CCA Previews ‘25: Chinese Orchestra

Reading Time: 6 minutes

By Valerie Lim (Winds Section Leader), He Tingli (Quartermaster) and Lin Jiarui (Chairperson)

SOTA concert pictures courtesy of Aklen Chua and Ryan Poh, Raffles Photographic Society

The balmy embrace of Mongolian grasslands welcomes you. A fresh summer breeze lingers – at times a silk-lined glove, at times a chorus of frightful passion. You turn as Mongols race across wind-swept hills on horseback.

At the next moment, the landscape fades into the celestial tranquillity of the Tibetan dawn, accompanied by a soft, quiet snow. At last, the first golden rays peek out behind jagged peaks; the sky bursts into a flaming palette of colours, as you bask in all its warmth and glory.

Welcome to a realm inaccessible to language; a realm where words fail, and music speaks.

This is the essence of Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra (Y5-6), or RICO (Y5-6). Fueled by a burning passion for music, we put in our all every year to perform a plethora of pieces ranging from classic Chinese Orchestra compositions like The Seven Colours of Harmony (七彩之和) to the latest trending tunes like the Driftveil City Theme from Pokémon Black & White (yes that’s right, the one from the Toothless dancing meme). At the very heart of our playing lies the five sections that make up the soul of our Orchestra: Winds (吹管), Percussion (打击), Plucked Strings (弹拨), Bowed Strings (胡琴) and Cellobass (低音). These smaller instrumental sections function like subunits of the larger family, complementing each other subtly in every piece.

Of course, none of this could be achieved by our students alone. We owe our unbroken Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Distinction streak to the guidance of our beloved conductor, Mr. Yang Jiwei, as well as the unending patience of our dedicated instructors. Having graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, Mr Yang is not only a true maestro of the Sheng, but also an avid promoter of Chinese music and culture in Singapore. Aside from RICO (Y5-6), he also conducts the Raffles Girls’ Chinese Orchestra (RGCO) and RICO (Y1-4) among many other schools. No session is ever drab with Mr Yang around: his vibrant enthusiasm and unparalleled sense of humour are sure to bring life to every rehearsal!

One of our favourite pictures of Mr Yang!

Key Events

2024 has been a most fulfilling year for RICO. This year, our members’ continued efforts culminated in 彩虹：Concord of Colours, a two-hour grand concert at the School of the Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall.

Concord of Colours, 2024 @ SOTA.

The concert showcased the unique sounds of Chinese Orchestra (have you ever heard instruments mimic Mongolian Throat Singing?) while giving each section their fifteen minutes of fame through ensemble pieces featuring one to three sections instead of a full orchestra. Two of our members, Branson Tan (24S06M) and Ng Zi Xuan (24S03K), also got their time to shine as soloists in a suona and dizi concerto, Snow Mountain (雪山). We even got to play a Ghibli Medley, arranged by one of our Alumni Tai Lixuan, and Chinese pop song Big Fish (大鱼) from 2014 movie Big Fish and Begonia, arranged by one of our own members Kaelen Yap (24S03B)! (To get a full experience of what our concert was like, check out our YouTube channel here.) All in all, the concert was an enriching experience for our members, and the orchestra is already eagerly awaiting the next time RICO takes to the stage.

Such full-scale concerts usually occur every two years, alternating with the biennial SYF Arts Presentation. Moreover, RICO also regularly performs in school events like Open House and the yearly Chinese New Year celebrations. It is here where we explore other styles of music (such as jazz) or the inclusion of instruments not in the traditional Chinese Orchestra (like a bass guitar). Sometimes we even collaborate with other CCAs such as the Chinese Literacy Drama Cultural Society (CLDCS) for our performances!

CNY Performance 2024 featuring RICO and CLDCS!

The CO Experience

Behind the dazzling melodies on stage lies the hard work of the CO members. RICO’s regular schedule entails CCA sessions twice a week, on Mondays and Tuesdays. Monday practice time from 5.30pm to 8.00pm is utilised for sectional practice, where the orchestra splits into our instruments to practise individual parts.

At this, you might start worrying: what if my part is too hard for me? What if I can’t keep up with the rest of my sectionmates? Fret not. Sectionals are not just a time for you to build up your basics, but also a chance for you to bond with your section mates over common struggles. With the help of your trusty section seniors, you will be able to overcome these struggles in time. Our instructors, with years under their belt of teaching students from beginners to experienced players, will also ensure not a single member is ever left behind. As long as you are willing to stick with us, RICO will always do our best to support your Chinese Orchestra journey.

Tuesday combined practice (dazu) gathers the orchestra in the ‘RICO room’ from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, where the pieces come together under our conductor’s lead. This is when sectional practice really pays off. Words can never be enough to describe the catharsis when you finally get the part that has troubled you for weeks right, nor can they convey that anticipation for when combined practice finally moves on to the part where your instrument gets to do something really cool (alternatively, the cold sweat coating your palms because you are still insecure, but hey!).

For members who want to further their learning, there are multiple avenues outside of school where RICO members explore Chinese music or orchestral playing further. One example of this is the Raffles Alumni Chinese Orchestra (RACO) where students from RGCO, RICO (Y1-4) and RICO (Y5-6) are often encouraged to join for yearly concerts on top of CCA. Other than that, students can also work towards the Chinese Instrumental Music Grading Examinations to earn certifications as a testament to the effort they put into learning.

Of course, RICO believes in both working hard and playing hard! After CCA on Tuesdays, we cast away our worries on the rooftop of Junction 8 to enjoy dinner together.

Weekly CCA Dinner at Junction 8!

CCA bonds and takeaways / Member Prerequisites

At this point, you might be still deliberating on whether to join us – but fret not! Based on our (very accurate) observations, here are a few guiding points:

Are you someone who genuinely enjoys making music, playing around with instruments or even tinkering with rhythms? Do you relish the feel of performing together with friends and shaping melodies as one? Are you a big fan of Chinese music and culture?

Or, would you simply love to try out something new and interesting for a change?

If you answered ‘YES’ to any one of those questions, then Chinese Orchestra is for you!

Although prior experience in music can be helpful, it is definitely not a requirement. In fact, a good share of our most skillful players entered the CCA with a blank slate! At the end of the day, passion and attitude are what matter the most. In fact, Chinese Orchestra is not about how talented you are or how many certifications you have; like a big family of musicians, we work together to perfect our craft and make the most moving music.

So, what are you waiting for? As long as you are willing to laugh, cry, and play your heart out with us from 5.30pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, CO welcomes you with open arms.