Alumni
#e2e43d
Network
#3fbdad
[Our Legacy, Our Future]

Here at SNYCO, we firmly believe in the importance of staying closely connected with our alumni, both now and into the future. The SNYCO Alumni Collective aims to foster the network and community built in the orchestra over the years. We will take on projects and initiatives which involve members of the SNYCO Alumni Collective – not only to give back to the community, but also to facilitate musical and personal
growth.

Members of the SNYCO Alumni Collective will be invited to participate in SNYCO concerts and activities without the need for audition or other admission processes. In such cases, the alumnus’s participation will be based on an ad-hoc or project basis (and will be communicated to him/her in writing).

Alumni avenues of participation include (but are not limited to):

  1. Annual concert performed by mainly alumni
  2. SNYCO Concerts
  3. Overseas Concert Tours
  4. External Engagements
  5. Behind-the-scenes opportunities

SNYCO alumni members can look forward to receiving Silver Friends of SCO status, and be eligible for 15% discounts on SCO/SNYCO concert tickets along with exclusive first-hand news to SNYCO and SCO activities.

Gao Mei Gui

(Percussion, member of 2006)

SNYCO taught me about teamwork and perseverance, it’s really a big family to me, though we come from different backgrounds and schools. To make good music, it’s really important that we work well within the section, as well as with the other sections. Teamwork is certainly key for us to start together, play together and end the music together! Into the working world, what can I say, teamwork is everything! Especially in doing a radio program, in hosting an onground show, it’s always team effort.

I have also had privileged opportunities to sing with an orchestra. I remember how I always sing the notes to the music, while counting bars to my percussion part. Radio revolves very much around music and I still love to sing too. I think the continuous exposure to music then kept my interest going.

Scroll for more

wang-chenwei
Wang Chenwei

(Ruan, member of 2004)

“Wow, the first combined rehearsal sounds like it could be a performance already!”


That was my impression of the first-ever SNYCO combined rehearsal in 2004, where I was one of the founding members, playing the Daruan. As a secondary 4 student, it was a magical experience to be part of such a refined sound.

 

Each instrumental section had practised its parts for weeks before coming together as an orchestra. I learnt to distinguish “practice” and “rehearsal” – practice is aimed at fine-tuning one’s own part, while rehearsal is aimed at coordinating different parts. Years of observing the process of practice and rehearsal expanded my understanding of how instruments work individually, and in combination.


At the time of joining SNYCO, I already had a stronger interest in advancing as a composer than as an instrumentalist. I believed that to become a better composer, I should know what it is like “on the ground” from the perspectives of different instruments. Therefore, I consciously sought to broaden my experience in this regard. In my five years at SNYCO, I played the Daruan, Sanxian, Zhongyin-Sheng, Cello and Zhonghu. In some years, I even auditioned for two instruments.


Behind every instrument is a human player. When composing, I consider not only the capabilities of the instrument, but also how it feels like to be the musician playing what I am writing. I often think back to my SNYCO days – for every instrument I played, what were the things that evoked my interest? What bored me? What was challenging but kept me motivated to practise? My experiences at SNYCO shaped my musician-centric approach to composition.


I am delighted to see SNYCO grow from strength to strength, nurturing generations of young musicians. SNYCO has been an important part of my growth as a composer specialising in the Chinese orchestra, and I am honoured to continue contributing to that family with my new appointment as Composer-in-Residence of SCO!

Scroll for more

Wo Kheng Pak Kevin

(Erhu, member of 2013 – 2018)

Joining SNYCO was one of the best decisions I’ve made as it provided me with a family outside of home, who all share the same passion for music. Not only are the practices fun and enjoyable, many overseas opportunities are provided to broaden the members’ horizons.

Likie Low

(Erhu, member of 2013 – 2019)

“SNYCO shaped who I am as a musician, I will never stop being grateful for the amount of opportunities and life lessons given to me. SNYCO is the reason I saw the beauty in music and wanted to spend the rest of my life writing music. I am eternally grateful, I want to and will always find a way to give back to this orchestra.”

Kua Hui Lin

(Pipa, member of 2011 – 2016)

Starting from age of 11, I grew up in SNYCO. All the performing and overseas opportunities that SNYCO gives every member regardless of age is tremendous and helped in grooming us to who we are today. No matter your age or race, music is the universal language for everyone.

Chew Lixian

(Sheng, member of 2010 – 2013, 2017 – 2019)

The exposure, the orchestral and instrumental trainings, and the opportunities to perform and share my passion for music with like-minded friends.. it has indeed been a life-changing experience with SNYCO!

eunice-koh
Eunice Koh Kai'En

(Cello, member of 2007)

“My time in SNYCO has helped me to discover that I wanted to pursue music education, to become a better cellist and a competent orchestra & chamber musician. Subsequently, I managed to enter Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and spent 5 years of music education there, obtaining my Diploma and Bachelor of Music with honours. Till today, I am grateful for SNYCO, the first orchestra that I have joined and inspired me to continue pursuing my career in music. I am currently pursuing my Master of Music in the United States.”

ayden-sng
Ayden Sng

(Erhu, member of 2008)

SNYCO got me exposed to the best and brightest youth musicians of my time – people who went on to win in the National Chinese Music Competition, setting up their own ensembles and some who even made it into SCO. Back then, with these peers setting the bar so high, I was really inspired to work hard to catch up with them.


Looking back, the mental training I received from pursuing music has really helped me in other aspects of my life. The process of improving ourselves musically requires us to function like surgeons, practising with precision and hard work, confronting problems with the right insights and discipline. Music also teaches us to be content with the journey rather than the outcome, since there will always be people who are better than us. It has taught me to be comfortable with simply pursuing excellence – making improvements step by step, being at ease with growth and not obsessing about the endpoint.


I’m currently a Mediacorp artiste.

Scroll for more

Search This Site