Singapore OUTREACH Bands

Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Symphonic Band

The Ang Mo Kio Secondary School Symphonic Band currently having over 100 members, had its 1st public performance "Jinastra Prima Cancerta" in 2002 and has since been to Perth, Western Australia in late 2003 for a musical & cultural exchange with Bethel Christian High School and Chisholm Catholic College. The Band had the opportunity to perform at the Fremantle Town Hall and in July last year, the band played host to Chisholm Catholic College during their visit to Singapore.

In recent years, AMKSS Symphonic Band has participated actively in school and community events, the Sentosa Balloon Hat Festival (2004 and 2005) and was also invited to perform at the Istana Open House on Labour Day in 2004. In the 2005 (SYF) Central Judging for Concert Bands, the Band attained a Gold award. The extensive time and effort put in by the members was paid off in clinching their first distinction.

Fuhua Secondary School Military Band

Fuhua Secondary School Military Band was formed in 2001 and in its second year, the band was awarded a bronze medal in the Singapore Youth Festival 2002. In 2004 and 2005, it was awarded silver medals. From its inception, the band has now grown from a size of less than 20 members to an established size of more than 90 members. It participates not only in indoor events like the Cluster Zone Music Festivals (2002 and 2003) and the National Youth Percussion Festival, but also outdoor performances at the Macritchie reservoir in 2004 as well as the Balloon Hat Festival in Sentosa this year. The band would continue to develop its members' potential in music skills, as well as a passion and love for music.

Jurong Secondary School

First formed in 1976, the band currently has 80 members including the graduating members. The band takes part in the school's Annual Speech and Prize-giving day and the National Day Parade every year and participates in exchange programmes with other schools.

The band has also been invited by organisations like the Bukit Gombak Community Club and Philips Electronics for performances at their events. In 2003 and 2005, the band was awarded the Silver Award in the SYF Central Judging for bands.

Jurongville Secondary School Concert Bands

Jurongville Concert Band is one of the school's flagship CCAs, having been formed in 1994. The band is currently under the baton of Mrs Chee-Say Ken Shen. The band maintains a regular schedule of performances that takes her in and out of the school throughout the year.

In school, the band is a regular fixture at the school's Speech and Prize-Giving Day Parade and Concert and also at the school's National Day Celebrations. Invitations have been extended to the band from external organisations for them to perform at various public venues such as the Chinese Gardens, the Istana Park, the MacRitchie Reservoir, and for this year's National Day Celebrations, in the Istana grounds itself.

The band has held her first public concert at the Victoria Concert Hall, titled "East Meets West" in June 2002. Always striving for excellence in whatever she does, the band has maintained her standards by obtaining yet another Silver Medal in the recently concluded Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Bands in April 2005.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band

Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band was established in 1983, under the baton of then resident conductor, Mr Yeo Poong Poh. The band started off with 20 members and has since developed into an established band of 55 members.

In 1988, the band hosted a Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra. In her first musical tour, the band participated in the Penang Arts Festival. This marks the start of the band's many expeditions overseas to countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Australia and Hong Kong. The band hopes to take up more of such overseas expeditions in the near future.

Besides its annual concert performances, the Band also performs regularly in campus during its Open House, Arts Festival, CCA Fiesta as well as public performances at the Singapore Arts Festival-Fringe.

The band is now under the baton of conductor Mr Tan Aik Kee and is currently in preparation for her annual year-end concert, Rondeau, in celebration of the band's 20th anniversary.

Pasir Ris Secondary School Concert Band

From a humble size of 25 members since its formation in the early 1990s, the band has grown to its present size of 90. Achieving the coveted Grade 1(Distinction) Award in the SYF Band Assessment in 1995 has given the band the confidence to continue to strive to greater heights.

