Hwa Chong Institution High School Band
Encyclopedia
The Hwa Chong Institution
High School Band in its present state is a concert band
, while also run in a military style. Thus, while there is focus on the "Indoor" aspect, the band still maintains its "Outdoor" skills. As a military band, the band not only plays concert music, but also does drills and marches. As a concert band, the band has performed numerous concerts over the years, some at Suntec City
, some in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
, and some in their own school. Thus, band members are fed a balanced diet of both physical, intellectual, and musical training.
The band has also performed in the Istana for the President of the Republic of Singapore S. R. Nathan, taken part in the National Day Parade 2001, together with Commonwealth Secondary School Band. The band has organised many workshops with professionals, and exchange programmes with other school bands. The band has also gone to Perth
in 1999, and Hawaii
in 2000, for a two-week course of musical experient and training, which ended with a performance competition in which they won a gold medal. Lastly, they also participated in the bi-annual Singapore Youth Festival
Central Band Judging, where they garnered a Gold in 1999 and a Gold with Honors in 2009, the highest achievable award in the SYF Band Judging. The band originally also took part in the biannual SYF Outdoor Assessment For Marching School Bands, but stopped in 2000 to focus on the symphonic aspect of the band.
In 1968, the band shot up in rank and was listed as one of the elite bands in Singapore, and in the following year, it was televised over Television Singapura. As a result, the number of band members grew to 120 members the following year. The band took part in the annual indoor and outdoor competitions from 1977 to 1985, achieving a string of gold medals. In 1977, the band's tenacity rose to a peak, attaining the highly prestigious Mace of Honour, and was chosen to represent Singapore in the Pesta Pulau Pinang in Penang.
For the past 40 years, the band has come under many conductors such as Wu Qi Ming, Richard Png, and Yeo Poong Poh. The band's former conductor, David Anthony Glosz, took the band under his wing in 1997, achieving a Gold in the 1999 Indoor Band Competition. In April 2000, 60 members of the band went on an overseas journey of learning and exposure, traveling to various cities in USA, attending band workshops and visiting bands in different high schools. In Hawaii, the band attended the Pacific Basin Music Festival, attaining a gold award.
In 2005, the band managed to clinch a Gold in the SYF.
and Christopher De Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC gracing the occasion.
Within the school, the band brought much colour and festivity to the National Day Celebrations.
'67
2 February, The Band was formed
'75
First participated in SYF competition
'77
Top Band for both indoor playing and outdoor display, Garnered the Mace of Honour
'78
Gold Award in SYF Band Display
'79, '80
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'81, '82
Silver Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'83
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'84
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'85
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'87
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'88
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'89
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'90
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'91
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'92
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'93
Performed at Closing Ceremony of SEA Games in Singapore
'94
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'95
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'96
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'97
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'98
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'99
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'00
Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition), Gold Award
Invited to perform at National Day Parade
'01
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'03
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'05
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
Invited to participate in Chingay 2006 - Parade of Dreams
'06
Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of Marching Bands
'07
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'08
Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of Marching Bands
'09
Gold with Honours Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'10
Gold Award in 25th Annual Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition)
Leng made his debut as a professional conductor of symphonic bands when he was appointed the Band Director of the National University of Singapore Symphonic Band in 1997, after having been the concert master for 2 years as a student there. He is now the Band Director of the Hwa Chong Family Band - Hwa Chong Junior College Symphonic Band and Hwa Chong Institution (High School) Band and also Balestier Hill Secondary School band. His accomplishments with these school bands include an immediate improvement in the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF), particularly for Hwa Chong Junior College which attained the Gold award after a 6-year hiatus from SYF participation. The school band continued to attain distinction at the SYF for the next 6 years. In 2005, Chong Boon Secondary also attained the SYF Gold award under his baton.
Leng's musical experiences also include tutoring and conducting at wind band workshops in Brisbane, Australia in 1998. In 2000, he adjudicated for the All Thailand Yamaha Wind Band Competition. Presently, Leng performs with and is the concert master for the Philharmonic Winds.
Hwa Chong Institution
Hwa Chong Institution is an independent school in Singapore for students aged 12 to 18 covering both secondary and pre-university levels. A Ministry of Education-designated FutureSchool, it operates under the Special Assistance Plan for bilingualism, and offers the Integrated Programme and also...
High School Band in its present state is a concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, while also run in a military style. Thus, while there is focus on the "Indoor" aspect, the band still maintains its "Outdoor" skills. As a military band, the band not only plays concert music, but also does drills and marches. As a concert band, the band has performed numerous concerts over the years, some at Suntec City
Suntec City
Suntec City is a major multi-use development located in Marina Centre, a subzone of the Downtown Core Planning Area in Singapore.- Design :Suntec City was designed by Tsao & McKown Architects with emphasis on Chinese geomancy . The five buildings and the convention center are arranged so that they...
, some in the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Singapore Botanic Gardens
The Singapore Botanic Gardens is a 74-hectare botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m...
, and some in their own school. Thus, band members are fed a balanced diet of both physical, intellectual, and musical training.
