By Justin Lim (16A01B)
On the 7th of July 2015, both the North-South and East-West MRT lines broke down due to a power fault. I should’ve expected something was about to happen when I boarded a train where the lights were oddly out at 7:30PM, but at the time the mood lighting merely seemed like a funny defect.
By Louisa Li (16A13A)
Additional reporting by Teo Xue Heng (15S06C)
Hidden behind a veil of confounding and ridiculous sounding terminology (ruff, dummy) is the complex world of Contract Bridge: a realm where only the bravest dare enter, and where only the fittest survive. Over the June holidays, Raffles Bridge sent 2 teams to prove their mettle in the annual Hunger Games, or rather, the National Inter-Schools Bridge Tournament. They engaged in 2 grueling days of intense competition, fought endlessly from 9 in the morning to 7 at night, and eventually emerged from the fray with commendable results- as Champions.
The 2 RI teams consisting of 12 members in total duelled with the other 6 teams in double round robin matches. In an effort to amass Victory Points (20 points per round) to gain an upper hand over their competitors, RI pitted 4 members each round against their opponents, facing fierce competition especially from That Chinese School Near Bukit Timah Road, which sent 3 of the 7 participating teams. To win the tournament, RI had to match their results and beat them head-on as well.
However, it was not a smooth-sailing journey. After a horrifically unexpected 2-18 destruction by VJC in just the second match of the day, RI Team 1 (RI1) bounced back to beat HC Team 1 (HC1) 20-0. RI2, trailing close behind leaders HC1 performed stunningly well after two defeats by winning all the other matches on the first day, including a brilliant 20-0 win over VJC. Cheng Xingyu (16S06M) and Shi Jing Lin (16S06J) in particular played especially well as a partnership to bring in VPs. By the end of the first day, RI2 had propped themselves up to a comfortable 2nd place, trailing HC1 by a mere 4 points. As Bridge Chairperson Teo Xue Heng (15S06C) shared, “both RI teams performed beyond their expectations, except in different ways… so there were mixed feelings going into the second day playing a ‘catchup game’”.
It is with those feelings of trepidation and anticipation that the 2 RI teams went into the second day, and the tables were turned this time. RI1 got off to a very strong start with 20-0 wins over RI2, HC2 and HC3 and 16-4 win against NUSH, but HC1 played just as strongly and the VP difference still remained at about 5 VP before lunch. The turning point came when HC1 lost to RI2 6-14, allowing RI1 to overtake HC1 by 5 VP. The slim lead was maintained until the final game where RI1 had to play HC1 head on. HC1 had to win by at least 5 imps to clinch the championship title, and as an insider shared, “4 imps is almost a non-existent cushion… the scores were dangerously close.” And it did seem like the tides were turning. HC1 slowly built up a 12 imp lead, and all hope was almost lost – until Wang Tingxuan (15S06L) made a 3NT on the final board of the entire tournament to score RI1 10 imps. Despite HC1 beating RI1 by 2 imps, it wasn’t enough to prevent RI1 from clinching the title.
On the other hand, RI2 bounced back from an early 0-20 loss to RI1 to cement their position at third place, having a 19 VP lead over VJC in fourth place before their final head-on match. They could afford to lose 1-19 to VJC and still get third place, but it was not to be: the last set of 8 boards were tough and a slew of errors left them to a punishing 0-20 loss. Despite the good plays and the build-up, RI2 had faltered at the final moment to allow VJC to nick 3rd place away from right under their noses. RI Team 2 Captain Wu Hao Hsuan (15S06C) shares: “It was a really great experience for the team especially for the J1s who will have the opportunity to represent the school again in the Nationals next year. Although RI2 didn’t fare as well as RI1, I think all of us gave our best shot and that’s what really matters. I truly hope that the J1s would treasure this experience and dominate the event next year, bringing back glory to the school.”
All in all, Xue Heng reflects that the journey “wasn’t easy” as “all 3 partnerships in our team had partnership issues at some point or another during this 1.5 years.” Despite that, Raffles Bridge managed to rally together and pull through to emerge victorious, and the last win was “really emotional”. Raffles Press would like to congratulate Raffles Bridge on their victory, and wish them luck for the upcoming tournaments!