In July 1998, the Band held its inaugural concert, Viva La Musica. Its resounding success prompted the biennial Viva La Musica Concert series, which went into its third performance in 2004. All these cannot be achieved without the support from the school, family, friends and the members' dedication and hard work. In 2000, the band put up a joint concert with the Ruan Ensemble entitled 'FUSION'. This concert again was a highly successful one.

One of the pillars supporting the band's development is the band director, Mr Richard Png Boon Teck, who has been with the band for more than 12 years. His involvement in music overseas includes being a music consultant in Sarawak for their National Day Mass Band Display in 2003.

Peixin Primary School Concert Band

The Concert Band started out as a Brass Band in the late 1980s. It went for its first SYF central judging in 1998 as a Brass Band and was awarded the Bronze award. It later became a Concert Band under the able directorship of the current Band Instructor Mr Mohd Faizal Bin Othman. The Band has since clinched the Silver Award (2000), the Gold Award (2002 and 2004) and was ranked amongst the top Primary School Concert Bands in Singapore.

The band believes in enriching the members musically, motivating every individual, developing leadership qualities and instilling confidence, discipline and team spirit. It has held several public performances notably guest performing at Northland Primary School's concert 'Applause' in October 2002 and holding its Inaugural Concert, 'IMPREZZ' in December 2002 and 'IMPREZZ II' in December 2004. With the great support from school, teachers, parents and alumni, the band has participated in numerous outdoor and public park performances in the past years.

Princess Elizabeth Primary School Concert Band

The PEPS band transitioned from a Bugle and Fife Band in 1972 to a semi-brass band in 1975, and is now a Concert Band with a membership of about 120 children.

Through her 33-year history, she has won the Mace-of-Honour and Gold and Silver Awards in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging for Bands. In 2000, it was also one of the top five primary school concert bands in Singapore.

The band has produced 2 band music albums, held 2 public concerts, and performed regularly for national events such as the Istana Open House and at the National Day Parade.

The band has also made foray overseas, performing and having music exchanges in countries such as Malaysia, Japan and Australia.

The band endeavors towards continuous upgrading and exposure for her members. It is the band's aim to remain one of the top bands and continue to inculcate the love for music in the younger generation.

Singapore Armed Forces Parade Bands

The SAF Parade Bands A and B were formerly known as the Singapore Infantry Regiment (SIR) Band and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Band respectively. With the restructuring of the bands in 1994, the parade bands of the Singapore Armed Forces were evolved. The Bands' duties include most official parades like the monthly Istana Changing of the Guards Ceremony with the Provost unit, Officer Cadet School (OCS) Commissioning Parades, Guard of Honour(GOH) Parades for visiting dignitaries and other internal SAF ceremonies.

The SAF Parade Bands are mostly made up of Full-time National Servicemen (NSF), led by Director of Music CPT Johnson Lee Kah Hee (Band A) and Director of Music 2LT Steven Tan Aik Kee (Band B).

Victoria School Concert Band

Established in 1965 as the Victoria School Drum and Fife Band, the VS Concert Band has since transformed itself from a brass band, to a military band, and finally, to the concert band it is today.

The Band showcases the musical talents of its members and aims for musical excellence in every performance. It prides itself in not only providing opportunities for members to learn how to make music together, but also in building strong team spirit and leadership qualities.

Besides its own series of public concerts "Musical World", the Band is also regularly invited to perform at various public events. 0verseas trips once every three years gives its members exposure to regional and international standards in addition to enhancing the musical standards of its members. In 1989, the Band embarked on its first overseas trip to West Malaysia. Since then, it has represented Singapore at the 1992 Asia Pacific Band Festival in ROC, Taiwan and participated in the 1995 Great Australian Music Festival in Brisbane.

The VS Concert Band has, over the decades, bagged many awards and enjoyed wide popularity. These achievements would not have been possible, without the selfless dedication and commitment of many generations of conductors, teachers and young musicians. As a result, it is now one of the outstanding facets of life in Victoria School and the pride and joy of both the current and former members.