The band has also performed in the Istana for the President of the Republic of Singapore S. R. Nathan, taken part in the National Day Parade 2001, together with Commonwealth Secondary School Band. The band has organised many workshops with professionals, and exchange programmes with other school bands. The band has also gone to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
in 1999, and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 2000, for a two-week course of musical experient and training, which ended with a performance competition in which they won a gold medal. Lastly, they also participated in the bi-annual Singapore Youth Festival
Singapore Youth Festival
The Singapore Youth Festival is an annual event in Singapore organised by the Ministry of Education to celebrate the achievements of youths in co-curricular activities...
Central Band Judging, where they garnered a Gold in 1999 and a Gold with Honors in 2009, the highest achievable award in the SYF Band Judging. The band originally also took part in the biannual SYF Outdoor Assessment For Marching School Bands, but stopped in 2000 to focus on the symphonic aspect of the band.
History
The Hwa Chong Institution Band was formed on February 2, 1967, with 20 members. Though there were few instruments available, the band had extremely dedicated members. Through the dedicated participation and leadership of the first band captain, Wu Pengdi, the band managed to attain a participation certificate in the outdoor competition. Although it was only a certificate, it was the beginning of a long and eventful journey, which brought the band to its current state.In 1968, the band shot up in rank and was listed as one of the elite bands in Singapore, and in the following year, it was televised over Television Singapura. As a result, the number of band members grew to 120 members the following year. The band took part in the annual indoor and outdoor competitions from 1977 to 1985, achieving a string of gold medals. In 1977, the band's tenacity rose to a peak, attaining the highly prestigious Mace of Honour, and was chosen to represent Singapore in the Pesta Pulau Pinang in Penang.
For the past 40 years, the band has come under many conductors such as Wu Qi Ming, Richard Png, and Yeo Poong Poh. The band's former conductor, David Anthony Glosz, took the band under his wing in 1997, achieving a Gold in the 1999 Indoor Band Competition. In April 2000, 60 members of the band went on an overseas journey of learning and exposure, traveling to various cities in USA, attending band workshops and visiting bands in different high schools. In Hawaii, the band attended the Pacific Basin Music Festival, attaining a gold award.
In 2005, the band managed to clinch a Gold in the SYF.
2006
The HCI Band made a comeback to the local marching scene in 2006 and was awarded a "Certificate of Distinction" at the SYF 2006 Assessment of Marching Bands for secondary schools. In recognition of their outstanding performance, the band was invited to perform in the SYF @ Ngee Ann City and Police Parade 2006, also participating in CHINGAY! Parade of Dreams that year.2007
In 2007 SYF Central Judging, the band won a Silver award. In August, the band was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of the 5th Band Convention at Raffles Town Club. The band was also invited to perform at Namly Park, with important guests, Minster for Education, Tharman ShanmugaratnamTharman Shanmugaratnam
Tharman Shanmugaratnam is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Minister for Manpower. He previously served as the Minister for Education from 2003 to 2008...
and Christopher De Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC gracing the occasion.
Within the school, the band brought much colour and festivity to the National Day Celebrations.
Achievements and accolades
The Chinese High School Military Band, now called Hwa Chong Institution Band, has always been a powerhouse in the local band scene. The band has garnered a considerable number of golds over the last 39 years, including the Mace of Honour, which represents excellence in both indoor and outdoor aspects.'67
2 February, The Band was formed
'75
First participated in SYF competition
'77
Top Band for both indoor playing and outdoor display, Garnered the Mace of Honour
'78
Gold Award in SYF Band Display
'79, '80
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'81, '82
Silver Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'83
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'84
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'85
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'87
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'88
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'89
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'90
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'91
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'92
Gold Award in SYF Concert Performance Competition
'93
Performed at Closing Ceremony of SEA Games in Singapore
'94
Gold Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'95
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'96
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'97
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'98
Silver Award in SYF Band Display Competition
'99
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'00
Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition), Gold Award
Invited to perform at National Day Parade
'01
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'03
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'05
Gold Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
Invited to participate in Chingay 2006 - Parade of Dreams
'06
Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of Marching Bands
'07
Silver Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'08
Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of Marching Bands
'09
Gold with Honours Award in SYF Central Judging of Concert Bands
'10
Gold Award in 25th Annual Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition)
Conductor
Darence Leng was first introduced to wind instruments upon joining his school band in Mei Chin Secondary. Though band wasn't his first choice, his interest in the flute grew quickly and he soon was performing in several bands and orchestras, including the St. Andrews & Catholic Junior College bands, Church orchestras and the Singapore Wind Symphony (known then as National Theatre Symphonic Band).Leng made his debut as a professional conductor of symphonic bands when he was appointed the Band Director of the National University of Singapore Symphonic Band in 1997, after having been the concert master for 2 years as a student there. He is now the Band Director of the Hwa Chong Family Band - Hwa Chong Junior College Symphonic Band and Hwa Chong Institution (High School) Band and also Balestier Hill Secondary School band. His accomplishments with these school bands include an immediate improvement in the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF), particularly for Hwa Chong Junior College which attained the Gold award after a 6-year hiatus from SYF participation. The school band continued to attain distinction at the SYF for the next 6 years. In 2005, Chong Boon Secondary also attained the SYF Gold award under his baton.
Leng's musical experiences also include tutoring and conducting at wind band workshops in Brisbane, Australia in 1998. In 2000, he adjudicated for the All Thailand Yamaha Wind Band Competition. Presently, Leng performs with and is the concert master for the Philharmonic Winds.