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| What
a sight! Overview of the National Day Parade Preview
on 30 July. |
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Choir conductor Ms Yeow Chern Ee, Co-Curricular Activities Branch
Music Officer, rallied three other conductors to lead the 400-strong
choir from 15 schools. Ms Pauline Ho, Mr Lawrence Siao and Mr
Lim Seng Yuen each takes charge of one of the four blocks performing
to a different sector of the audience. This way, says Chern
Ee, “every part of the Padang will see the performance and not
just the Grand Stand.”
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| Ms
Yeow Chern Ee, Co-Curricular Activities Branch Music
Officer. |
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| The
Combined Schools Choir renders old favourites and
a new song for National Day. |
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As for the songs, the usual favourites are present, including
Munnaeru Vaalibaa, Jia, and Chan Mali
Chan. A new addition is We Can, written by teacher
Ms Rachel Ee.
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| Splashes
of colour come from the distinctive costume of the
400-strong choir. |
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The choir’s all-white costume, right down to shoes, gloves and
hat, is given a splash of colour by a pinafore that incorporates
inter-changeable flaps of different colours. Brightly coloured
props are also used, like Chinese ribbons in the song Jia, to
enhance visual effects.
Evidently, a good performance is a result of copious amount
of practice and coordination. Scores and training music compact
discs were sent to schools. Student leaders, trained by the
conductors and the choreographer, were roped in to train their
own school's choir members. Finally, their June holidays were
taken up with combined rehearsals.
Can anyone imagine NDP without the Combined Schools Choir? Chern
Ee explains why it is indispensable, “The choir segment helps
to set the celebratory mood with their lively singing, colourful
costumes, props and vibrant choreography. It also engages the
audience as they sing along to the familiar tunes.”
Bring it on!
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