. Only the finest musicians are selected to be members through the rigorous auditions held each year. As a National Project of Excellence recognised by the Ministry of Education, SNYCO strives to nurture aspiring musicians into future pillars of Chinese music in Singapore.
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