The Singapore Youth Choir (SYC) Ensemble Singers (previously known because the Singapore Youth Choir) is a distinguished choral group in Singapore formed in 1964.[1]

The SYC Ensemble Singers’ Artistic Director is Jennifer Tham, a number one choral pedagogue in Singapore.[2]

Historical past
[edit]
The Singapore Youth Choir (SYC) was formed in 1964, and was first named the Combined Colleges Choir. The choir was first conducted by Khoo from 1964 to 1970, and later by Lim from 1970 to 1989. The choir was also performed by Lim Yau from 1982 to 1983, and has been conducted by Jennifer Tham, beforehand a choral instructor with few secondary schools and junior colleges in Singapore,[3] since 1989. In 2004, coinciding with its 40th anniversary, the choir was renamed the SYC Ensemble Singers. It was arrange by Benjamin Khoo, a Senior Specialist Inspector with the Ministry of Schooling, and David Lim, who was then a visiting music trainer working below Khoo’s guidance.

The SYC Ensemble Singers celebrated their 60th anniversary with a concert “SYC & Friends: 60 Years Younger” performing Arvo Pärt’s “Te Deum”, Eric Whitacre’s “The Stolen Youngster”, and Cristian Grases’ new setting of “Lux Aeterna” amongst music by Singaporeans Leong Yoon Pin, Joyce Bee Tuan Koh and Diana Soh.

Work in Singapore
[edit]
In 1997, the SYC was a recipient of the President’s Charity Award (for service to the State and neighborhood). In 2000, the SYC was the recording choir for the re-orchestration of the nationwide anthem, Majulah Singapura, organized by Phoon Yew Tien. Additionally, the SYC has additionally been the recording choir for Singapore’s national day parades, first in 1989 and 2007.[5] [4] In the same yr, it was introduced the Excellence for Singapore Award by the Singapore Totalisator Board.

Participation in international festivals and competitions
[edit]
In 1972, the SYC was the first Singaporean choir to participate in an overseas competition, the Tees-facet International Eisteddfod in Middlesbrough, England. Extra lately, the SYC Ensemble Singers topped the contemporary music category of the 58th Concorso Polifonico Internazionale in Arezzo, Italy (www.house-siam.com), and received prime prizes at the 7th International Choir Festival Mundus Cantat Sopot, in Poland. Notably, in 1974, it also grew to become the primary Singaporean choir to win on the Llangollen Eisteddfod, with a primary-putting in the Youth Choirs part.

The Choir participated in the choral festival Europa Cantat 2012 in Turin, Italy, where it premiered several festival commissions and participated in ateliers.

Collaboration
[edit]
The Choir has worked extensively with choirs, conductors and composers from everywhere in the world. Collaborations have taken the form of an energetic commissioning program, workshops and concerts with visitor conductors, and joint concerts with different choirs – notably, with the Ateneo Chamber Singers (the Philippines) and the Gaia Philharmonic Choir (Japan) within the “Three” collection of concert events.

Guest conductors
[edit]

1983 László Heltay, Hungary/UK

1987 Sharon Paul, United States

1992 Johannes Meister, Germany/Switzerland

2002 Maria Guinand, Venezuela

2003 Chifuru Matsubara, Japan

2005 Gary Graden], Sweden

2009 Vytautas Miškinis, Lithuania

2011 Steve Dobrogosz, Sweden (Visitor Pianist)

2011 Ko Matsushita, Japan

2012 Corrado Margutti, Italy

2013 Jonathan Velasco, the Philippines
[6]

Three – A Festival of three Asian Choirs
[edit]
On 4 December 2006, the SYC Ensemble Singers, together with the Ateneo Chamber Singers (the Philippines) and the Gaia Philharmonic Choir (Japan), launched the collection of live shows with the first set up of Three in Singapore. This was adopted by “Three Vol. 2 Asian Sound” (2009) held in Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, “Tatlo: A Choral Celebration” (2011) held in Cultural Center of the Philippines, Manila, and “Three in Sapporo: Songs from the South” (2013) held at the Kitara Concert Corridor, Sapporo, Japan. [8] [7] On 14 December 2014, SYC together with Ateneo and Gaia performed “Three: 50th Anniversary Concert” at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

^ “SYC Ensemble Singers”. National Library Board. Archived from the original on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 27 February 2011.

^ Chan, Duana; Tang, Kelly (2013), Jennifer Tham: Choral Director, Pedagogue and Visionary (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2013, retrieved 26 August 2013

^ Hong, Xinying (2012), We chat with Cultural Medallion 2012 winner Jennifer Tham, retrieved 26 August 2013

^ “Phoon Yew Tien – Listing of Works / Arrangements for Choir”. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

^ “SYC Ensemble Singers – Historia”. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

^ “SYC Ensemble Singers – Conductors”. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

^ “SYC Ensemble Singers – Performances”. Retrieved 5 September 2013.

^ Tan, Corrie (12 December 2014). “Arts Picks: Do not miss Dim Sum Dollies, Neighborhood Quilts, Loke Hong Seng and SYC Ensemble Singers”. The Straits Occasions. Retrieved 17 March 2020.

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This page was last edited on 20 December 2025, at 03:24 (UTC).

SYC Ensemble Singers

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