Before we get into the swing of things, what is jazz?
A Wikipedia search finds you looking through its defining characteristics: swung rhythms, complex chords, and improvisation. Dig a little deeper and you’ll see interviews with famous jazz musicians such as pianist Duke Ellington who would anti-climatically say “It’s all music.”; or as saxophonist Stan Getz puts it nicely: “like a good conversation among friends interacting to each other’s ideas.”
Honestly, words alone cannot truly explain jazz to us and you. You have to be there to hear and move to the music to fully immerse yourself in the experience. For starters, listen to the lobby music on MRT platforms. Swing your body to the soulful saxophone riff in “Careless Whisper”. These are moments where you can find jazz.
Have you ever watched guitarists on YouTube in wonder and admiration, and aspired to be just like them? Well, fret not! Raffles Institution Guitar Ensemble (RJGE) is here! RJGE is a fully fledged Niibori guitar ensemble that dabbles in a myriad of musical genres, ranging from folk, to classical, to pop.
Vibrant costumes, tantalising food, superhit songs like ‘Why this Kolaveri’—do these come to your mind at the mention of Indian culture? Well, there is certainly more to it than these pop culture staples.
RI’s Indian Cultural Society (ICS) will give you a fantastic opportunity to experience and learn about the rich and multi-faceted Indian culture. Read on to learn more about our CCA!
In the diverse yet immense community at Raffles, Malay representation may be modest in comparison but the spirit of the Raffles Malay Cultural Society (MCS) is anything but small.
Unbeknownst to many, we are a vibrant group dedicated to celebrating and preserving Malay culture. Here at MCS, we organise a diverse array of activities for both members and non-members, ranging from cultural workshops to VIA projects and literary pursuits.
Every Wednesday morning, from 7.45 to 10.45 am, 8 individuals convene at the Indoor Sports Hall for CCA. However, they’re not part of a sports CCA: the only exercise they get is carrying their instruments to school and playing them during CCA. What kind of bizarre, eccentric CCA is this?
Welcome to Chamber Ensemble!
Our CCA is housed in the humble (and perhaps small) Chamber Room — located in a corner of the ISH. Despite its modest size, the Chamber Room is filled with memories of generations of musicians. Our conductor, Mr Lin Juan, was also once a starry-eyed student at the Chamber Ensemble.
For a typical CCA session, you can expect tutti (combined) rehearsals led by Mr Lin, before breaking out into sectionals or smaller chamber groups which are conducted by other tutors, or sometimes even self-directed. During rehearsal, we also like to get snacks from the convenient store, Chill, while chilling with our friends!
From chamber works like Beethoven’s trio to larger scale orchestral pieces like Tchaikovsky’s string serenade, we play a wide range of classical pieces during our CCA sessions. To satiate the audience’s appetite for more familiar tunes, we also perform tracks from household animations like Studio Ghibli and local compositions like “The Road Ahead”.
Our conductor, Mr Lin Juan
If you join us, Mr Lin will be guiding you not only during weekly sessions, but also in various performances! You could be performing with…
your best friend,
your chamber group at concerts,
or together as an ensemble at the Singapore Youth Festival!
Did that make your heart skip a beat? Palpitate excitedly? Perhaps even light a spark in you? If the answer is yes, we are pleased to have you!
“Great! Can I join now?” you might ask. Well… not yet: we do expect two things of you.
Firstly, the ability to play a string instrument is instrumental (pun intended) to joining our CCA. However, do not worry too much because this ability isn’t one measured by certificates and awards; it will instead be put to the test through a short audition and an interview.
Secondly, a passion for music-making is essential. Things can get tough during the two hectic years here in RI, and this passion is what will carry you through despite the challenges you’ll face!
Kudos to you if you’ve made it this far: we hope that we’ve earned ourselves a new member of the ensemble. See you at the auditions!
