By Joshua Gerrard Tan (27A01A) and Tran My Linh (27A01B)

All images courtesy of Raffles Art and Photographic Society

To reminisce is an act most of us are all too familiar with: walking down memory lane, reflecting on our past experiences, past friends and past troubles, and the life that has shaped us into who we are today. It is this feeling, a mix of joy, melancholy and love, that Raffles Institution Chamber Ensemble (RICE) sought to evoke in their audience for their 2026 Annual Concert, Concert Reminisce. 

Concert Reminisce began with what pianist Claire Fu (26SO6B) called a “quintessentially classical” work: String Quartet in E-Flat Major, Op.33 No.2, Mvt. I: Allegro Moderato by Joseph Haydn, performed by Lucas Bee (26A01D), Kay Ng (26S06K), Reuben Ong (26S03I) and Shannon Chia (26S03H). 

Nicknamed “The Joke”, the short opening piece kickstarted the concert on a positively high note, with its lyrical ups and downs immediately captivating the audience with an “unmistakable musical comedy”, as the performers described it, and promising the audience a thrilling emotional journey for the night. 

Following this was Suite No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 5, Mvt 1: Barcarolle by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by Michael Yong (26S06B) and Lim Zhi Yu (26S06B). A slow, romantic piece inspired by Russian poetry, the piano performance deviated from the first piece’s lighthearted tone, carrying a deeply melancholic mood of longing. 

As the performers weaved through the flowing rhythm of the piece, reminiscent of the nature of memory itself, they allowed the audience to bask in the nostalgic and bittersweet atmosphere of their own recollections. The heartwrenching yet idealistic tone, conveying the idea of a lost, fleeting love, was maintained throughout the 9-minute arrangement, speaking to the performers’ amazing skill in conveying emotions through music. 

Halfway through the first segment, some audiences might have been bored by the melodic expression of the Bacharolle and Allegro Moderato. Luckily for them, the sparkling musical exchanges between 4 performers would have jolted them awake and hooked them back to the performance at hand. 

Performed by Lee Ming Yan (27S03N), Reia Lee (27S06B), Zhang Xuran (27S06Q) and Lim Jing Rui (27A01D), Galop-Marche–as the name suggests–is a piece built on lively and humorous melodic schemes. Beyond its rapid tempos and wild leaps, the scene of 8 hands ‘galloping’ across different keys, narrowly avoiding collisions, was surely a sight to see for the audience. 

What was initially meant to be an aural work transformed into a visually exciting performance that immersed the audience in a one-of-a-kind experience, far from what one would expect of a classical performance. The lively rhythms echoed throughout the theatre, inviting the audience to remember a livelier and more carefree time of their lives, and to appreciate the little moments of pure joy that occasionally come our way; in Claire’s words, to remind us of “the finer things in life”.

Following a short break, one of the next notable performances was the Piano Quartet No.2 in A Major, Op. 26, Mvt 2: Poco Adagio by Johannes Brahms, played by Claire, Kay, Michael and Reuben. A strikingly sombre yet lyrical piece, Brahms’ emotionally heavy music presented the audience with an overwhelmingly expressive atmosphere. As one of the audience members so candidly remarked after, “I could feel that one”. 

Yet beneath these broad melodies lay many novel arrangements, keeping the performance dynamic and alive, seemingly calling on the audience to continuously rediscover old memories with their present perspectives. As Claire states:

“There are so many things in music that are ineffable […] beyond what you can express with words themselves.”

For RICE’s performers to be able to convey such intangible emotions to the audience, then, is more than indicative of the strong passion and conviction they play with. 

The light at the end of the tunnel 

When asked what the audience should look forward to for the night, Assistant Chairperson Michael shared that the popular Disney piece ‘I See the Light’ from Tangled, arranged for the whole ensemble to play, would perhaps be the most memorable piece for the night. 

Inside the Programme Booklet, he wrote:

“As our final chord rings into the night, we invite you not only to reminisce but also to look to the future with hope and faith.”

A symbol of personal transformation and clarity, the final song of the concert represents the metaphorical act of lifting the fog to find new purpose in life. Linking back to the concert theme of “Reminisce”, the song is a perfect way to wrap up the concert–to encourage members of the audience to “see the light” in the different stages of their life, as well as to look forward to the incoming light that is to come. 

As the sepia lights started to brighten and resounding applause sounded through the hall, the performers took one final bow, instruments in hand, and began to exit the stage, laughing together and congratulating their peers. 

For them, a successful performance can comprise many elements. For Claire, one element is to “play it well, to our and the audience’s standards”; for Michael, it is to “spend time with your chamber mates”. But to all of them, the most important thing is to make a memorable experience for everyone involved. And we, the writers, are certain that for everyone involved, 29th April was truly a night to reminisce about.