MUSIC
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FROMTHE DIRECTOROFMUSIC
Well, it has most definitely been an action-packed start to the 2024-25 academic year, and our Centenary celebrations, with Tanglin musicians featuring prominently across the globe (quite literally!)
The year was kick-started in style with a fabulous family-friendly concert given by our talented team of Visiting Instrumental Teachers, which featured a wide range of musical genres and styles It really was a superb way to launch the year and inspired students and parents alike with the tremendous talents that were on display If you have never attended one of these concerts, please do come along next year!
Early September also saw the official launch of the school’s Centenary Celebrations and our musicians were out in force providing musical entertainment for the invited audience, both before and after the speeches.
The following week it was the turn of our newly-elected cohort of Centenary Music Scholars to take the stage, at the beautiful Chijmes Hall. Music Scholarships are just one of several new initiatives that have been launched by the Music Department this year, and the first 12 scholars have been tasked with being ambassadors for Tanglin Music. Not only were they chosen for their superb musical abilities, they are also required to be leaders at the forefront of promoting the department throughout the school and the wider community. The hour-long concert was a real tour de force with all the scholars producing some of their finest performances befitting such a stunning venue.
As the term progressed we had a period of more informal performance opportunities, with Junior lunchtime concerts, an Informal Evening Concert and a week-long ‘Music in the Morning’ - another new initiative, overseen by the ‘new’ Assistant Director of Music, Mr Hyland. Students of any age and ability are able to sign-up to perform a short piece of music in the bus bay at the start of the day; it is a great opportunity to perform in an informal environment whilst also playing in front of a large, supportive audience A third initiative introduced this term has been the Senior ‘Live at the Hi ’ h F id i abling musicians of all genres to perform in a relaxed atmosphere dents.
With half term fast-approaching it was the turn of the Tanglin Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Mr Holiday, to take to the impressive stage at SOTA Concert Hall. Their beautiful programme of Prokofiev and Beethoven symphonies also featured Haydn’s Cello Concerto No 1 with Music Scholar and Yr 10 student Charlotte T as guest soloist This was an incredible experience for her, and one that will no doubt live long in the memory for her and her family.
Meanwhile a huge amount of work was taking place ‘behind the scenes’ preparing for three major events that were about to take place in the week leading up to, and including half term – the Senior Ensembles Concert, the House Singing Competition and the Music Tour to Spain
The Senior Ensembles Concert took place again in the beautiful setting of SOTA Concert Hall and featured most of our more advanced, larger ensembles which includes choirs, bands and the Symphony Orchestra The theme for the soldout Concert was ‘Music around the world’ and this was captured admirably with performances spanning 5 continents – Europe; Asia; North America; South America and Asia.
Less than two days later 800 students from Yr 5 to Yr 8 took part in the hotly-contested House Singing Competition To coincide with the school’s Centenary, the theme was ‘decades’ with a song covering every decade from the 1930s up to present day. The Berrick Hall was a rainbow of colours, as students proudly represented their respective houses with gleaming grins and a fantastic sense of fun and house spirit. It really was a great way to finish the first half of term.
That evening, whilst most put their feet up to celebrate the end of a long 9 weeks, 48 intrepid students and 5 staff gathered at Changi Airport to embark on the Music Tour to Madrid and Salamanca in Spain. This was the first such overseas tour, organised with a professional travel company, and including 4 superb concerts venues in which our talented musicians would perform It was a sensational week of music-making, sight-seeing and creating lifelong memories with new-found friends. Plans will soon be underway for another such trip, hopefully in 2026, so watch this space!
The second half of term got off to a blistering start, with the ‘Spain Jazz Collective’ providing the entertainment at the launch of the EduTech Asia Conference in Marina Bay Sands. It is huge annual event with around 8000 attendees from around the world, and this year included former Singapore President Halimah Yacob who was in attendance as the Guest of Honour
Some of our choristers were also honoured to take part in the Remembrance Day commemorations at Kranji War Memorial, organised by the British High Commission. This is always a moving and humbling occasion and our singers represented the school admirably
More informal performances followed before the first of the Year Group concerts took place, presented by Year 4. Again, there was a theme of ‘Music from around the World’ including African Drumming, Indonesian Gamelan, Caribbean Calypso and Brazilian Samba alongside some energetic singing conveying the importance of music as a means of unifying the world.
The term’s Formal Solo and Chamber Music Concert highlighted the everincreasing provision for small ensembles, with a number of string/piano trios and quartets performing alongside some of our more advanced soloists It was a superb evening and one that deserves a much larger audience – you will not be disappointed! Thankfully these musicians and more had another chance to perform, as they were invited to provide the musical entertainment for another Centenary event, the Tanglin Tales book launch which took place in the grand setting of the Churchill Room at the Tanglin Club
Sandwiched between these two events was the Junior Ensembles Concert which was presented by a range of groups aimed at our emerging instrumentalists Wind and Brass Bands, String Orchestras, the Harp Ensemble as well as ukulele, gamelan and percussion groups presented a varied programme which again thrilled the gathered audience.
With the Festive Season looming large, our Senior Chamber Choir took on the first of several carol singing ‘gigs’ at the Hilton Hotel Tree-lighting ceremony, which helped to get everyone in the Christmas spirit ahead of the Friends of Tanglin Christmas Fair. Over the course of the two-day Fair, a huge number of musical performances took place with representation from across the infant, junior and senior schools Percussion groups, rock bands, choirs, jazz groups, guitar groups, soloists – you name it, the Fair had it!
