- Co-commissioned by the Ministry of Education and National Arts Council as part of the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) initiative launched in 2024
SINGAPORE, 16 July 2024 – A total of 4,600 lower secondary school students from 18 schools in Singapore experienced the joy of Chinese orchestral music this year through “SCOTIFY: A Performing Arts-Based Learning Concert”, a concert series by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO).
Held from July 8 to 11, the seven concerts were part of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and National Arts Council’s Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) initiative, which was formally launched this year. The PABL initiative is being rolled out across all secondary schools in Singapore from 2024 to 2027. It complements MOE’s lower secondary Music syllabus and allows youths from different backgrounds to experience live professional concerts. For a complete experience, schools conducted pre- and post-performance lessons to extend and enrich students’ musical learning. This year, students attended PABL performances presented by the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and The Esplanade Co Ltd.
SCO Executive Director Terence Ho, a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), had advocated for the widening of arts outreach such as by making it possible for students to watch at least one arts performance a year. “SCOTIFY” was a concert series with a twist, drawing inspiration from popular music streaming platform Spotify. Students were not only treated to a diverse line-up of musical numbers, they also had a chance to vote for which ones they wanted to listen to, creating their own customised “playlist”. These could include a choice of Chinese music classics such as Dance of the Golden Snake or Dance of the Yao Tribe, beloved Singapore tunes Rasa Sayang or Geylang Sipaku Geylang, and either Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are or Camila Cabello’s Havana.
“SCOTIFY aimed to engage young audiences and nurture their appreciation for Chinese orchestral music from an early age. In line with our goal to become a globally recognised people’s orchestra, SCO is dedicated to inspiring and educating through our performances. We provide high-quality, interactive programmes to enhance public understanding and appreciation of this art form, aiming to broaden engagement with the elegance of Chinese orchestral music,” said Mr Ho.
The SCOTIFY concerts were helmed by SCO’s Principal Conductor Quek Ling Kiong and held at the SCO Concert Hall at the Singapore Conference Hall, a national monument.
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The Nutgraf
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About Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1996, the orchestra made up of more than 80 musicians took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and culture and establishing new frontiers through the incorporation of Nanyang music elements in its repertoire. SCO has impressed a broadening audience with its blockbuster presentations and is fast establishing itself among its counterparts around the world. Known for its high-performance standards and versatility, the SCO is recognized through invitations to perform at numerous prestigious events locally and internationally. In line with its vision to be a world-renowned people’s orchestra, SCO continues to inspire, educate and communicate through its music.