Singapore, 22 September 2015 (Tuesday) – Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) is recruiting new members for 2016! Through this recruitment drive, SYCO hopes to attract and groom future generation of musicians and showcase our unique Nanyang music to the world. Application is now open till 2 October 2015. Singaporeans, permanent residents and students studying in Singapore, between the age of 11 and 26 (as at 2016) who plays at least one Chinese orchestral instruments are welcomed to apply.
Since 2003, SYCO has been under the management of Singapore Chinese Orchestra where it successfully held its first concert in 2004. In 2009, SYCO was elevated to the status of a National Project of Excellence (NPOE) by the Ministry of Education (MOE). From 1 April 2015, under the purview of the National Arts Council and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, SYCO continue its aim of nurturing aspiring young musicians and grooming them to become the future ambassadors and pillars of Singapore’s Chinese music industry. SYCO musicians studying in mainstream secondary schools are recognized for their involvement and awarded with Co-Curriculum Activities (CCA) points under the LEAPS scheme. With SCO’s Music Director Tsung Yeh as SYCO’s Music Director, SCO’s Resident Conductor Quek Ling Kiong and Assistant Conductor Moses Gay as its conductors, SYCO has grown to a full-fledged orchestra consisting of 94 musicians with 22 instruments played.
Besides receiving professional coaching from SCO musicians, SYCO members can get to attend music camps, master classes and workshops conducted by maestros and guest artistes. Overseas immersion programme will be organized to increase the exposure opportunities for these young musicians. In 2013, the orchestra was invited to perform at the Taiwan Hsinchu Chinese Music Festival which provided members with the chance to interact with overseas music groups. Just this year, SYCO members participated in the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp. The professional guidance and performance opportunities that members experienced being a part of SYCO have produced significant results. Several SYCO alumni have became professional musicians in SCO such as suona associate principal Chang Le, ruan associate principal Lo Chai Xia and zhongruan musician Koh Min Hui. Other SYCO alumni members such as dizi musician Tan Qing Lun and ruan musician Kenny Chan are with Ding Yi Music Company.
SYCO members will receive valuable performance experiences through participation in numerous concerts throughout the years. In 2015, SYCO successfully staged two concerts – SYCO & SCO Annual Concert: Dauntless Spirit 2015 and SYCO & SNYO Concerts: Symphonic Gifts. The combined youth orchestra concert was a monumental moment as it was the first collaboration between the two national youth orchestras recognized under the NPOE. Dauntless Spirit 2015 featured solo performances by SYCO zhongruan musician Chia Wei Jian and pipa musician Yu Man. Besides concerts, SYCO has been invited to perform at outdoor events including Singapore Night Festival 2015, Youth Rhapsody concert at Singapore Botanic Gardens which was sponsored by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) under The SPH Gift of Music Series.
The plans are in place for SYCO to stage three concerts in 2016 during the month of March, July and September. In SYCO & SCO Annual Concert: Dauntless Spirit 2016,two SYCO musicians will be selected and featured as a dizi soloist and pipa soloist respectively.
SYCO is recruiting musicians for the following instruments:
(1) Bowed strings: Gaohu, Erhu, Zhonghu, Cello, Double Bass
(2) Plucked strings: Liuqin, Pipa, Zhongruan, Sanxian cum Ruan, Yangqin, Guzheng
(3) Wind: Qudi, Bangdi, Xindi, Gaoyin Sheng, Zhongyin Sheng, Diyin Sheng, Guanzi, Gaoyin Suona, Zhongyin Suona, Cizhongyin Suona, Diyin Suona
(4) Percussion
Audition will be held from 23 November to 29 November 2015 at the Singapore Conference Hall. Interested applicants may visit official website www.syco.com.sg for registration details and criteria. Singaporeans and permanent residents could apply for SYCO Individual Instrument Tuition Scheme. For enquiries, please contact Ms Abbie Tan (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Ms Joanna Lim (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra
SYCO Zhongruan: Megan Tan Wen Qi SYCO Erhu: Zhou Boyi SYCO Pipa: Kua Hui Lin
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