Early December also witnessed the second Year Group show – this time presented by the children in Yr 2 ‘Christmas with the Aliens’ told the story from the aliens’ perspective, complete with giant spaceship and lots of colourful costumes not usually found in the nativity.
The St George’s Festival of Music, which for many of our community heralds the start of the Christmas Season, was another stunning evening of music-making set in the historic St George’s Church in Dempsey. The concert was described by Mr Considine as a ‘testament to our school's rich musical heritage and a celebration of the enduring spirit of Christmas ’
With the final week of term now upon us, our Jazz musicians took centre stage at The Hive on Monday night, providing a suitably festive programme which had the audience tapping their feet and humming along to jazzy arrangements of Christmas favourites. The ever increasing numbers of students taking part in Jazz at Tanglin is as impressive as the standards that they achieve. Nursery sing-alongs – always great fun – festive assemblies and no doubt some ad hoc carolling remain before our musicians are able to take a well-earned break.
There is still much to look forward in Tanglin’s centenary year, the launch of the Centenary Musician of the Year, Guys N Dolls, the return of the Desford Colliery Band and Community Music Day, Battle of the Bands, the Year 6 Production, Botanic Beats, and the Year 1-4 Singing Festival to name but a few Meanwhile we will also be busy preparing for the Centenary Gala Concert which will take place in the Esplanade in April, featuring the World Premiere of a specially commissioned piece by the British composer, Jonathan Dove.
As ever, I am deeply in awe of our fabulous music team who make this all possible – the Faculty Staff, Instrumental Teachers, Admin and Tech teams The effort, energy and enthusiasm with which they approach each day and every event is unbelievable, as is their ability and willingness to get stuck in, to support each other, and to provide the very best opportunities for our students. My sincere thanks to everyone involved in Music at Tanglin – being awarded the first-ever ABRSM Partner School status is a fitting tribute to, and recognition of the amazing standards achieved
We have welcomed three new members of staff this term: Lydia Wong has joined us as our new Administrative Executive, on Level 8 She is a classically trained pianist with over a decade of combined experience in music education, NGO work, and family business across the US, Singapore, and Malaysia. Lydia has recently returned to Singapore, and is excited to contribute to the Tanglin co-curriculum team.
Ralph Lim ‘one of Singapore’s most accomplished young woodwind players’ (Straits Times 20th October 2021) had joined our Woodwind and Brass Department as a clarinet tutor. A Buffet Crampon Clarinet Artist, he is also the principal clarinetist for the Resound Collective and the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra (ACSO)
Violette Truong has joined the Piano Department this term. She has a Masters in Composition from the Royal College of Music, London as well as a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music here in Singapore She also holds a diploma in child psychology and learning disorders management. Aside from teaching, Violette composes and produces music for video games and film.
After 18 months with the Tanglin Trust Music Department, Julia Tan will sadly be leaving us to focus on her percussion performance career. Julia has greatly contributed to the development of several percussion ensembles and provided excellent coaching to students in the Senior School Orchestras and Wind Bands. Highly regarded by Senior students, she has supported many Upper and Sixth Form students with their performance and composition work, as well as supporting and coaching Middle School classes. We wish Julia well but are delighted that she will continue to support some of our percussion ensembles
I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and reflecting on an amazing term of music-making. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Rob Hall Director of Music
The Tanglin Centenary Music Scholars’ Programme started in August 2024 to coincide with the Centenary Celebrations, and was officially launched midSeptember with a special concert held at Chijmes Hall, in front of an invited audience.
Featuring all 12 Scholars performing as soloists or as duettists, the musicians gave a dazzling display in the beautiful surroundings of Chijmes Hall, with its stunning acoustic lending itself perfectly to live music. The range of instruments and musical genres performed, demonstrated the breadth of musical talent amongst the scholars, from a baroque trumpet voluntary to songs from contemporary musicals via Chopin, Debussy, Ravel and Rimsky Korsakov, to name but a few!
The hour-long concert was followed by a reception and the chance for our scholars to talk to the guests about their musical interests and hopes for the Scholars’ Programme.
Two of our Scholars performed in a stunning Singapore National Youth Orchestra concert on Saturday 8 December in Victoria Concert Hall The ambitious programme of pieces by Sibelius (Finlandia & Valse Triste) and Stravinsky (Petrushka), was masterminded by the current Professor of Conducting at the Royal College of Music in London, Peter Stark. It also featured an intriguing piece by another Finnish composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara, which required the orchestra to play alongside recordings of birdsongs captured in the Finland countryside. Many congratulations to Charlotte T and Trevor W who performed so magnificently.
In the words of the scholars:
This programme has expanded my experiences and challenged my musical abilities. Having the opportunities to perform in a variety of settings has greatly boosted my confidence and helped ease any pre-performance nerves Each time I learn a new piece, it pushes me to grow and build an extensive repertoire. It’s deepening my passion for music and helping me develop as a musician. A standout moment was performing at the inaugural Scholar’s Concert at Chijmes Hall It was truly an unforgettable experience Being selected for this programme after the challenging audition process was another memorable milestone in my Tanglin Music journey.