Team members:
Team 1: Liu Yuchen (15S06J), Yu Yuxiang (15S06J), Teo Xue Heng (15S06C), Liang Shi Yi (15S06G), Wang Tingxuan (15S06L), Ren Siyu (15S06L).
Team 2: Wu Hao Hsuan (15S06C), Ng Wei Jie (15S03F), Daniel Tan (15S06P), Reuben Foo (15S06L), Cheng Xingyu (16S06M), Shi Jing Lin (16S06J).
By Qiu Kexin (16A13A) and Chew Cheng Yu (16S06L)
Photos courtesy of Mr Toh Ban Sheng, Keane Chua and Raffles Voices
As the smartly dressed performers took their places centre stage, a hush instantly fell over the audience within the newly refurbished space of Victoria Concert Hall. It was thus that the three starring acts for the night – Raffles Chorale, alumni choir Raffles Singers and their Year 1-4 counterpart Raffles Voices – made a sparkling entrance for their annual arts performance Vocal Exploits 2015, immediately filling the hall with comforting, dulcet sighs of one impressive choir overlooking fully-packed turnout.
Held to raise funds for Nepal in the wake of the devastating earthquakes in April, the theme for this year’s concert was Canticum in Natura (Latin for ‘Songs in Nature’). True to its name, the concert showcased a stunning repertoire variously inspired by the beauty and majesty of our natural environment. The theme took on an even deeper throughout the musical extravaganza, as the many songs recalled the joy of appreciating Nature and her vicarious gifts — perhaps an experience made particularly poignant to an audience accustomed to city life in concrete jungles.
The concert started on a high note, opening with Cantate Domino (‘Sing to the Lord’) by Josu Elberdin, which pervaded the atmosphere with pleasant clarity of voices, as the singers passionately produced rousing chants, united as one ensemble.
Following that, in the concert’s first half, the rest of the songs included various works centering around the celebration of the human spirit. I Carry Your Heart with Me (originally a poem by E. E. Cummings) was a gently euphonious song about enduring love, accompanied by sweet felicitous notes played by violinist Carolyn Au (16S03F).
In contrast, Hentakan Jiwa (‘Beat of My Soul’ in Bahasa Indonesia) by Ken Steven was notable for its stirring Indonesian percussionistic rhythm, which Raffles Voices created through clapping and stomping when they took over the stage — evocative of the strength of a beating human heart. In Beati Quorum Via (from Psalm 119:1, Latin for ‘Blessed Are Those Whose Way’), a religious hymn, the choralists blended voices both high and low as well as booming vocals together into one resounding whole.
Those present were able to hear a sundry of different languages throughout the various pieces, some comprehensible to us, some completely foreign – but they had not detracted from the audience’s enjoyment of the plaintive music and instead, as the music went on, they managed to move the audience in their seats simply through the emotional passion of the performers’ elegant voices, communicating in the wordless yet inspiringly universal tongue of music. In particular, there was Stars I Shall Find by David Dickau. With a mellow touch of piano accompaniment and spirited expression, it stood out for its optimistic message of keeping oneself afloat and finding hope amidst adversity.
After the intermission, the audience saw Raffles Singers, comprising of chorale alumni, taking the stage alongside their juniors for some notable performances. There was a noticeable shift in mood due to the transition, through changes in song choice, to a lighter listening experience – while the atmosphere was still solemn during some pieces, most of the works included were contemporary pieces, which made for a musical style more aurally engaging for younger members of the teeming audience.
The sombre ones – fewer in number this time round – included the notable The Lonesome Road arranged by Simon Carrington, which mixed soulful melodies with contemplative lines about solitude (“Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself / Don’t turn your head back over your shoulder”), to create a song which was deeply introspective.
In their rendition of Gloria by contemporary South Korean composer Hyo-Won Woo, the performers brought to life the piece’s richly nuanced and unique fusion of Eastern musical influences with a rearranged, but still quintessentially Latin, hymn. Our choir efficaciously recreated the might and regality associated with Latin chorale music – combined with their execution of traditional Korean music tempos which had been incorporated into the song, the performance was nothing short of a rousing crowdpleaser.
La Cucaracha, a Mexican folk song, livened up the whole venue with its light-hearted and jovial tunes. Pervaded by the catchy repetitions of ‘ba dum da’ that compelled one to dance along with the rhythm, it ended with a loud, enthusiastic shout of “Olé!” which cracked up many in the audience.
