The Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir
Under Maestro Lim Yau, and assisted by two qualified voice specialists Mrs Lim-Quek Soo Hiang and Ms Wong Lai Foon, the Children's Choir Training Programme provides young singers aged between 8 and 14 years with a comprehensive initiation into the art of good singing, which includes music literacy, musicianship and proper vocal training. Young singers who have been accepted in the training programme learn the art of breathing, posture, phonetics and diction, in addition to pitch, rhythm, expression and different musical styles.
After one year, the young trainees can audition for placement in the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir. They will then receive training in the finer points of singing to perform classical masterworks with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Mrs Lim received her initial vocal training in Singapore and obtained the Licentiate of Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in Teaching and Performing Diploma.Subsequently, in 1976, she studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. In 1979, Soo Hiang did her postgraduate study at the Royal College of Music and obtained the Associate of Royal College of Music (ARCM) in Singing Performance. She later furthered her vocal training in Germany and Austria.
Since her return to Singapore, Soo Hiang has given several successful solo vocal recitals and recorded for the then Radio 5 classical station.
Soo Hiang has been actively involved in the Singapore schools’ choral programme since 1991. She continues to lead many choirs within the community in the capacities of conductor and coach.
In 1995, in recognition of her contribution, Soo Hiang was awarded a Choral Conductor Visitorship by the British Council in Singapore for attachments and visits with renowned choral organisations throughout the U.K. She has also been invited to Hong Kong, Vancouver, Sydney, Spain and Germany to participate in various choral conventions and competitions.
Since 1992, Soo Hiang has led and conducted several choirs on successful performance tours to Rome, Venice, Paris, Vienna, London, Sydney, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.
For 8 years, Soo Hiang served as a Voice Tutor for the Bachelor of Arts (Music) and In-Service Music Diploma courses at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. She has been giving workshops on vocal technique and choral singing organised by many educational institutions.
Soo Hiang’s mission is to nurture the love for healthy and beautiful singing, to use singing to awake emotions, broaden cultural experiences, enrich the imagination, and to build bridges between individuals.
Wong Lai Foon holds degrees in music education and choral conducting. She studied conducting with Dr Joseph Flummerfelt at the Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where she obtained a Master of Music with distinction. While at Westminster, she had the opportunity to work with James Litton, widely regarded as one of America’s foremost specialists in children’s choral techniques. She has performed in many cities across America as choral singer and accompanist with various choirs of Westminster. These performances included collaborations with major American orchestras under the baton of such noted conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit, Lorin Maazel, Zdeněk Mácal, Sir Neville Marriner, and Michael Tilson Thomas. She has also attended masterclasses by Eric Ericson, Gary Graden, Simon Halsey and Andre Thomas.
Ms Wong is the assistant conductor of The Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Singapore. She has led the choir in various concerts, such as its annual well-loved Christmas concerts, its collaboration with organists Colin Andrews and Janelle Fishell as part of the Esplanade’s Pedal and Pipes concert series, and most recently, in a masterclass with Stephen Cleobury.
On occasion, she is invited to assist the Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Chorus as assistant chorus master, most recently in their Singapore premieres of Macmillan’s Seven Last Words From The Cross and Bacalov’s Misa Tango with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. . Ms Wong has also prepared the choruses for several opera productions, including Marschner’s Der Vampyr with Westminster Opera Theatre (USA), and Verdi’s Macbeth and Il Trovatore with the Singapore Lyric Opera. She teaches conducting at the Methodist School of Music, and is often invited to give choral and conducting workshops.
Contact Person and Enquiries
For all queries, please contact
Regina Lee, Programme Executive (Choral)
Email: choral(at)sso(dot)org(dot)sg
Tel: 66024215
Hp: 81213648
FAQs
Q: How much are the training fees for SSCC Members?
A: Training fees for the Concert Choir members are at S$30 per session, and fees for the Training Choir members are at S$25 per session.
Fees are collected every term.
Q: Are there any other costs or fees?
A: Yes, the extra fees as follows-
1. One time registration fee of $75 (which will translate into a one year Friend of the SSO membership)
2. Annual Music Materials Fee of S$50
3. Upon being promoted to the Concert Choir, members will need to tailor a set of concert uniform, the cost of the uniform is S$75, after subsidy. The full cost of the uniform is S$175.
Q: How can I make payment?
A: All payments are to be made by CHEQUE payable to
“Singapore Symphonia Company Limited”
Please write the member’s CLASS, NAME and PAYMENT ITEM on the back of the cheque in the format of the follwing example:
TC, Tan Hui Hui, Anna, Term 1 fees
You can give the cheque to the SSCC staff who is on duty on the rehearsal day.
Alternatively, you can mail the cheque to:
Regina Lee, 4 Battery Road #20-01, Bank of China Building, Singapore 049908
Q: When must the payment be made?
