This March, don’t miss the two live concerts, online pre-concert talk and catch our special performance at the National Museum of Singapore!

Following the launch of festive programmes back in January and February, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) will be presenting March CO Classics. Online viewers and audience members who watch live concerts at the Singapore Conference Hall will all be in for a treat!

This March, SCO will be engaging in a musical Conversation with renowned Chinese composer Zhao Jiping and organising a talk titled “Appreciation of Song Dynasty’s Martial Arts culture from Chinese Classics Water Margin ”, where Deputy Head of NUS Chinese Studies Professor Ong Chang Woei will be sharing more. Also, SNYCO strives to overcome challenges by using screen projection to “reunite” SNYCO members. As part of Celebrating Women: International Women’s Day at the National Museum of Singapore, catch our special performances by our female musicians at the museum.

SCO x NMS: Celebrating Women

As part of Celebrating Women: International Women’s Day at the National Museum of Singapore, catch our special performances by our female musicians at the museum! We will be featuring a selection of folk music, Chinese orchestral classics and popular western tunes that celebrates our cultural diversity. A total of 10 female SCO musicians will be performing on 6 March 2021, afternoon 2pm and 3.30pm, and 7 March 2021, afternoon 2.15pm and 3.30pm respectively. The concert is also available on NMS facebook live on both days 3.30pm.

On 6 March 2021 (Saturday), five talented SCO musicians: Zhang Li (Liuqin), Cheng Tzu-ting (Zhongruan), Koh Min Hui (Zhongruan), Jing Po (Daruan) and Huang Guifang (Sanxian) will be presenting Tango Romance, Romance Anónimo, Night in the Plain, La Vida Brieve and Shi Ba Ban.

On 7 March 2021 (Sunday), five talented SCO musicians: Qu Jianqing (Yangqin), Zhao Li (Gaohu), Tan Manman (Erhu), Li Yuan (Zhonghu) and Huang Ting-yu (Cello) will be presenting Teresa Teng Medley, I Will Follow Him, The Swan, The Grapes are Ripe and Ballade pour Adeline.

SNYCO’S Hits of past and Classics of present

Dear friends, do you reminisce about Chinese Orchestra tunes from the past?

Would you like to relive fond memories of days with the Chinese Orchestra?

Join SNYCO, led by Music Director Quek Ling Kiong, on a journey from the past to the future, with familiar favorites like “Overture: Brave Advance”, “Bumper Harvest Worship”, and “The Silk Road” sharing the stage with local tunes like “Confluence”. Savor the past and embrace the future, all in a single evening of classics old and new!

Conducted by SNYCO Music Director Quek Ling Kiong, the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra will present Hits of past and Classics of present concert on 20 March 2021 (Saturday), 8pm. The digital concert video will be available for unlimited playback on SISTIC till 28 March 2021 (Sunday), 8pm. The approximate concert duration is 1 hour 15 minutes long.

Sit back and relax, as SNYCO members serenade the audience with their performance. This is also SNYCO’s second official performance since the Circuit Breaker.

Sharing by Conductor – Projection on screen to “reunite” SNYCO members

As SNYCO’s very first concert for the year 2021, SNYCO Music Director Quek Ling Kiong said, “After a year-long of ‘no shows’, especially for those members under MOE, this is the first time they get to ‘perform’ with the orchestra. Although it’s pre-recorded and projected on screen during the actual concert day, SNYCO is one big family. Despite the challenges we are currently facing, we will overcome them all.”

He explained that due to safe distancing and safe management measures put in place, the SNYCO members have not been able to attend practices and rehearsals together. For instance, those members currently studying in Primary and Secondary schools, Junior colleges (under MOE’s purview) and members from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Polytechnics and Universities (not under MOE’s purview) are not able to perform on the same stage in the concert hall. Therefore, 30 members will be performing live and 49 members will be projected via projection screen, to perform the finale piece Overture.

Programme

Dance of the Yao Tribe 《瑶族舞曲》 |Composed by Mao Yuan and Liu Tieshan,

Arranged by Peng Xiuwen

Fishermen’s Song of Victory 《渔舟凯歌》 | Composed by Zhejiang Province Song and Dance Troupe, orchestration by Liu Wenjin, virtuoso percussion cadenza written by Li Mingxiong

The General’s Command 《将军令》 |Composed by Gu Guanren

Confluence 《融》 |Composed by Wang Chenwei

Bumper Harvest Worship 《丰年祭》 | Composed by Kuan Nai-Chung

The Silk Road 《丝绸之路》 | Composed by Jiang Ying

Overture 《序曲奋勇前进》 | Composed by Phoon Yew Tien

Tickets

Live concert Pass – $20

SNYCO Audition

Prior to this, the SNYCO held a digital audition for the first time in 2020. Currently, there are 99 members, with 4 non-Chinese members. The youngest member is 12 years old and the oldest is 26 years old.

SNYCO’s 2021 audition (physical) application will soon commence on 20 March 2021. The application period is: 20 March 2021 – 16 July 2021. Stay tuned to SNYCO’s website for more details.