Pamugun, from one of the Philippines’ most prominent composers Francisco Feliciano, was unfolded to the expectant listeners by Raffles Singers. It was a challenging piece better suited for the more seasoned alumni; the song (which told the story of a desperate hunter chasing a bird) tested the waters of typical concert fare, not just because of its rapid-speed rhythm which demanded much vocal agility, but also for a few surprises throughout the song, such as a loud, unexpected shriek halfway which shocked the audience. In all, it was one of the more outstanding performances, demonstrating the mastery of our alumni choristers and rounding off the concert well with a delightful dose of what was unusual.
The next piece brought in several new instruments, such as a cymbal, a bass drum, handbells, and many more curious musical implements. Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre — about the breathtaking wonders of nature big and small — was an intriguing piece: snapping fingers became raindrops, a thunder sheet with the bass drum became thunder; the song slowly built a storm to its crescendo, before leaving the sounds to ebb away gradually. With a slight dream-like quality with the ringing of handbells, the audience was entranced by the thunderstorm that grew in the hall, into a storm which received thunderous applause at the end – truly well-deserved in our opinion, considering the song had been one of the most challenging of the lot to choralist Adrian Wang (16A13A), since it had been “substantially long” while necessitating the seamless “weaving together of voices and several instruments”.
Last but not least, the chorale groups concluded the concert by singing the Institution Anthem upon requests for an encore, as per Chorale’s tradition. There was an invitation extended to all Rafflesians present to join in with them – which they did, boldly singing together in what was a joyous and stirring rendition of the Anthem.
Looking back on the eventful night, the first thing one could have praised Raffles Chorale would have been, right off the bat, their ability to work with all the chosen songs from dissimilar composers or artists, and yet still present a coherent and unified theme of celebrating our world overall. The result was a smooth show that had been enjoyable for both the viewers as well as the performers. No less impressively, their performance that night showed no signs of sloppiness or disorganisation despite being prepared within just a few months – the chorale members were all deeply engaged in their own performances, swaying along to the music as they sang. The solo performances were similarly impressive; they supplemented character and depth to the song with much enthusiasm. No wonder it had been enjoyable to such a degree for the performers then, as Adrian Wang also revealed that the chorale groups had found “performing in the Victoria Concert Hall for the first time a highly breathtaking experience.”
Having said that, another area that had impressed was definitely the choice of so many — up till then — oft-unheard pieces hailing from a diversity of cultures around the globe. The general consensus was that the repertoire had achieved an enlightening and eye-opening showcase of music which could have largely gone unnoticed by the average music-lover otherwise. The unique and slightly quirky setlist had come about because “Chorale wouldn’t be performing for the Singapore Youth Festival this year,” recalled Mr Toh Ban Sheng, director of Canticum in Natura. “We had more freedom in choosing our repertoire, so [we took] the opportunity to perform long works with various instruments.”
For seasoned music aficionados, the originality of some notable pieces – manifest in the recreation of nature’s sounds in Cloudburst, and the seamless, yet whimsical alternation between fast-paced bars and slow cries of Pamugun – would have delighted. There had been no lack of thrills for the casual listener there either: the songs had taken the audience on an emotional roller-coaster, riding from the high of sprightly jingles, to the sobering melancholy of some sad ballads.
And as for the average student there, there had certainly been some pieces with timbres mostly unfamiliar to them in this day and age (austere works such as Gloria or Beati Quorum via). Still, in the bigger picture, that mattered little because at its core, the whole affair in Victoria Concert Hall had been a sincere performance with the best mix of chosen pieces, marked by the choirs’ emotional conveyance of the human heart and soul through the sheer will of voice alone.
Setlist
By Karen Cuison (16A01D)
Photos by Jacqueline Yu (16S03L) and Brenda Tan (16S03P) of the Raffles Photographic Society
On the 29th of May, the Multi-Purpose Hall (MPH) was transformed for the ear-splitting extravaganza that was Rockout 2015. This year’s edition of the annual showcase put up by Raffles Rock was served well by its circus-themed aesthetic, which lent the show a whimsical edge.
