By Lerraine Neo (26A01A) and Koh Shin Robbie (26A01A)

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra concert hall, RICO’s chosen venue for this year’s ArtSeason concert, has a maximum capacity of 750 people. That’s by no means a small number; 750 hours is about a month’s time, $750 can buy 150 McDonald’s value meals, and 750 metres is only 78 metres short of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. 

It takes a certain confidence to book such a large external venue. To believe in the support of your friends, the effectiveness of your publicity materials, your own ability to draw crowds and sell tickets. RICO’s confidence did not stop at the size of their concert hall—their setlist, consisting of duets, solo concertos, medleys and ensembles on top of the usual orchestral pieces, posed challenges in both logistics and performers’ skill. 

All this from an orchestra which—until as late as March—was struggling to recruit enough members to pad out their ranks. Where, then, had they gotten the confidence to plan such an ambitious concert? 

The Odyssey: A Story

As the hall lights dim and the orchestra takes their place on stage, an eager quiet settles over the audience. A last bow, a final round of tuning, then conductor Mr Yang Ji Wei is leading the orchestra in a lively rendition of 音乐会序曲 (Concert Overture). The melody shifts from instrument to instrument, at times carried by the lilting dizis, then swelling with the strings of the erhus. The orchestra plays in unison, then in separate voices, then in unison again. The whole time moving as one, building off each other to create layers of emotion. This, perhaps, is the soul of their music: working together to weave something greater than themselves, playing off their ties and bonds to create harmony and melody. 

As the stage was reconfigured for a duet, one such bond took centre stage. Xuanning, who was playing piano accompaniment to Dwayne’s yangqin, recounts how their friendship has blossomed over the years. 

“We came into CO together in Y1, and we’ve been together since then,” he tells us. Both students play the yangqin, and sit next to each other during combined practice sessions. “Our personalities actually aren’t that similar, but it was a friendship forged by circumstance.” 

Having both been in CO before, the writers can tell you that “friendships of circumstance” are very common in the orchestra. Oftentimes, your stand partner—the person you share a music stand with and sit next to in the orchestra—is the person you see most in CCA, spending both sectional and orchestral practice sessions together. You crash out over difficult passages together, complain about the too-hot or too-cold air conditioning in low voices while the conductor drones on, and give each other panicked glances whenever one of you messes up. You learn how to play your instrument together, picking up tips and habits from each other, consciously or otherwise. 

You learn how to play together, not just beside each other. And as the first chords of 金牛座 (Taurus) rang out, that was exactly what Xuanning and Dwayne did. 

“It’s a fitting end for our CO journey together,” Xuanning concludes, then tacks on a message for Dwayne: “During combined [sessions], when I turn to my right, I hope you’re the only person sitting next to me.” 

Beyond friendships, Xuanning also finds himself strengthening a familial tie within RICO. His younger brother Xuanzhen, a Y2 student in RI, joined as a guest player for this year’s concert. His friends say he is warmer during sessions with his brother around, though Xuanning himself doesn’t feel the difference. 

“But this was a special opportunity, because it’s our first concert together,” he notes. Being 4 years apart, the brothers seldom have the chance to participate in school events together. “I thought it was a valuable experience, so I encouraged him to guest-play. And I do intend on coming back to guest play for RICO in the future, but it’s our last chance [to play together] for now.” 

Xuanning’s time at RICO has allowed him to develop both platonic and familial bonds, and he isn’t the only one. Teacher-in-charge Mr Lim Zhong Juinn marvels at the community RICO has built, stemming from organic interaction and bonding between the students. 

“It’s very heartening, very energy-giving,” he says. “It’s my second year in RICO, and it’s really something that I’m willing to struggle for. It’s a bit messy and chaotic, but seeing the end product is worth it. And when they faced challenges or had difficult songs that they wanted to play—what was admirable was that they sourced help across 10 batches.” 

The Odyssey: A Reunion

10 batches. While some CCAs do invite alumni to come back and perform, it is usually at most as a special appearance or an alumni batch item. Rarely do you see students from 10 different batches performing together in almost every piece, ranging from Y2 juniors to current NSmen. 

