The SMU Chamber Choir (SMUCC) turns ten this year! Fresh from the club’s wins at the University Student Life Awards recently, the choral group marked the milestone with the largest concert in its history. The 10th anniversary concert was part of the annual “Wrinkles in the Air” concert series, which started in 2008, and what better way to celebrate the occasion than having SMU alumni choristers to be part of the special performance!
“This is the largest production the SMUCC has ever done and it has certainly provided new learning experiences for all of us in terms of the organisation and planning of the event,” said Tan Siew En Hannah, current Vice-President of the SMUCC.
[The students put much effort into the planning and organisation of the 10th anniversary concert, including producing a bright and colourful programme booklet.]
Indeed the celebratory event not only included the participation of 23 SMU alumni but also that of over 30 members of the Singapore Youth Choir Ensemble Singers.
On May 15 at the Victoria Concert Hall, ‘Wrinkles in the Air IX: Everybody Sing’ - the result of an impressive combined effort of 90 singers was music to everyone’s ears. The choir enthralled the audience with an ethereal yet lively performance.
[Photo 1: Dozens of SMU alumni returned to sing with the choir for the special concert, together with the SYC Ensemble Singers. Photo 2: SMU President Prof Arnoud De Meyer, Associate Dean of Students Dr Bervyn Lee, Office of Student Life staff and other students were among those who were thoroughly entertained in the audience.]
Masterfully helmed by Cultural Medallion winner Ms Jennifer Tham, who is Artistic Director and Conductor of the SYC Ensemble Singers Singapore, the combined choir was able to deliver a rather diverse repertoire which includes Overture by Swedish composer Emil Råberg (which he penned to create a homage to singing, and included a wordless part to let the music ’speak for itself’.), Ivo Antognini’s ‘Life is a Circle’ based on a text by one of the most influential Native American leaders of the twentieth century; Black Elk of the Oglala Sioux, and the beautiful finale, “Bunga Sayang”, a theme song from renowned Singapore composer Dick Lee's musical "Kampung Amber".
[Cultural Medallion winner Ms Jennifer Tham(third from right in Photo 2), the SMU Chamber Choir's resident conductor since the beginning has helped the choral group grow from strength to strength.]
Ms Tham has been guiding the SMUCC since its infancy. Under her musical direction, the SMUCC has grown in strength and confidence and has become one of the most prestigious arts clubs in SMU.
Since its inception in 2007, the SMU Chamber Choir has been making waves locally and earned international accolades, doing the university proud. The SMUCC regularly tours abroad and competes in international music festivals, and has consistently done well to advance in its journey towards music excellence with its young and vibrant group of passionate music-makers.
Hitting all the right notes, the choir outperformed itself last year by winning two Gold awards in the Sacred and Folk Music categories at the 7th International Youth Music Festival in Bratislava, Slovakia.
[Featured photo: SMU Chamber Choir's celebratory event “Wrinkles in the Air IX – Everybody Sing” featured 90 singers - the largest number of choristers in the annual concert series.]