PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION Corporate & Marketing Communications Division 9, King George’s Avenue Singapore 208582 Tel: (65) 6340 5430/5454/432/231 Fax: (65) 6348 5977 Website: www.pa.gov.sg CHINESE ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCES AT YOUR DOORSTEP The People’s Association (PA) will put up eight performances titled “A Chinese Orchestra Affair” over three weekends from 11 to 25 February at various Community Clubs (CCs) and public venues. The performances are held in conjunction with the Singapore National Chinese Orchestra Marathon held to celebrate Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO)’s 15th year anniversary. 2 Ten Chinese Orchestras groups from the CCs will perform a wide repertoire of pieces including Chinese classics, Western classics, contemporary pop ,as well as compositions in the Nanyang style. The intent is to bring quality performances to the heartlands for residents to enjoy. 3 As part of the initiative to bring arts to the community, Yew Tee CC Chinese Orchestra will hold a performance at Yew Tee MRT Concourse for public on 11 February 2012. Hong Kah North CC Chinese Orchestra will also hold another free performance at Hong Kah North CC on 19 February 2012. 4 The 183 member Marsiling Chinese Orchestra (MCO) will also perform a medley of love songs for more than an hour on 13 February 2012. MCO comprises a unique mix of Chinese and non Chinese performers ranging from 11 to 25 years old. Siti Wahidah Bte Mohd Taha, a member of MCO said, “I joined the Marsiling Chinese Orchestra as I had great interest in learning to play the “Erhu” instrument. I soon became friends with the members of MCO and with their support and encouragement, I feel even more motivated to pursue my interest in Chinese Orchestra.” 5 A pre-concert reception has been specially arranged for media before the MCO‘s performance on 13 February 2012 at the Singapore Conference Hall. Media will be treated to a special showcase by the various CC groups involved in the performance during the pre-concert reception. 6 Your journalist and photographer are cordially invited to cover the performances. Pre-concert interviews with the performers can be arranged on 13 February 2012 at 7pm. The list of performances and profile of the Chinese Orchestras groups are attached at Annex. Date of Issue : 10 February 2012 Media Contact Person : Ms Charlene Wong Manager (Publicity) Tel : 6238 3424 / 9786 0284 Email : [email protected] : Ms Chris Koh Head, Community Arts and Culture Tel : 6340 5548 / 9665 4790 Email : [email protected] Issued by : Corporate & Marketing Communications Division People’s Association 6340 5430/5454/432/5231 Tel: About People’s Association The People's Association's mission is to build and to bridge communities in achieving one people, one Singapore. We do this through our network of 1,800 grassroots organisations, five Community Development Councils, the National Youth Council, National Community Leadership Institute, Outward Bound Singapore and Water-Venture. More information at www.pa.gov.sg and OurCommunity.sg. What’s happening in OurCommunity? Find out about PA’s new hungrygowhere feature, and the latest courses, activities, interest groups and facilities on your smartphone. Discover your community today at www.OurCommunity.sg. 2 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra Affair” - List of Performances S/N Title Date Time Venue Organiser Ticket Prices 1 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 11-Feb-12 8pm Yew Tee MRT Concourse Yew Tee CC Free Affair” 2 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 13-Feb-12 7.30pm Singapore Conference Hall Fuchun CC $8, $14 Affair” 3 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 18-Feb-12 7.45pm Yew Tee Community Yew Tee CC Free for PAssion Affair” Centre Hall Card Holders, $2 for others 4 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 18-Feb-12 7pm Bukit Batok Arts Centre Bukit Batok CC $2 Affair” - “Lion City - 100 Lyrics in a Decade” Multi Purpose Hall 5 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 18-Feb-12 8pm Singapore Conference Hall Chengsan CC & $3 Affair” Keat Hong CC 6 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 19-Feb-12 7pm Hong Kah North Hong Kah CC Free Affair” Community Club Auditorium 7 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 24-Feb-12 8pm Singapore Conference Hall Teck Ghee CC $3 Affair” 8 People’s Association “A Chinese Orchestra 25-Feb-12 7pm Gek Poh Ville Community Gek Poh Ville CC $2 Affair” Club Multi-Purpose Hall 华< >在其中 A Chinese Orchestra Affair in conjunction with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra's National Chinese Orchestra Marathon 2012 A Chinese Orchestra Affair is a four-weekend showcase of Chinese Orchestra performances. Ten Community Club Chinese Orchestras will be rolling out a rich line-up of Chinese classics, Western classics, Nanyang style and contemporary pop. A Chinese Orchestra Affair is a partnership programme between People’s Association (PA) and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra to commemorate their 15th year anniversary. The National Chinese Orchestra Marathon is to celebrate Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s 15th anniversary, it will take place from February 3 to 25, 2012. Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra The Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra (BBCO) is the first all-female community centre Chinese Orchestra in Singapore. Established in 1994 the BBCO, which has become the pride and joy of Bukit Batok Community Club, has already performed its unique pop and Western-style music to audiences in Malaysia and Hong Kong. While it has won accolades abroad, BBCO is equally popular in Singapore, especially to residents of Bukit Batok and the west. The group staged its inaugural concert at BBCC to welcome the spring festival, which attracted record numbers of more than 300 people, and plans to broaden its audience base with a new repertoire of music and styles in 2012. 5 February | Sunday | 5pm Singapore Conference Hall Admission: $12, $15 Ticket Sales Outlet : Bukit Batok Community Centre Tel : 6564 6317 Yew Tee Community Club Chinese Orchestra Yew Tee Community Club Chinese Orchestra (YTCCCO) was established in 2003, and came under the auspices of the former Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament for Hong Kah GRC, Mr. Yeo Cheow Tong. It started with 20 youth musicians but soon grew to 60 young music talents. Under the baton of Mr. Wong Chee Kong, the group has been a familiar sight at numerous community events in Yew Tee and beyond. Its annual community concerts and public concerts have been well received. In December 2005, the YTCCCO reached greater heights when it launched its quarterly recital series, with the aim of training and preparing soloists for bigger concerts. In June 2008, the Orchestra performed at schools in Taiping, Perak and Georgetown, Penang It soon launched its Saturday Afternoon Delights in 2009 in which Yew Tee residents enjoyed a 15-minutes solo or small ensemble performances at the Yew Tee Community Club. The Orchestra has since adopted the Dover Park Hospice and made time to celebrate the Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival for its patients families, and volunteers. Performance 1 : 11 February | Saturday | 8pm Yew Tee MRT Concourse Admission : Free Performance 2 : 18 February | Saturday | 7.45pm Yew Tee Community Centre Hall Admission : Free for PAssion Card Holders : $2.00 for all others Tel : 6769 3672 Marsiling Chinese Orchestra Marsiling Chinese Orchestra (MCO) was set up on 6 June 2004. Inaugurated in August 2004 by Mr Hawazi Daipi, the orchestra is a collaboration between Marsiling Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) and Marsiling Secondary School. MCO’s primary objective is to enhance the appreciation and promote the education of Chinese Orchestra among Marsiling residents. The establishment of MCO gave the graduates of various schools’ Chinese Orchestra members the opportunity to further pursue their interest in this musical art form. This initiation has also enabled them to have a head start in making a contribution to the community by taking a proactive role in fostering a closer collaboration between the grassroots organisations, neighbouring schools and residents. With a current strength of 183 members which includes three Malays, many talented members of MCO have won places in the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. 5 Some have also received awards in the prestigious bi-annual National Chinese Music Competition organised by the Singapore National Arts Council. Under the baton of our Music Director cum Conductor Mr. Low Cher Yong (Former Musician and Conducting Assistant of Singapore Chinese Orchestra), MCO has performed at many important functions. Marsiling Chinese Orchestra’s involvement in the million-dollar local film “Kallang Roar” was a milestone event for both MCO and the local Chinese Orchestra scene, as it became the very first Chinese Orchestra to be involved in the recording of a movie soundtrack. 13 February | Monday | 7.30pm Singapore Conference Hall Admission : $8, $14 Ticket Sales Outlet : Fuchun Community Centre Tel : 6365 6911 Pei Yi Chinese Orchestra Pei Yi Chinese Orchestra has more than 70 members, of which a majority is senior citizens. Established in 2002, the orchestra does not just perform but provides music lessons in Er Hu, Yang Qin, Gu Zeng, Di Zi, too, as part of its efforts to promote the musical art form. Today, the group calls Bukit Batok Community Club home and will be performing the “Lion City - 100 Lyrics in a Decade” to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. 18 February | Saturday | 7pm Bukit Batok Arts Centre Multi Purpose Hall Admission : $2.00 Ticket Sales Outlet: Bukit Batok Community Club Tel : 6564 6317 Chengsan Chinese Orchestra Chengsan Chinese orchestra was set up 15 years ago and has received accolades by the National Arts Council (NAC) when it took top honours at the National Chinese Music Competitions (NCMC) in 1996, 1998 and 2000. In 1996, the orchestra was runner-up in the ensemble category and the senior ensemble category in 2000, but won the top prize in the ensemble open category in 2002.