After much popcorn and even more raving, Rockout 2015 finally got started. Opening the night was Year 5 act The Diversion, with hearing-loss-inducing renditions of Muse’s Supremacy and The Trooper from the popular Iron Maiden. Tee Ming Zee (16A01A), newly-elected chairperson of Raffles Rock and guitarist for The Diversion, explained that the rock-focused song picks were meant to showcase the technical proficiency of each and every band member. She adds, “Supremacy was our choice to open because it has a very grand, theatrical feel that set the stage for the rest of Rockout!” By their final song, the quintessentially ‘80s Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses, they were clearly at home on stage.
Next up was Austere, the Year 5 act that got the audience head-banging to Make Me Wanna Die (The Pretty Reckless) and Bring Me To Life (Evanescence). Like The Diversion, Austere also rounded off their set with a sing-along friendly Guns N’ Roses number, Sweet Child O’ Mine. Vocalist Jemi Lu (16S07B) quipped that Rockout had been an “exhilarating” experience, and that “being able to do what we love together made the hard work worthwhile.”
Both Year 5 bands got off to a mildly shaky start, but both bands soon eased into controlling the stage and hyping the audience up well before their respective sets were over. They also demonstrated a remarkable chemistry, which was no mean feat given that their bands were formed just over two months ago.
The next act to inherit the stage was The Misfit March, the first of two Year 6 bands. Buoyed by the strong performances of the previous acts, the band of ‘Cinderellas and Tin Soldiers’ shone during their powerful renditions of pop hit Chandelier (Sia) and a mash-up of Lady Marmalade (Christina Aguilera) and Back in Black (ACDC).
Taking turns to take the stage with The Misfit March was Debonair. An enthusiastic mosh mob lapped up the more contemporary, crowd-pleasing hits they played like Locked Out of Heaven (Bruno Mars), and The Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! At the Disco. Debonair lived up to its moniker, delivering numbers ably and confidently.
The Year 6 rockers were clearly seasoned performers, and it showed in their constant awareness of each other as well as their ability to engage the crowd. It was a real pity that as Rockout’s ante was being upped exponentially, the crackly sound system and uneven mix were becoming increasingly apparent. Tee Ming Zee shared that this was a result of changes in venues and sound operators – part and parcel of preparing for a live gig. Nonetheless, the Year 6 bands remained undeterred, and moved on to deliver a lovely, rousing performance finale in the form of Carry On by fun.
This year, instead of leaning towards the standard eclectic modern rock and alternative music, Rockout 2015 brought with it a more diverse range of songs, with the inclusion of pop tracks, which in turn increased the general appeal of the set. Some might have found the move towards pop music too populist (and opposed to the non-conformist ethos of rock music), but as Mark Ho revealed, “We chose our songs because we wanted to give the audience a good time, since we were the closing band, and I think we were able to do that. For that, we’re proud of ourselves and our setlist.”
Reflecting on the process of organising this big gig, Ming Zee revealed that they had faced many obstacles, including the General Paper Common Tests and working with external sound vendors for the first time on the day of the gig itself. This year’s event had brought new challenges, because on top of just managing the music, Rock also “had to manage publicity, merchandise, videos, logistics and costumes.” Instrumental to accomplishing all that and more was Mr Ian Toh, Rock’s music teacher, who provided “guidance in thematic direction”, and Mrs Lena Lui, Rock’s teacher in-charge, who coordinated and supported the entire Rockout planning process.
And finally, we bring you some closing words about Rockout’s experience in this quote from Jemi: “The atmosphere and audience was amazing, we had a blast and we hope you guys did too!” We did.
Setlist
The Diversion:
• Supremacy by Muse
• The Trooper by Iron Maiden
• Welcome to the Jungle by Guns N’ Roses
Austere:
• Make Me Wanna Die by The Pretty Reckless
• Bring Me to Life by Evanescence
• Sweet Child O’ Mine by Guns N’ Roses
The Misfit March:
• Chandelier by Sia
• Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chilli Peppers
• Lady Marmalade/Back in Black (Mashup) by Christina Aguilera/ACDC
• Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas
• Plug in Baby by Muse
Debonair:
• Ballad of Mona Lisa by Panic! at the Disco
• Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars
• Shut Up And Dance by Walk The Moon
• Panic Station by Muse
• Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand
• Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars
• Beggin’/Toxic/Can’t Hold Us (Mashup) by Madcon/Britney Spears/Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Postscript:
Reflecting on his experience performing for the Raffles Model United Nations Dinner & Dance just five days after The Greatest Show on Earth, Raffles Rock drummer Leo said “I have cellulites.”