SCO’s In Search of the Roots – A Musical Conversation with Zhao Jiping

Flight is possible, only because one is grounded.

As the ancient pagoda tree seeks its roots, the music takes off.

As its thousand-mile journey ends, the tree finds its home.

A master of music, an icon in the Chinese music circle, Zhao Jiping has touched generations of music lovers around the world with the many classics he composed over the decades of his career. This evening, Zhao Jiping’s works will take flight. Dormant roots of Zhao’s ancient pagoda tree, awakened by the graceful melodies flowing from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, will be transformed into soaring dragons that will take us on the search for one’s roots.

Conducted by SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh, the In Search of the Roots – A Musical Conversation with Zhao Jiping concert will be livestreamed on the online platform SISTIC LIVE from the SCO Concert Hall on 27 March 2021 (Saturday), 8pm.

The digital concert video will be available for unlimited playback on SISTIC till 4 April 2021 (Sunday), 8pm. The approximate concert duration is 50 minutes long. This concert will feature Zhao Jiping’s excellent music works. Sit back and relax, as 36 SCO musicians present an evening of thought-provoking master pieces and television series music.

Talk – Appreciation of Song Dynasty’s Martial Arts culture from Chinese Classics Water Margin (New!)

Singapore Chinese Orchestra will be presenting an online talk on 19 March 2021, 7.30pm on SCO’s Facebook page. Deputy Head of NUS Chinese Studies Professor Ong Chang Woei is the invited speaker.

Professor Ong will share about the martial arts culture in the Song Dynasty, from the classic Chinese novel and film – ‘Water Margins’ 《水浒传》. The theme ‘Song of Heroes’ 《好汉歌》, written by composer Zhao Jiping will be performed live by SCO on 27 March 2021’s concert. This talk will be conducted in Mandarin.

Sharing by Conductor – Listen to Zhao Jiping’s works from 4 Dimensions

SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh said, “Here’s a good chance to listen to Zhao Jiping from 4 dimensions – Famous television music (featuring Song of Heroes and Symphonic Suite: Qiao’s Grand Courtyard); Masterpiece for Chinese Orchestra (featuring In Search of the Roots of the Ancient Pagoda Tree); Concerto pieces (featuring The Silk Road Fantasia Suite, Mvt V: The Dance of Qiuci and Symphonic Suite: Qiao’s Grand Courtyard) and East meets West (featuring Impressions of Macau). Although we do not have the full orchestra with over 80 members on stage, we are still able to perform these great masterpieces.”

He explained that it has been difficult to perform such grand masterpieces in recent months, given the safe management measures put in place. However, it’s timely to return and listen to these Great Master’s masterpieces.

Programme

Song of Heroes 《好汉歌》

In Search of the Roots of the Ancient Pagoda Tree 《古槐寻根》

Symphonic Suite: Qiao’s Grand Courtyard《乔家大院》| Orchestration by

Jing Jianshu

The Silk Road Fantasia Suite, Mvt V: The Dance of Qiuci

《丝绸之路幻想组曲》第五乐章《龟兹舞》

Impressions of Macau《澳门印象》

Tickets

Live concert Pass – $20, $28

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Bundle Promo (New!)

A special “March CO Classics” digital concert bundle promo is now launched on SISTIC Live – 2 shows for only $18 (excludes SISTIC fees @ $1.50).

Annex A

DATE日期	Time时间	Venue地点	EVENT活动
6 Mar3月6日	2pm,3.30pm	Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore & National Museum of Singapore Facebook Live (Streaming only for 3.30pm show)黑箱剧场，新加坡国家博物馆；新加坡国家博物馆面溥网络直播（只直 播 3.30pm 场次）	SCO x NMS:Celebrating Women新加坡华乐团 x新加坡国家博物馆：欢庆女性成就
7 Mar3月7日	2pm,3.30pm	Gallery Theatre, National Museum of Singapore & National Museum of Singapore Facebook Live (Streaming only for 3.30pm show)黑箱剧场，新加坡国家博物馆；新加坡国家博物馆面溥网络直播（只直 播 3.30pm 场次）	SCO x NMS:Celebrating Women新加坡华乐团 x新加坡国家博物馆：欢庆女性成就
19 Mar3月19日	7.30pm – 8pm	Online 线上;SCO Facebook page 新加坡华乐团面簿直播Speaker: 王昌伟教授 Professor Ong Chang Woei新加坡国立大学中文系副主任Deputy Head of NUS Chinese StudiesLanguage of the Talk: Chinese	“从《水浒传》看宋代的武文化”讲座Appreciation of Song Dynasty’s Martial Arts culture from Chinese Classics Water MarginTalk
20 Mar3月20日	8pm	SCO CONCERT HALL,SISTIC LIVE	SNYCO’S Hits of past and Classics of present新加坡国家青年华乐团《曾经流行，当下经典》音乐会
27 Mar3月27日	8pm	SCO CONCERT HALL,SISTIC LIVE	SCO’s In Search of the Roots – A Musical Conversation with Zhao Jipingconcert《古槐寻根 – 与赵季平大师的一场音乐对话》音乐会