Speaking to former member Branson Tan, he shared that it was truly the community of CO peers that drew him back to performing with RICO, despite his tight weekends as a NSF. To him, joining his alma mater’s orchestra was a dip back into his schooling years, allowing him to relive his memories from practicing and performing with RICO since his days in RI (Y14). Indeed, a scan across the audiences found a sea of familiar faces—friends who had either performed with Branson in the past, or attended those past performances in support of him.

While RICO’s diversity of ages may seem like a marvel, it was born out of necessity, not choice. Despite being one of the largest CCAs in both RGS and RI (Y14), RICO (Y56) had been struggling heavily with manpower issues. Many RGCO and RICO (Y14) students had chosen not to continue performing with the orchestra in Y56, and while there were some DSA students and new members to supplement their numbers, it was simply not enough. Last year’s SYF performance had already featured several guest players, and with the newly-graduated Y7 batch also gone, the orchestra found themselves missing the numbers needed to conjure the grandeur CO performances often boast. 

Perhaps more surprising, this year’s orchestra was composed not just of past and present Chinese Orchestra members, but guest players from completely different CCA backgrounds. Among these was Jiang Wu Julia, a former player in RGS String Ensemble. Having joined Raffles Entrepreneurial Network in Y56, she had missed the orchestra setting which she had been attuned to from her secondary school years, and thus assisted RICO in their Singapore Youth Festival performance last year. As she had enjoyed the exposure to new instruments otherwise unseen in Western arrangements, she readily accepted the offer by the classmate Rebecca, to perform again this year. 

Together were other friends of CO members, taking on various roles such as the front-of-house ticketing crew. Amongst them, Wong E Vee shared that the crowds of friends and family were an overwhelming sight to behold. In particular, she recalled rushing to help manage the queues for entry, which had begun a whole hour in advance. Some members of the audience were noted to have rushed over from other events, or had even made time to come despite tight schedules and fatigue.

Of course, then there’s us: two former CO players who had pursued a new skill coming into JC. The experience of covering the concert had been a homecoming to say the least. For one, we reunited with many old section mates, with whom we still shared strong ties with long after our time together in CCA. Entering the backstage area, we were quickly whisked back into the CO family, joining our old friends in regular banter, before quickly heading to our seats in the audience.

The Odyssey: A Conclusion

Piece by piece, The Odyssey’s captivating repertoire took us through a true voyage, its beauty enriched by the stories of unity and camaraderie behind each piece. As the concert came to a close, conductor Mr Yang took to the stage to deliver a final address. It was a moment of pure vulnerability. Having written the speech just minutes prior, he wept tears of joy upon recalling his days of working with the outgoing Y6 batch during the COVID years. That they came back and still joined RICO years later, delivering such remarkable standards was truly a testament to the resilience and strength that characterise this batch of members.

In particular, Mr Yang painted a vivid picture of walking over to the JC campus with the guest players in the evening. Despite their fatigue, their high spirits shone through, as the process had been one that genuinely enjoyed. These sentiments were also shared by a trio of JC members, Yi Ting, Nicole and Jia En, who regarded the CO grind as one that balanced out heavy school work.

To some extent, the success of The Odyssey this year had been something of a miracle. Challenges such as the unprecedentedly early date of the concert, weaker Y5 recruitment in 2026 and a busy senior Y6 batch were overcome to make the concert possible. Yet, Mr Yang quoted the Chinese saying: 台上一分钟，台下十年功 (A minute on stage, a decade preparing backstage). The concert’s success was by no means a miracle of coincidence. Behind each marvellous piece was not just raw hours of practice, but also the intense Rafflesian unity from the RGS and RI (Y14) Chinese Orchestras, and of course the steadfastness of the orchestra members themselves. 

Exiting the sea of supporters at the Singapore Conference Hall, there was an air of bittersweet closure. Through the struggles and joys, the final COVID generation of the Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra has taken its final bow, marking the end of a breathtaking (and sometimes breathless) journey together. Yet amidst this seeming finality, the orchestra’s doors remain open, ever awaiting its members’ ready return to the RICO family.