By Alvan Png (20A03A), Chairperson, Lam Weng Chung (20S03Q), Vice-Chairperson, Kong Pek Yan (20S06A), Secretary, and Teo Gi Sing (20S06T), Quartermaster

“Do not fear mistakes—there are none.”

Miles Davis

Honestly, Jazz is kind of weird. 

From rampant dissonances and blistering solos, to straight-up spicy harmonies—it’s easy to call all these things “mistakes”. But as jazz musicians, the contemporary palette of tools we have for expression and context-giving is so large that, in the words of Vincent Persichetti, “Any tone can proceed any tone […] and any group of tones can proceed any group of other tones”. 

People joke about it. A lot. But with such a wide array of tools at our disposal, there really are no wrong notes and no mistakes, as long as the performer has what Mr. Persichetti calls “skill and soul”. Thus, in Raffles Jazz, we seek to bring out that skill and soul, to showcase that freedom of self-expression—the ability to not fear mistakes, because there are none. And because of that, joining Raffles Jazz—while kind of weird—is never a mistake.

By: Alastair Tam (20S06N), Boys’ Captain, and Yasmin Tay (20A01C), Treasurer

Did you know that the fencing sword is the second fastest moving object in sports after the marksman’s bullet? Pretty cool, huh? Due to the likes of pop-culture icons such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Obi-Wan Kenobi, sword fighting is vastly misrepresented. In reality, a lot more than the mere clashing of swords is required for victory. Apart from the extreme physical prowess required to outmanoeuvre opponents on the piste, a lot of mental dexterity is also required to strike at the opportune moment.

By Zachary Chan (20S06B), Boys’ Captain and Ashley Fok (20S07C), Girls’ Captain 

Have you ever felt like you are hitting walls in your life? Squash players would tell you they are doing that every day! Jokes aside, do you ever crave for demanding physical exercise that will make your muscles melt—but with satisfaction? Well, you have clicked on the right article! 

Squash is a high-intensity racket sport played between 2 players in a four-walled court. This sport prides itself on being physically and mentally challenging, where stamina and agility are crucial aspects of the game. Squash does not require a net and is played by hitting a ball against a wall while both players are present on the same side of the court. Even though the black squash ball might be miniscule and not very bouncy, do not underestimate its power as it can reach unbelievable speeds of up to 280km/h. It is a sport where intense focus and concentration to stay in the game are key.  

By Megan Hon (20S06D), Chairperson, Shitong (20S06G), Vice-Chairperson, Zhang Ming (20S07A), Musical Director, and Ruoqing (20S06O), Secretary 

Psst… do you feel like you are a green banana sometimes, with stiff fingers that never seem to follow what your brain dictates? Well, here at RIPE, we can be your personal catalyst for your RIPEning journey!

Jokes aside, RIPE actually stands for Raffles Institution Piano Ensemble, and we are one of the Performing Arts CCAs offered here in RI. And no, we do not have the whole ensemble banging on a single piano (poor piano)—it’s much more peaceful than that. Contrary to popular belief, we usually practise duet or quartet pieces, with the number of hands on one piano at a time totalling up to no more than six!

By Soccer (Boys)

While the football boys aren’t exactly known to have the sharpest minds out there, don’t let the cheery, happy-go-lucky exterior fool you. Trainings are intense and serious, with the basic expectation that everyone should put in their 100% and push themselves; expect sessions to include drills like possession, high press, crossing, and practising the D (our signature move). Furthermore, don’t be surprised to see the footballers putting in the extra work, be it with self-trainings or going for runs. With our motto “Belief, Desire, Teamwork”, all footballers are expected to put in their all to bring out the best in themselves and their teammates.