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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.
Singapore International Band Festival
Outreach Programme at Sentosa, Cool Deck
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
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