My dream is to become a performer in West End productions, where I can pursue my passion for singing, dancing and acting on stage Before that, I plan to pursue a master's degree in musical theatre after completing my undergraduate studies. For now, I’m embracing every opportunity that comes my way at Tanglin until I graduate – Olivia M, Year 13, Voice
My first term as a Music Scholar has been incredibly enriching, filled with exciting opportunities to perform and grow as a musician. Highlights include playing chamber music at SOTA, performing a solo at CHIJMES, and connecting with audiences during the Spain Tour These experiences have strengthened my confidence and skills while deepening my love for music. I’ve particularly enjoyed collaborating with talented peers and learning from inspiring teachers Looking ahead, I’m excited for more opportunities to perform, take on new challenges, and continue growing as part of this vibrant musical community - Isabella E, Year 11, Violin & Piano
I am very honoured to be part of the first ever Music Scholar program, and it has been absolutely amazing so far. Being a music scholar gave me a lot of fantastic opportunities to perform in many different venues which I would definitely not have been able to if I wasn’t a scholar, for example the Scholars Concert in Chijmes I also got to meet a lot of other people that are just as passionate about music as I am through the scholars program, and I actually became good friends with some of them.
Taking part in different ensembles and performing with them is also a very good experience since I not only improved my personal skills through these ensembles, I also got better at playing with others. I am very excited for the next term as well, as I know there will be even more events where I can have the opportunity to perform - Trevor W, Year 10, Trombone
As a music scholar, I have been fortunate to have numerous performing opportunities, both formal and informal I have had the privilege of performing on prestigious stages, such as the Chijmes concert and the SOTA concert, as well as in more casual settings like the Centenary Evening and at the Tanglin Club As a violinist who enjoys performing in front of an audience, I have found these opportunities to be motivating and inspiring. Despite my growing academic studies, these monthly performances have encouraged me to continue improving as a musician -Tasuku E, Year 10, Violin
To view highlights, please click here
More information about the Music Scholars’ Programme and the application process are available via the school website. The closing date for applications for next academic year is 15 February 2025.
Music Around the World Ensembles Concert
This term’s Senior Ensembles ‘Music around the World’ Concert was held in the splendid setting of the SOTA Concert Hall in the week prior to half term, in front of a sell-out audience. The concert featured students from across both the Senior and Junior Schools and is a representation of the cross-phase nature of our ensembles which has been introduced in recent years; students are now placed in groups according to their ability rather than which year group they are in.
The Percussion Group got the evening to a lively and energetic start with a performance of Backroads of Medellin - a more ambitious and challenging piece that reflects this group’s increasing prowess and ability. The Senior Guitars played two short pieces representing Finland and China, which again demonstrated their ensemble skills before the Sinfonietta, made up of both Junior and Senior students performed the lively Alborada from Capriccio Espagnole - the first of several pieces to have a Spanish flavour. The Symphonic Wind Band, which has developed superbly over the past couple of years performed Celtic Air and Dance, which incorporates two very contrasting sections in terms of articulation, tempo and feel. The final ensemble of the first half was the Symphony Orchestra who performed the lyrical Slavonic Dance by Dvorak before a rousing rendition of Espana Cani
The Senior Choir, numbering almost 100 students from Yr 7-10 opened the second half with an upbeat arrangement of Vivir mi Vida, again continuing the Spanish feel, before entertaining the audience with a well-crafted version of Let’s Face the Music and Dance. The first Latin-American flavours were evident as the Yr 11-13 Choir sang the entertaining Tequila Samba, which was swiftly followed by Bob Chilcott’s uplifting arrangement of the spiritual Ev’ry time I Feel the Spirit. The expanded Chamber Orchestra brought us back to England with a soothing performance of Greensleeves, arranged by the British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, before we returned to Southern America with the upbeat Libertango, composed by the Argentinian Astor Piazolla. The Senior Chamber Choir, which, like the Senior Choir is made up of students in Yr 7-10, were next on stage with a piece which heralds from the continent of Africa, Sililiza which included interesting vocal sounds and close harmonies. The beautifully melodic Down by the Salley Gardens followed prior to the Big Band completing the concert in lively fashion with Fool me Once and African Flower The evening was brilliantly hosted by Rohan S and Isha S and the audience certainly went home with a spring in their step!
To view highlights, please click here.
House Singing
The Berrick Performance Hall was awash with excitement and colour during our 3rd Annual House Singing Competition, as students from Years 5-8 represented their Houses and competed for the coveted cup. We celebrated T100 by having each House perform a song from every decade Tanglin has been educating students, starting with a rousing rendition of It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) by 800 students, accompanied by a live jazz band.
Each House delivered their performances with excellent presentation and vocal skill as we journeyed through the decades, culminating in an emotional rendition of Coldplay's A Sky Full of Stars to represent the 2020s After much deliberation, the judges awarded first place to Winchester, who impressed with their upbeat and moving performance of the 1980s classic Africa. Previous champions Weyhill secured second place with their 1940s performance of Swing on a Star
‘Live at the Hive’ is a new bi-weekly concert organized and run by our Music Prefects and the Music Tech Society. Taking place every other Friday in the Hive Common Room, the event provides an exciting opportunity for Senior School students to perform pieces they are working on, either as a solo or in groups. Students from Years 7-13 have showcased a diverse range of music, from Mozart to the Arctic Monkeys This initiative has successfully created opportunities for student-led performances and has quickly become a popular lunchtime activity, drawing both students and staff to enjoy excellent live music every other Friday.
Live at the Hive
Founded in 2011 with just 5 to 6 students, the Tanglin Trust Big Band started as a “Little Big Band ” Over the past 13 years, it has grown into a dynamic and expansive Jazz Programme, now welcoming 60 students each week. The programme offers clear progression pathways, from beginner jazz players to those ready to study at top music conservatoires.
