Singapore, 1 July 2015 (Wednesday) – For the very first time, the two National Projects of Excellence – the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) and the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) – will come together in a joint concert to celebrate our nation’s golden jubilee. The two conductors, Dr Leonard Tan and Mr Quek Ling Kiong, will lead the two orchestras to present Symphonic Gifts – a myriad of musical suites ranging from traditional, modern to East-West fusion compositions.

Metaphorically, this concert features the two fold narratives of a child’s musical journey from its beginnings to its success, reflecting the national youth orchestras’ mission to nurture young musical talents, as well as the progress of Singapore through the years. The first-half of the concert will feature both youth orchestras independently with SNYO, under the baton of Dr Leonard Tan, to perform Leong Yoon Pin’s Dayong Sampan Overture to kickstart the concert. SYCO, under the baton of Quek Ling Kiong, will play silk and bamboo music Happy Times and the well-known roaring piece by Li Min Xiong, A Well-matched Fight. Renowned Singaporean violinist, Siow Lee-Chin, will then perform with SNYO in Kam Kee Yong’s Kuang Xiang Qu for Solo Violin and Orchestra.

The combined SNYO-SYCO orchestra will have a grand showcase at the second-half of the concert to perform three arrangements including award-winning composition Tapestries – Time Dances by Eric Watson, The Sisters’ Islands by talented local composer Wang Chenwei, both conducted by Quek Ling Kiong; and the finale Symphonic Suite by Kelly Tang, to be conducted by Dr Leonard Tan.

This concert is co-organised by Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Ministry of Education of Singapore and Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

2015-07-01-1 The Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra play together to celebrate SG50
SNYO Conductor:            SYCO Conductor:            Violin: Siow Lee-Chin
Leonard Tan                  Quek Ling Kiong

Concert details:

Symphonic Gifts
Date: 24 July 2015 (Friday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Ticket price: $10 (excludes SISTIC fee)

Tickets are available from SISTIC hotline: 6348 5555, website: www.sistic.com.sg, SISTIC counters.

Group bookings of minimum 20 tickets enjoy a further 5% discount. For group booking, please write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please contact Media Officers for more information, photographs and interviews.

Media Contacts

Pang Siu Yuin 
Deputy General Manager
Singapore National Youth Orchestra 
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 
DID: 6602 4239 / 9137 5727

Koh Mui Leng
Assistant Manager (Marketing Communications)
Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DID: 6557 4047 / 9833 0556

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