RP Wind Symphony

Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS) brought their music across borders again with aims of experiential learning.

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RPWS went on a 5-day music exchange and performance tour in Hong Kong to witness firsthand the musicality and discipline of the Hong Kong musicians.

Our musicians had the opportunity to visit places of historical and cultural significance such as the Victoria Peak, which offers spectacular view over the city, and the very windy Golden Bauhinia Square outside the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, with stunning cityscapes and soaring mountains as backdrop.

Places of visit also include Nan Lian Garden, a serene garden reminiscent of classical Chinese culture, and Mongkok where our musicians did some retail therapy.

RPWS’ first music exchange was with the Musicphilic Winds at the TWGHs Yow Kam Yuen College School Hall. The hosts were very hospitable and shared light-hearted classicals namely Ralph Vaughan Williams’ English Folk Song Suite and Philip Sparke’s A Huntingdon Celebration. RPWS in return shared Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F and an upbeat Gelato Con Caffe which was well received by the musician audiences. Both bands ended the day with a combined session conducted by both conductors performing March Blue Sky and Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

The next music exchange was with the Tom Lee Hong Kong NeoWinds Youth Orchestra in the Tom Lee Performance Hall in Megabox Mall, Kowloon. With a combined strength of 100 musicians, the hall was filled with compositions of Gustav Holst, which rounded up with much splendour. Our musicians did not leave empty handed as both exchanges allowed many to pick up a few “tricks of the trade”. 

RPWS’ next mission was to perform in Hong Kong Disneyland in front of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the centrepiece of Hong Kong Disneyland. Having prepared a great mix of songs, our musicians brought the tourist audiences local tunes from Philip Sparke’s Postcard from Singapore, to classical musical The Sound of Music, and pop hit Disco Lives!. The performance also featured an alto saxophone solo piece I Need to be in Love played brilliantly by our saxophone player Muhammad Aizat Bin Selamat. It was a definitely magical experience and the audiences enjoyed every minute of it.

The exchange programmes in Hong Kong were rewarding and proved fruitful. Within the confines of short music exchange programmes, the musicians learned to communicate with others their own age and to compare and contrast the musicality of their band with another outstanding ensemble. The bands learned to create a beautiful cohesive sound in an extremely short period of time, displaying high levels of discipline and musicianship.

Even though the time spent with the Hong Kong musicians were short, the lessons learnt are definitely for a lifetime. We look forward to your support as RPWS strives to bring music to RP and the community in the years to come.

Our special thanks go out to:

• Republic Polytechnic,
• The Republic Cultural Centre (TRCC),
• Office of Student and Graduate Affairs (OSG),
• Create.Republic Club and Create Club Advisors,
• IG Advisors, Mr Wilbur Tan, Ms Kelly Kuan & Mr Rafi Dean
• Resident Conductor CPT Muhamad Yusri Bin Md Ali

for providing support and guidance in our journey of exploration and development.

Tags: Disneyland, Hongkong

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