Our talented VMT (Visiting Music Teachers) bring extensive jazz experience, performing in some of Singapore's premier jazz ensembles Their expertise has been pivotal in the programme's growth, contributing to the formation of numerous smaller groups since the move to the new Music Hub in the Centenary Building. In 2024, our students performed at prestigious venues including Marina Bay Sands, SOTA, and were regularly invited to perform at high-profile events for the British High Commission at Eden Hall.
Looking ahead to 2025, the programme promises to be busier than ever Plans include workshops with brass superstars James Morrison and Adam Hall, and performances at the Botanic Gardens and Esplanade. We were also thrilled to welcome back alumni Lola Barber, one of the first students to join our Jazz Programme. Lola, now a full-time performer based in London, returned to perform with the band for Six the Musical a testament to the programme’s enduring impact on students’ musical careers
Now in its third year, the search to find Tanglin’s Musician of the Year is open to any instrumentalist or singer studying at TTS and performing at Grade 3+ standard, whether they have lessons in school or with an external tutor
There are 2 Classes, Intermediate for those approx. Grade 3-5 standard and Advanced for those at Grade 6 and above; and there are 6 Categories: Piano, Woodwind & Brass, Strings, Singing, Classical/Acoustic Guitar & Rock n Pop (Vocals, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums) .
Round One takes place online with students submitting a video of their performance using a Google Form
Round Two performances will take place in person with accompanist and judged by the Heads of Instrumental and Academic Music Staff in early March
Round Three – the Finalists’ Concerts will take place in the final week of next term (date tbc).
At the end of each Finalists’ Concert, the winner of each section will be named, together with an overall Intermediate and Advanced winner, as decided by an external adjudication panel.
More information can be found via the QR code or via In Touch
Tanglin Musician of the Year Returns
Spain Music Tour October 2024
As the rest of Tanglin Trust School began to relax after a long 9-week half term, 48 students from Yr 7 to Yr 13, and 5 staff gathered at Changi Airport to embark on a 9-day tour of Salamanca and Madrid in Spain Instruments, music and passports in hand, they boarded an Emirates flight with eager anticipation about what they were about to face – a mix of music-making, walking tours, museum & gallery visits, and a trip to the Bernabeu Stadium, not to mention the fantastic array of Spanish cuisine! Included in the group were an Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band & Jazz Band, Choir, as well as three chamber ensembles – Piano Trio, Cello Quartet, String Quartet, and one item that included the whole tour party
After a long journey they and their instruments arrived unscathed at their hotel in Salamanca just in time for an absolute feast. As the large bowls of pasta began to circulate, groans of disappointment were clearly audible; little did they know that this offering was in fact just the starter! Students were literally falling asleep at the tables, so an early night for all was most definitely on the menu.
The following morning had a relaxed feel with a ‘late’ breakfast followed by a long rehearsal in the hotel function room - a stark reminder that the first of the four concerts was that very evening! The first major challenge arrived early afternoon; to ensure that everything was packed ready for the evening concert – concert clothing (black shoes and socks, trousers/skirts and polo shirts), instruments, music folders, stands etc – whilst also being ready to undertake a guided walking tour of Salamanca in the afternoon. The second challenge was to follow-on as soon as we reached central Salamanca – how and where to buy and eat lunch within an hour. Most succeeded, some however took so long to decide where and what to eat that they were late for the next Rendez-vous - an important lesson had been learnt!
The tour party was then divided into two groups for a very thorough guided tour of Salamanca, exploring the history, and the architecture as well as hearing some more fun tales of life in the beautiful city. After being offered fascinating insight into this historical university city, it was time to return to our concert venue for a rehearsal and a run-through of the concert. With stands set up and chairs being laid out in preparation the rehearsal got underway; unbeknownst to the musicians was that whilst this was happening, quite a large crowd was gathering outside, hoping to hear this ‘much acclaimed’ school’s performance.
A quick change, during which a few forgotten polo shirts and mis-placed mouthpieces and/or music became evident, and it was time for the first performance - almost. A slight delay was needed as the audience continued to file in – in fact every audience chair had been claimed and sadly standing was not permitted. As we eventually got underway, crowds were still being turned away at the door and, by all accounts, quite a stampede followed! The concert was a roaring success, compered admirably by Renata D who is a fluent Spanish speaker The largest applause and shouts of ‘Bravo!’ were most definitely reserved for those pieces composed by Spanish composers – a deliberate ploy by the staff to endear ourselves to our Spanish audiences!
A quick pack-up and loading the support van preceded a much-needed sit down for dinner at a local restaurant. Lesson learnt from the previous evening meant that the pasta was welcomed as a pleasant entree! An 11.00pm return to the hotel signalled the end of a very long, but very successful first full day
The following morning was a return to central Salamanca and a climb of 198 steps up the bell tower of Ieronimus Cathedral for stunning panoramic views of the city. It also provided a good physical work-out and the odd acrophobia diagnosis from our acrophobic nurse! A swifter lunch break (aka for most a trip to McDonalds for most to savour the local Big Macs or Chicken Nuggets – apparently they do taste different), was followed by a visit to the Casa Lis Museum of Art Nouveau. Some of the exhibits - particularly the dolls - were somewhat disturbing, but the paintings, glasswork, sculptures and miniatures provided a fascinating insight into the Art Deco and Art Nouveau movements of the late 19 and early 20th centuries.
