Victoria School Chinese Orchestra

History

Victoria School Chinese Orchestra (VSCO) was founded in 1974. The orchestra had a tiny beginning, starting out with only 20 members and limited instructors.

In the 1980s, VSCO saw much more participation, and its population grew quite a bit. It started to take part in community events such as Mid-Autumn Festival concerts and Chinese New Year celebrations.

The 1990s witnessed greater change in the orchestra. This was due to the Singapore government’s efforts to promote participation in CCAs in schools. The school had allocated more funds to the orchestra, to cater to needs such as the purchase of better instruments and the hiring of renowned instructors from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. The orchestra took part in school events like Chinese New Year celebrations, Teachers’ Day, National Day and Speech Day performances. VSCO even reached out to the community, participating in paid concerts for Old Folks' Homes.

Achievements

Through the experience VSCO gained from the various events, along with the orchestra’s history of performance excellence, it managed to clinch the Gold award in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Central Judging in 1997.

In 1999, VSCO received the Silver award at that same competition. In 2001, VSCO achieved the Certificate of Participation. Since then, VSCO has attained the Gold award five consecutive times - in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

In the SYF competition in April 2013, VSCO managed to clinch the highest-tier award, Certificate of Distinction. In July 2013, the orchestra was invited to perform at the Singapore Youth Festival Celebrations 2013, held at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, among a select group of Chinese Orchestras that were invited to this prestigious event. This distinguished VSCO as one of the top secondary school-based Chinese Orchestras in Singapore.

VSCO clinched another Certificate of Distinction in the SYF Arts Presentation for Chinese Orchestras in April 2015

In the most recent SYF Arts Presentation for Chinese Orchestras in April 2017, VSCO achieved a Certificate of Distinction.

Current status

Today’s VSCO is a far cry compared to its pioneer batch. It has about 80 active members and an active alumni, with various musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra serving as instructors.

Practices are typically held three times a week for members on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

• Monday - Sectional Practice, where the sections are coached by their respective instructors.
• Tuesday - Combined Orchestral Practice (大组), where the orchestra plays together under the guidance of the conductor.
• Friday - Bonding Day, where the members have games, team building activities, physical trainings, self-practice, etc.
• Saturday (Seasonal) - This practice session is only activated closer to SYF or Concert, and is in lieu of Friday practice.

Concerts

VSCO holds public concerts biennially.

On 1 April 2016, VSCO held its biennial concert at the Victoria Junior College Performance Theatre - A Musical Journey. The orchestra performed pieces ranging several genres, from classic Chinese Orchestra pieces like 采茶灯 and 乡间小路, to Western pieces like Lion King and Super Mario medley. The concert also featured a piece specially arranged for the school's 140th anniversary, Victorian Overture, which celebrates the achievements of Victoria School and culminates with a dramatic recapitulation of the Victorian Anthem.

On 25 March 2018, VSCO's biennial concert was held at the SOTA concert hall - A Musical Journey II. Pieces such as Liang Wern Fook (梁文福) Medley, 茉莉花 and 天龙八部 were performed. The concert featured a profoundly diverse repertoire ranging from highly technical and exotic ensemble pieces to famous local compositions. The concert ended on a high with the spectacular and fun encore pieces Mambo No.5 and 超人迪加, leaving the audience mesmerised and enchanted.

Teachers-in-Charge

Mr Tan Yan Li

Ms Tan Ching Boon

Ms Lee Jiaying

Mr Wong Liang Seng

Conductor and Instructors

The current conductor of VSCO is Mr Lee Heng Quee.

The orchestra's other instructors include:

Cello-Bass: Mr Poh Yee Luh (潘语录)

Plucked-Strings: Mdm Tan Joon Chin (陈雨臻)

Plucked-Strings: Mr Goh Yew Guan (吴友元)

Bowed-Strings: Mr Neo Yong Soon (梁永顺)

Woodwind: Mr Lee Heng Quee (李新桂)

Percussion: Mr Yeo Siew Mong (杨秀茂)

Committee 16'17

• Chairperson: Ng Jing Jie, Ryan
• Vice-Chairperson (Administration): Lee Wonseok
• Vice-Chairperson (Development): Tan Jian Wei
• Student Conductor: James Sin Mao Jun
• Assistant Student Conductor: Kieron Yew
• Secretary: Mah Zi Feng
• Librarian: Lim Hua En
• Quartermaster 1: Low Jun Hao
• Quartermaster 2: Ernest Yong
• Bowed Strings Section Leader: Xue Yi Kai
• Woodwind Section Leader: Bian Ce
• Plucked Strings Section Leader: Harold Liow
• Percussion Section Leader: Joel Chan
• Cello & Bass Section Leader: Lee Wonseok
• Bowed Strings Assistant Section Leader: Nil
• Woodwind Assistant Section Leader: Kieron Yew
• Plucked Strings Assistant Section Leader: Quek Jun Siong
• Percussion Assistant Section Leader: Ong Ianzo
• Cello & Bass Assistant Section Leader: Lai Wen Cheng

Committee 17'18

• Chairperson: Lai Wen Cheng
• Vice-Chairperson (Administration): Mah Zi Feng
• Vice-Chairperson (Development): Quek Jun Siong
• Student Conductor: Mah Zi Feng
• Secretary: Lim Jing
• Librarian: Wong Qi Jun
• Quartermaster: Ee Yi Xuan
• Welfare Rep: Hong Zhi Hao
• Bowed Strings Section Leader: Alan Chin
• Woodwind Section Leader: Jin Enyu
• Plucked Strings Section Leader: Ang Peng Xuan
• Percussion Section Leader: Ong Ianzo
• Cello & Bass Section Leader: Brian Pang
• Bowed Strings Assistant Section Leader: Chia Kai En
• Woodwind Assistant Section Leader: Ooi Jia Quan
• Plucked Strings Assistant Section Leader: Ray Teo
• Percussion Assistant Section Leader: Anthony Zheng
• Cello & Bass Assistant Section Leader: Alexius Lim
• Assistant Librarian: Abner Yeo
• Assistant Quartermaster: Austin Seah

Current Committee 18'19

• Chairperson: Chia Kai En
• Vice-Chairperson (Administration): Ooi Jia Quan
• Vice-Chairperson (Development): Ray Teo
• Student Conductor: Lim Jinle, Alexius
• Secretary: Elliot Tan Bing Ze
• Librarian: Lim Kai Loong, Elton
• Quartermaster: Seah Ziyi, Austin
• Welfare Rep: Lim Jinle, Alexius
• Bowed Strings Section Leader: Tan Soo Han
• Woodwind Section Leader: Nil
• Plucked Strings Section Leader: Lee Zheng Hao
• Percussion Section Leader: Anthony Zheng Ziang
• Cello & Bass Section Leader: Nathan Low Zi Kang
• Bowed Strings Assistant Section Leader: Sherman Lee Meng Hong
• Woodwind Assistant Section Leader: Alyan Agalaval
• Woodwind Assistant Section Leader: Khoo Kai Sheng
• Plucked Strings Assistant Section Leader: Andrew Zhou Youhao
• Percussion Assistant Section Leader: Huin Hao Rui
• Cello & Bass Assistant Section Leader: Abdul Mateen Bin Abdul Malik
• Assistant Librarian: Shu Hanchen
• Assistant Quartermaster: Kho You Yang