BECOMING

The SYC Ensemble Singers is 40. From combined schools choir to becoming Singapore’s most awarded and well-travelled choir, our history includes a fair share of prizes (and near-misses) and favourable reviews (la fuerza da Singapur!) - all the accoutrements any self-respecting choir should have.

The ‘firsts’ are familiar to those who know us – first choir to travel, first choir to win at not-just-any international competition but THE Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, first arts group to be given the Excellence for Singapore Award, first choir to sing with tape … and the list goes on, like the ticker tape at the bottom of our television screens.

As the years went by, it became more difficult to out-do ourselves. Where to next, after conquering our own Everests? There had to be more to being a choir than a mess of trophies.

So we became fired by a vision of how music could be and fueled by a hunger to make that real. (Or at the very least, to ask the right questions.) Never mind that perhaps no-one – including ourselves – was really ready for the weight and import of our quest; we set out to … well, to infinity and beyond. In way over our heads at first, making things up as we went along, we are finally coming into our own.

We are still adding ‘firsts’ to our list (old habits die hard) - not for the sake of being first, but because this is a necessary condition of our being, part and parcel of SYC, The Explorers (we envision ourselves to be). And in doing so, we remain …

…. Fiercely dedicated to the work of living composers – we have a strong commissioning programme and are privileged to premiere eight 40th anniversary works this year.

…. To breaking the fourth wall and engaging the audience, exploring theatre and staging.

…. To pushing the envelope – using extended vocal technique, performing ‘choralographic’ music – we don’t just stand there and sing.

With all these demands, the ideal SYChorister is not born but made. Taking in stout-hearted and single-minded choristers, we are fashioning a choir of soloists – vocal magicians and theatricians. ENSEMBLE SINGERS are what we call ourselves.
It is with a sigh of relief we launch the new name (and new look), to signify and celebrate our 40-year journey. Finally the shoes fit, and comfortably enough to see us through another 4 decades.

We are still making things up as we go along. Rest assured, we are in good company with Monteverdi, Bach, Wagner, Elgar, Kodaly, Cage and every single contemporary composer in here and out there. Perhaps this is what music can be – playful and definitely, provocative.

It’s been fun growing up. We can’t wait to see what the golden years hold. It should be interesting. Stay tuned.

Jennifer Tham
Music Director/Conductor