A short bus ride to the outlying town of Zamora soon followed in preparation for concert No 2 at the Teatro Ramos Carrion, complete with a large auditorium and stage Throughout the rehearsal, the message was clear, ‘yesterday’s concert was a great success, but today is a new venue with different challenges and a new audience. Levels of concentration and professionalism need to be maintained, if not improved, regardless of whether we have 5 or 500 in the audience’ Dinner at a local restaurant, followed by a chance to let off some steam prior to the concert and then it was time for the second performance. Over 100 locals came out in force for the 8.30pm concert and once again the Tanglin musicians performed admirably. The programme had been tweaked from the previous evening to ensure that concentration levels remained high. Another late return to the hotel heralded the end of another hugely busy but equally successful day.
Buoyed by a fantastic write-up of the previous evening’s concert in the local media, the final full day based in Salamanca involved a short trip to the nearby walled city of Avila, a UNESCO world heritage site for a walking tour. The guides were clearly very proud of the city and its history, particularly as the birthplace of the revered catholic saint, St Theresa of Avila. It was then time to move to the venue for the third concert, a beautifully converted church on the outskirts of the town. It turned out to be most people’s favourite venue with a beautiful background and generous acoustic lending itself particularly to choral and chamber music. Once again an audience of over 100 was captivated by the musical talents on display, with more shouts of ‘bravo’ regularly heard The end of the concert was a really proud and monumental moment for the tour party – it signified the end of three back-to-back concerts, all of which had been hugely successful and enthusiastically appreciated by the Spanish audiences. Each venue had had different challenges, but these had been overcome and the whole operation was becoming slicker each time It was now time to put our feet up and enjoy some muchneeded down-time.
After checking out of the hotel and reloading the coach with suitcases and instruments, a surprisingly stress-free experience, the party headed for Madrid, stopping off en route in the beautiful city of Segovia which is famous for three major landmarks: its midtown Roman aqueduct featuring over 160 arches, its cathedral, and the medieval castle, which allegedly served as one of the templates for Walt Disney's Cinderella Castle. Plenty of time was also allotted for lunch and the purchase of souvenirs (and sweet treats!) An early evening arrival in Madrid, coupled with an early dinner, ‘downtime’ (mostly spent on the adjoining basketball courts) and most importantly, no concert, were much appreciated by the touring party.
The next day – for many the day they were most looking to – began with a tour of the Bernabeu Stadium, home to the mighty Real Madrid Football Club The trophy cabinet was vast and featuring a timeline of the many successes that the team have achieved over the years. However it soon became apparent that there was not one trophy cabinet, or two or even three; every competition that Real Madrid have competed in, Spanish Leagues, Spanish Cups, European Leagues, European Cups, World Club Championships etc etc had its own trophy cabinet. Not to mention separate cabinets then for Ballon D’Or or Golden Boot winners. The recently-opened museum was as impressive as the trophies themselves but the highlight was stepping out into the empty 81,000-seater stadium. It really was a sight to behold and left a lasting impression on the entire party, whether or not they previously had an interest in football, or, as we were to later learn, basketball. The Club Shop really was the size of a small department store, and some members of the group bought themselves a highly-prized (‘priced’) football shirt as a memento of their visit.
After catching breath, it was a short bus ride into central Madrid and a chance to grab a bite to eat (again McDonalds seemed the most popular option much to the chagrin of the staff!) A guided walking tour of Madrid followed that afternoon taking in the Royal Palace, the Plaza Mayor and the streets leading through to the Puerta del Sol before passing the Bank of Spain (made famous by the first series of the TV show Money Heist) en route to the National Prado Museum. The Prado's walls are lined with over 8600 masterpieces from the Spanish, Italian and Flemish schools, including work by Velázquez, Goya and Picasso. After letting off steam in the beautifully autumnal Retiro Park, dinner that evening was at a fabulous Mexico restaurant with tacos and nachos aplenty.
The final full day in Spain – and the final Concert Day – began with a visit to the IKONO immersive and interactive museum featuring a variety of installations such as a huge ball pit (Public Service Announcement – do not take your mobile phone into the ball pit with you!), a ‘black light jungle’ and a ‘bamboo forest’. The final opportunity to choose some Spanish cuisine - again mostly from the golden archesfollowed before an amazing backstage tour of the Teatro Real – Madrid’s Opera House. This included a visit to the Royal Box, the orchestral rehearsal rooms, as well as the costumes, wigs and make-up workshops. It really provided a fascinating insight into the daily workings of one of Europe’s most important opera houses.
The evening concert, which was part of a larger music festival, was on the outskirts of Madrid, in Parla Whilst the backstage area and acoustics on-stage proved really challenging, the experience in the auditorium was altogether more pleasing and the audience of over 200 once again reveled in the quality music offered by the ensembles. At one point it seemed that a second encore would be required, though the decision to bid a hasty retreat prevented any awkwardness! It was a fantastic way to round off the performances and the audience once again were very vocal in their appreciation. Dinner after the concert that evening was at a superb local steak restaurant
The hotel check-out, airport check-in and subsequent journey back to Singapore passed relatively smoothly, with the opportunity for some well-deserved rest being taken by some, whilst others preferred to catch up on the movies.
It was an absolutely superb tour, unlike anything offered previously offered at Tanglin. Two questions remain unanswered:
1. How can you remember to bring your music folder, music stand, polo shirt, black shoes and socks to a concert but leave your trousers at the hotel?
