RP Wind Symphony

Musicians from Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS) further enriched their music journey and fulfilled their burning passion for music making when they were involved in a music exchange organised by Wind Bands Association of Singapore (WBAS), one of the multi-faceted components of the Singapore International Band Festival (SIBF) 2008, which was very well-received.

RPWS played host to 50 members of the Tom Lee Hong Kong Youth NeoWinds Orchestra, a highly reputable band from Kowloon, Hong Kong. The main purpose of this trip by the orchestra to Singapore was to participate in the SIBF (under “Open Division”), which took place from 23 – 27 July 2008.

The music programme started with the two combined bands playing ‘Gloriosa’ Symphonic Poem for Band, followed by Symphonic Overture and finally Postcard from Singapore, which rounded up with much splendour.

Combined 110-member band of RPWS and HK Youth NeoWinds

Following the splendid performance, members of the two bands got together to interact with each other and find out more about the culture of the other country over some light refreshments.

RPWS Percussion Section members decked in red & white,
with some of the HK Youth NeoWinds members.

In the afternoon, RPWS was invited to perform for an Outreach Programme alongside the Assumption College Lampang Symphonic Band (Thailand) at the Cool Deck near to the Siloso beach at Sentosa. The Outreach Programme is another one of the components of the Singapore International Band Festival 2008, aimed at providing a platform for bands to showcase their talents, enriching themselves as well as reaching out to the community-at-large through the joy of playing wind band music.

After lunch, RPWS set off to Sentosa Island. The performance featured our Concert Masters Yeo Song Ren and Jaron Chan as they conducted the pieces Dikir Puteri and Instant Concert. The humour of the instructor, CPT Yusri and light-hearted pieces got the audiences thoroughly entertained for the evening.

Top: RPWS performing at Sentosa, Cool Deck
Bottom: Group picture with Assumption College Lampang Symphonic Band (Thailand)

It was a truly enjoyable and eye-opening experience to have an exchange with an overseas band and to share the same performance stage with another, especially with reputable bands as the Tom Lee Hong Kong Youth NeoWinds Orchestra and the Assumption College Lampang Symphonic Band. Even though the time spent together was short, but the lessons we learn are definitely for a lifetime. Such events should be encouraged as it exposes the students to a whole new learning experience outside of the classroom.

We would like to thank our advisors, Mr Wilbur Tan and Ms Kelly Kuan, and our instructor CPT Muhamad Yusri B. Md Ali, for giving us the opportunity to be part of this experience.

Post-performance shot of RPWS members with alumni
and one of the SIBF judges, Mr. Toshio Akiyama

Words by Muhammad Nur Sadiq bin Muzakir (RPWS Vice-President, SEG student)
Edited by Wilbur Tan (RPWS Advisor, CSM)
Photos by Kelly Kuan (RPWS Advisor, TRCC)

Tags: Competition, Hongkong, Music Exchange, NeoWinds, SIBF

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