A: Payment is to be made BEFORE the commencement of each term. Members can only start sessions with the SSCC AFTER payment has been made.
Q: When, what time, and where are the rehearsals of the SSCC?
A: All our classes are held over the weekends on Sat.
The training times are as follows:
Training Choir
Training Choir Class 1 - 10.45am to 1.15pm
Training Choir Class 2 - 2.30pm to 5.00pm
Concert Choir
Concert Choir Class - 2.00pm to 6.00pm
In the lead up to concerts, there will be an increase in number of rehearsal sessions, some of which will fall on weekday evenings.
Q: If the current practice session clashes with my child’s schedule, can he/she attend another Choir session?
A: Yes. Please consult Regina Lee on your situation and we will try and make a switch for you.
Q: How can I be informed of updates from the SSCC?
A: All updates and information will be sent via email to all members.
When necessary, SSCC staff will contact members through the phone or by mail. All members are to provide us with UP-TO-DATE PERSONAL PARTICULARS of the following:
- Member’s Name
- Identification Number
- Date of Birth
- Nationality
- Member’s Email Address
- Member’s Mobile Phone Number
- Mother’s Name
- Mother’s Email Address
- Mother’s Mobile Phone Number
- Father’s Name
- Father’s Email Address
- Father’s Mobile Phone Number
- Home Address
- Home Telephone Number
If there are any changes to your personal particulars, please email the updates to Regina Lee.
Q: Will attendance be taken for rehearsals?
A: Yes. The SSCC staff on duty will take attendance for all classes before the start of the class.
Q: If my child is sick and cannot attend the rehearsal for that week, how can I inform the instructor?
A: Please send Regina Lee an email with the member’s name, class, and the reason for absence and she will inform the respective instructor. You may also send an sms to the choral mobile 81213648 for an immediate response.
Q: If my child has other commitments to attend to, like exams, enrichment lessons, CCA etc, and will not be able to attend Choir for a certain period of time, can he/she apply for leave of absence?
A: We regret that we cannot grant leave of absence to our members, for any duration. If the member wishes to retain his/her position in the Choir, he/she will have to pay the Term Fees IN FULL. Otherwise, the member will be advised to withdraw from the Choir and re-audition if he/she wishes to join the SSCC again.
Q: How many auditions must a member go through in the SSCC?
A: 2 auditions. The first is for entrance into SSCC’s Training Choir, the second is for entrance into the Concert Choir.
Q: When are auditions held?
A: Auditions are held every half yearly, in late May and late November.
Q: My child is currently in the Training Choir, how does he/she join the Concert Choir?
A: After a year's foundation in the Training Choir, members can undergo an audition for entry into the Concert Choir. Auditions are held in late May and late November.
The instructors also assess each member's abilities throughout the term and will promote a TC member into the CC whenever they feel the child is ready.
Q: What kind of songs should my child prepare for the audition?
A: Any NON nursery rhyme or pop song would mainly be the criteria for the audition.
Q: What happens if my child does not pass the audition into the Concert Choir?
A: Assuming a Batch 2 member who joined in July 2007 does not pass the late May 2008 audition, he/she will be invited to join the Batch 3 Training Choir Class from July 2008 onwards. They will be given another chance to audition for the Concert Choir together with the rest of the Batch 3 Training Choir members in late November 2008. New Training Choir classes start every January and July
Q: How many concerts are there in a year?
A: The Concert Choir produces a minimum of 2 concerts a year; a family Christmas concert and an SSCC stand alone concert.
Works involving children's choir are limited, as such, we cannot guarantee a performance with the orchestra every season, and will depend entirely on the SSO programming for the season.
In season 2010/2011, there were no performances for the SSCC.
In 2011/12, there were 2.
The choir may also take up other adhoc projects if the opportunity presents itself.
The Training Choirs conduct 2 in house presentation concerts in late May and late November. These in house concerts are for all TC members from those who have completed just 6months of training to the graduating class. These concerts are complimentary.
Q: Will the rehearsals and concerts clash with my child’s school exams? Is the SSCC familiar with the school schedules?
A: Both our instructors, Mrs Lim and Mrs Wong previously taught in Singapore schools, thus they are sensitive to the children’s involvement in schools and the examinations.
Q: When a boy’s voice breaks, is he expected to leave the SSCC?
A: When a boy’s voice breaks, it will be difficult for him to deliver his voice, so it would be better for him to let his voice settle and take a break from the choir. If he wishes to stay in the choir during this time, the instructors will assess him weekly and train him accordingly
Q: What are the future prospects for my child if he continues with the SSCC?
A: Being with the SSCC, the child would have gained performance choir singing skills and techniques and performance experience, with that, he/she can then go on to participate other youth or adult choirs, or even join the Singapore Symphony Chorus.