2. Where shall we go next, and when?
Huge thanks to all the students who were brilliant company and performed so superbly throughout the 9 days, and to all the staff who accompanied the students It was an amazing time, and many lifelong memories will have been made!
What the students had to say:
Betty Z: The Spain trip is my most memorable experience of the year 2024 Playing in front of unfamiliar audiences who come solely for the sake of appreciating us and our music was immensely rewarding Moreover, I just had great fun and learned a lot from this trip. I don’t think there was a single day where I didn’t see a good view or had a bad meal!
Charlotte T: The Tanglin Spain music tour will forever remain to me, as an extraordinary, and memorable journey. Our concerts were extremely successful, as it was enjoyable for both the audience, and the performers Apart from concerts, we also had the opportunity to visit wonderful churches, beautiful castles, museums, and we got to see ‘behind the scenes’ of the Teatro Real Opera House. I also loved the free time that we had, which allowed us to explore some of the villages we visited in Madrid and Salamanca, including the food, and the cultural differences compared to Singapore One of my favourite memories was that everywhere we went, we would carry a volleyball, and we could play in the parks, pathways, and hotels we stayed in. I’m extremely grateful to have gone on this trip, and it is a memory I will never forget.
Freddie P: While the seemingly endless number of beautiful concert venues, stunning Spanish churches, art galleries and amazing Roman architecture is one of the most lasting memories from the tour to Spain, I will always remember the wonderful and talented people that I had the pleasure to share this incredible experience with. The camaraderie we developed not only as one might on any school trip, but also from playing together in the many performances, brought about countless happy memories, from keeping half the bus awake in the evenings after concerts by playing Uno very loudly with the other half of the bus, to everyone subconsciously forgetting we were in Spain and ordering pizza as a more "local" alternative to going to McDonalds. While it is somewhat of a cliché, it is so for a very good reason, and I am truly certain that we'll all carry the fond memories we made in Spain with us for a long time
INFANTMUSIC
We have also continued to develop our CCA programme with Infant choir as an afterschool activity which has been a real success The percussion and strings groups have continued to thrive and develop with both in-house and external tutors working together to ensure the standards and enjoyment of music are high and fun.
This term in Infant music we have been focusing on singing. We have introduced singing hats in Years 1 and 2 with four children in each choral being awarded a blue hat to wear for a week in the playground to celebrate their great singing at breaktime.
Our Year 2 music student leaders visited St John’s Nursing Home with the Year 5 philanthropists which was a lovely and rewarding trip for all, sharing our love of singing with the residents.
We are delighted to have welcomed a new member to the Infant Music Team, Miss Angelyn. All our infants staff have taken part in online Taiko Drumming training together, both during the CPD day, and as a weekly online session with an Australian expert, Simon Vanyai.
Delphine Hastwell Head of Infant Music
JUNIORMUSIC
IIt has been an exceptionally busy and exciting term in Junior Music We were delighted to welcome Annmarie Murray to the team. She brings a wealth of experience as a musician, music therapist and teacher. In addition to opportunities for each of our ensembles to perform at events both in and out of school this term, our curriculum music lessons have inspired the students from Year 3 to Year 6.
The Year 3s, 5s and 6s have developed their skills as composers. Year 3 had fun creating their own Viking compositions using a range of classroom percussion instruments. The Year 5s have refined their Garageband skills as they created Space movie soundtracks in our Mac Suites. These demonstrated their ability to manipulate loops as well as their understanding of how musical elements reflect different emotions Year 6 composed atmospheric and dramatic pieces which depicted War, linked to their topic on World War 2. Performance was the theme for Year 4 as they rehearsed with energy and enthusiasm for their outstanding show “What a Wonderful World”, which featured class performances with singing, dancing, samba, djembe and taiko drums as well as our beautiful gamelan orchestra.
The festive season was a wonderful opportunity for our choirs to share their music with the community. The Year 5/6 Choir and Chamber Choir were delighted to perform at Fusionopolis. They were honoured to meet Member of Parliament, Ms Rachel Ong who greeted them warmly at X One Community Fiesta 2024" event The entire Junior School ve Assembly in the final week of term This joyous occasion nd performances from several of our ensembles, in addition to he opportunity to sing a festive song for the children, a truly
Fiona Knight Lucas Head of Junior Music
SENIORMUSIC
In addition to the many high-profile concerts and events this term, Senior students have been as busy as ever in the Music department, taking advantage of all the fantastic opportunities available to them. They have done some exceptional performances for school events such as “Drawing By The Bus Bay”, as well as providing music for some prestigious events inside and outside of school. Of particular note are the Jazz Band’s performance at the EduTech Asia conference at MBS (which included former President Halimah Yacob in the audience), the Music Scholars’ performances at the Tanglin Club in front of British High Commissioner Nikesh Mehta, and the Chamber Choir’s carol singing at the Hilton Hotel and British Club Ball Then there are all the performances at formal and informal concerts, Centenary events, open mornings, the Christmas Fair – the list goes on and on.
The willingness of our students to volunteer their time and talent is always impressive Students have also attended professional concerts by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and been treated to a trip to see the outstanding musical Six, which featured one of our alumni. We were then delighted to welcome some of the Six Band to perform and jam with some of our Senior students - an unforgettable experience!
wish you and the entire Tanglin Community a restful holiday and an even more exciting 2025!