Rock member Bing Tian quipped, “Dumbledore’s sock!”
Guitarist Keming, deeply moved by the audience’s encouraging cheers, said tearily, “Banroc Funnels!”
By Daphne Tang (16S03M) and Samuel Loh (16A01A)
Really, what better way is there to spend the mid-term break’s first weekend other than covering 67.74 kilometres (although it certainly felt longer than that) of Singapore’s most exciting biking trails with friends? Raffles Institution’s Outdoor Activities Club (ODAC) offered many treats at their annual overnight cycling event Gear Up – including paths along homely farmsteads in Lorong Halus (almost anomalous to the kind of urban ubiquity we’re used to seeing everyday), stunning city sights along Marina Bay – no less awe-inspiring than they usually are – and Park Connectors around the heartlands. Gear Up began at East Coast Park and traced Singapore’s eastern perimeter, then cut a path through Ang Mo Kio-Bishan, Marina Bay, to return back to the starting point. The journey was expected to take an estimated 7 to 8 hours with four brief rest stops, and ahead of us lay several daunting challenges, like seemingly endless inclines, staircases, and a sleepless night. Participants were split into groups of 10, each led by several ODAC members who, having cycled the route up to 4 times prior in preparation, were more than acquainted with its challenges and well-qualified to guide the motley pack. “The practice runs mainly helped us build stamina for the long distance trip. It’s a really great opportunity to bond as an ODAC batch and get to know each other better as well,” Ryan Chua (16A01A) laughs, “It’s also meant to get us properly familiarized with the route so we don’t lead y’all into a ditch!” Sure enough, our ODAC guides exuded just the kind of confidence and leadership we needed to keep the pedals going. They were serious when it came to safety and ensured each group member was coping well, but that didn’t stop them from being great sports as well — laughing and joking along with the rest of us.
The night began at East Coast Park, where close to a hundred rented bicycles had been lined up neatly in rows outside the bike rental station, safety lights twinkling in what seemed almost to be an early Christmas. By the time we arrived to find our groups, Rafflesians were already milling about performing bike checks and taking photographs together as they awaited their turns to set off. ODAC members distributed energy bars and glowsticks, the latter of which quickly adorned wrists, bike handles, or backpacks, adding to the medley of bright colors in the blackness of night. Between the starting line and the first rest stop lay 20 kilometres of road to cover. Encouraged by a gentle sea breeze, participants cycled through East Coast Park on a straight path out, then moved along the seemingly ever-lasting Changi Coast Road as the deafening whir of planes roared overhead. Close to 2 hours had passed when the groups first arrived at Changi Village for a short stay to cool off their sore limbs. Shortly after, we were off once more, this time up the north-eastern road towards Punggol Waterway, cycling through scenic boulevards surrounding by domineering housing estates only recently completed, and thus still unoccupied. The tranquility offered a serene and enjoyable calm, but also a strange sense of solitude. Nevertheless, we sought comfort and security in the companionship of our fellow groupmates and soon found ourselves on deserted roads past Lorong Halus’ farms. The lack of high-rise buildings and relatively little lighting allowed us to view the moon and stars in their fullest, unreserved grandeur — a privilege rarely found in Singapore’s densely urban environments. As we began to tire out, every bit of encouragement from our peers became even more important to give us just that little boost we needed to finish the trip. Entering the heartlands, the groups weaved past familiar neighbourhoods and reached another rest stop nestled within Bishan Park, greeted by ODAC members handing out drinks and bananas before the journey’s final leg. Another 2-3 hours later, we were breezing down the expansive Formula One racetrack towards the Singapore Flyer. Finally, each groups lined up for pretty pictures by the cityscape before making their way slowly back to East Coast Park. “The night was really cold,” Syazwani Nonis (16S03B) said, “But it also felt warm on the inside because of the comfort and freedom we had at Gear Up and I’m really glad the group I was with enjoyed it so much too!”
Although Gear Up 2015 gave participants just as much physical and mental exhaustion as it did good sights, if not more, you can be doubly sure Raffles ODAC easily fulfilled its promise to deliver 68 kilometres’ worth of amazing memories riding the stars and racing the night together.