Helen Owain Head of Senior Music
We
AROUNDTHESECTIONS
Celine Tan - Head of Piano
This term's Piano Concert, which took place in Week 13, featured 45 pianists across our 4 Piano CCAs, namely the Infant, Junior and Senior Piano Groups as well as the newly formed Junior Piano Club. Due to the growing demands to cater to our young pianists who were playing at levels between Grades 2-4, we started the Junior Piano Club and it has been a real delight seeing our Junior Pianists from Years 3-6 turning up in full force every Tuesday morning for coaching!
The Piano Concert started with one of the most famous yet challenging 2-piano works: Mozart's Piano Sonata in D major for 2 pianos, K.448 performed by 6 of our Senior Pianists. It was followed by pieces that featured a mix of the piano ensemble genre – the Fur Elise Duet variations, 8 movements of Arensky’s entire Kindersuite on 2 pianos and for the very first time we introduced an 8-hands, 1-piano piece titled Les Noces d’Argent composed by Cecile Chaminade. Such a squeeze to rehearse this piece each week but there were definitely plenty of laughs and good fun! The concert closed with 2 Christmassy pieces to herald the festive season – Carol of the Bells Duet Fantasy and a medley of selections from the classic Nutcracker Suite.
The Infant Piano Group also kickstarted the PTA Christmas Fair with our rendition of Jingle Bells and 9 other Junior and Senior pairs entertained the crowd with duet arrangements of Christmas songs in the later part of the day.
Well done to some of our Pianists who have participated in external music competitions – Tara V (Year 2), Kaira V (Year 4), Chelsea X (Year 6) and Austen Z (Year 7, Music Scholar). Congratulations and we look forward to watching you and many more pianists in our very own Musician of the Year coming up in Term 2!
Tzy Ren Chu - Head of Strings
As part of our growing provision for Chamber Music, our enhanced provision for our scholars and, of course, in preparation for the Spain Music Tour, this term has seen the creation of a few additional string chamber ensembles.
Chancery Quartet: Retaining the existing name of the group but with a different line-up, the quartet prepared the rhythmically demanding piece Spain by Chick Corea in preparation for the tour Much in demand, they also performed at the Solo and Formal Recital in November and at the Tanglin Club a few days later for the Tanglin Tales Book Launch.
Wilshire Piano Quartet: Again this group has retained its existing name, albeit with a slight reshuffle to become a piano quartet, which include 3 of our scholars. Their performances of Dvorak’s The Bagatelles, Op.47 at the Formal Solo and Chamber Concert and at the Tanglin Club were superb.
Toledo Piano Trio: Comprising three of our Music Scholars, Betty, Isabella and Charlotte, this group performed Danse Orientale, written by the Spanish composer Thomas Breton. The music requires a high level of technical virtuosity as well as intricate ensemble skills
Jams String Quartet: This Quartet’s members are less advanced compared to the other chamber ensembles, however they have already demonstrated plenty of potential. They performed an arrangement of Highland Cathedral at both the Solo and Chamber Concert and the Tanglin Tales event Cantabria Cello Ensemble: Originally known as the “Spain Cello Ensemble”, this group had its name changed after the Spain trip! During the tour they alternated pieces between Brahms’ lively Hungarian Dance No. 5 and Piazolla’s Oblivion, and, since their return have performed a beautiful arrangement of the popular Chinese song The Moon Represents My Heart.
We are delighted that the students have been so determined and willing to continue playing together, even after the tour and we are all looking forward to tackling more varied and challenging repertoire over the coming months.
David Lyndon Smith - Head of Wind & Brass
Exciting times are ahead for the Wind and Brass Department at Tanglin Trust School! We are thrilled to announce that our band co-curricular activities (CCAs) have flourished this term, with successful performances from our three vibrant wind bands: the Junior Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Wind Band. As our standards continue to rise, we prepare for a spectacular joint performance at the Esplanade's Centenary Concert in April, showcasing the remarkable talent of our students.
In addition to our established bands, following a Year 5 wind and brass programme where all students in the year group received 8 weeks of tuition on the various instruments, we are excited to welcome new brass and wind students who will form our beginner ensemble, affectionately named the Gemini Band, starting next term. This initiative not only nurtures the next generation of musicians but also strengthens our band community's musical foundation.
Mark your calendars for February, as we eagerly anticipate the return of the renowned Desford Colliery Band, featuring the legendary Australian Jazz trumpeter James Morrison Our wind and brass students have been invited to participate in a Community Wind and Brass Day, where they will collaborate with peers from other schools, forming a giant ensemble that promises to be a memorable experience.
Please use this link here for the various ticket options. Tanglin Trust students should contact the Music Department for further information
Furthermore, we are delighted to extend an invitation to all for a gala concert featuring James Morrison and the Desford Colliery Band at the Victoria Concert Hall on February 6th. Please use the link to purchase tickets to this amazing concert.
Brass and wind is truly alive and kicking at Tanglin Trust School, and we look forward to sharing these wonderful musical moments with you all!
JWe’ve had a busy term and are very proud of everyone who has contributed to the singing landscape of Tanglin. From our annual singing events like the House Singing Competition at school, our Ensembles Concert at SOTA Concert Hall and Christmas performance St George’s, to incredible opportunities like singing in beautiful churches and concert halls in Spain during the tour, there’s been a plethora of singing opportunities and exposure.
An exciting singing event coming up next term is the performance of Guys n Dolls, a Frank Loesser classic that is widely considered to be one of the greatest Broadway musicals. The music department supports our singers with private coaching sessions for the lead roles and have worked with no less than seven of the main leads throughout the term in preparation for this performance.
The biggest event in 2025 will undoubtedly be our highly anticipated Centenary Concert. Tanglin is proud to have commissioned highly acclaimed British composer Jonathan Dove, (with words by Alasdair Middleton) who has written for us A Bridge Across the Sea, a dramatic Cantata for Soloists, Children’s Chorus, Chorus, and Orchestra that will be performed by our singers and musicians from Tanglin, as well as supported by friends and guest performers. It is a monumental work that proposes an incredible challenge, but one we are extremely enthused and excited to be working on. We are looking forward to what promises to be an epic premiere on 23 April 2025 at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
Guys
In the 1920’s Damon Runyon sat in Lindy’s restaurant, located at 1626 Broadway and started writing about the characters he overheard, using the slang and idioms of the time In 1950, Guys & Dolls premiered on Broadway and ran for 1,200 performances It won the Tony Award for Best Musical that year. Since then, the musical has been revived oodles of times and won an abundance of awards.
Guys & Dolls is set in New York, with a group of gamblers looking for a place to hold their crap game. The show circles around a central love story between Sky Masterson, a high stakes gambler and Sarah Brown, a sergeant of the local Salvation Army Mission. With music and lyrics written by Frank Loesser, the songs are classics: joyful and character driven. We present the Tanglin interpretation of Guys & Dollswe hope you love it as much as we do!
Tickets for this amazing event are available here or via the QR below.
Looking Forward to the Next Term
Correct at time of publication
& Dolls at The Berrick Performance Hall
Centenary Concert at Esplanade Concert Hall
A sense of real excitement and anticipation is beginning to permeate Tanglin, as preparations begin in earnest for the Centenary Concert which will take place in the stunning Esplanade Concert Hall on 23 April 2025. Featuring in the region of 300 children, the first half of the concert will include many of our other larger ensembles, combining in specially-arranged music to celebrate the theme of ‘journeying’
The highlight however will be the world premiere of a specially commissioned choral work written by the renowned British composer, Jonathan Dove entitled A Bridge Across the Sea. The performance will include Tanglin choirs and instrumentalists, alongside professional musicians from Resound Collective and the Raffles Singers.
Who is Jonathan Dove?
Jonathan Dove’s music has filled opera houses with delighted audiences of all ages on five continents. He is one of the most performed living opera composers and few, if any, contemporary composers have so successfully or consistently explored the potential of opera to communicate, to create wonder and to enrich people’s lives.
Born in 1959 to architect parents, Jonathan’s early musical experience came from playing the piano, organ and viola. Later he studied composition with Robin Holloway at Cambridge and, after graduation, worked as a freelance accompanist, repetiteur, animateur and arranger. His early professional experience gave him a deep understanding of singers, with opera and the voice being central priorities in his output throughout his subsequent career Jonathan’s innate understanding of the individual voice is exemplified in his large and varied choral and song output, and his confident optimism has made him the natural choice as the composer for big occasions! In 2010 A Song of Joys for chorus and orchestra opened the festivities at the Last Night of the Proms, and in 2016 an expanded version of Our Revels Now Are Ended premiered at the same occasion. Throughout his career Jonathan has made a serious commitment to community development through innovative musical projects 2015 brought the World Premiere of The Monster in the Maze, a community opera commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Berliner Philharmoniker and Festival d’Aix-enProvence, performed under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in three separate translations and productions. The Monster in the Maze has since been performed around the world, translated further into Taiwanese/Chinese, Portuguese, Swedish and Catalan, and received a BASCA British Composer Award in 2016’s ‘Amateur and Young Performers’ category
Jonathan Dove was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's 2019 Birthday Honours for services to music. His music is published by Edition Peters.
What is the commission about? An explanation from the composer…
A Bridge Across the Sea tells a story from the Ramayana, one of ancient India’s great epics, alongside the Mahabharata. After Sita marries Rām (avatar of Vishnu and future king), she is abducted by the demon Rāvan and carried off to Lankā. Hanuman (monkey commander of the monkey army) learns where Sita is imprisoned, and makes a giant leap across the ocean to find her. But only Ram can rescue her. How can Ram and his forces cross the sea? The ocean king arises from the waves. He promises that if the monkeys build a bridge, he will hold it up Under Hanuman’s command, the monkeys rip trees, hoist boulders and break off mountain peaks to build the bridge, forming into battalions to complete the task. On the fifth day, they lay the final stone. With Rama riding on Hanuman’s back, the monkeys accompany the army across the bridge in a joyful procession to rescue Sita.
This ancient story, from 5th century BC or earlier, has been endlessly retold, with Indonesian, Burmese, Tibeto-Chinese and Malay versions among others. It was chosen both to reflect Singapore’s diversity and speak to a wider audience beyond Sita and Ram provide good roles for soprano and tenor soloists, the dramatic events are narrated by the adult chorus, and the children’s chorus embody the armies of monkeys, supported by the colourful sounds of the symphony orchestra. The joyful procession, with Rama and Sita singing to each other across the distance, makes a rousing finale. The dramatic cantata is intended to be exciting for all the performers, without in any way disrespecting the sacred aspect of the story It feels universal, yet resonant in Singapore The culminating image, reaching out across the ocean in a grand communal, collaborative endeavour, feels just right for Tanglin’s centenary celebrations, reflecting the cultural diversity of the school’s community, its sense of purpose, its striving to send out the best into the wider world.
Tickets for this amazing event are available here or via the QR below.
