The Centenary Music Scholarship started this academic year at Tanglin Trust School. It offers exciting opportunities to music scholars entering the Senior School’s music elective programme. The launch coincided with Tanglin’s Centenary celebrations. Director of Music ROB HALL shares what else is in store at the school for the rest of the academic year.
The 12 music scholars of Tanglin Trust have had a busy start! They showcased their talents as soloists or as duettists at the launch concert held at Chijmes Hall. Our music scholars also performed at the opening of the exhibition, ‘100 Years of Tanglin: Celebrating a Centenary of Excellence’. It marked the start of the school’s Centenary celebrations. This event – attended by over 150 guests including alumni, parents, staff and members of the Tanglin Foundation – highlighted the extraordinary talent within our music elective programme.
During the October half-term break, eight music scholars joined 45 other Tanglin musicians on a performance tour to Salamanca and Madrid, Spain. The students gave four concerts and enjoyed a series of cultural activities and visits. Regular overseas tours such as this one are expected to become a key feature of Tanglin’s musical calendar and music education in the years to come.
The music elective programme hopes to cultivate a thriving environment where our young musicians can excel and inspire others, and provide opportunities both within Tanglin Trust and beyond. One of our scholars, Charlotte T (Year 10), who won the Musician of the Year competition last year, performed as a soloist in Haydn’s Cello Concerto with the Tanglin Symphony Orchestra at SOTA.
Upcoming concerts and workshops at Tanglin Trust
In recent years, the music department of Tanglin Trust has developed a robust schedule of guest visits from notable musicians. They include Briana Corrigan (formerly of The Beautiful South), Paul Phoenix (formerly of The King’s Singer) and Igor Yuzefovich (Concertmaster of BBC Symphony Orchestra). These interactions offer invaluable music education experiences for our students.
An exciting upcoming event is the Centenary Celebrations Gala Concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall in April 2025. It will feature the world premiere of a specially commissioned piece by the eminent British composer Jonathan Dove. It underscores Tanglin’s commitment to fostering high-calibre music education experiences for our students and the wider Tanglin community.
Performance opportunities abound for music scholars and student musicians at Tanglin Trust. A typical year sees over 80 performances from informal pop-up concerts to small recitals, and larger events involving hundreds of students. With an ever-expanding programme of concerts, workshops and performances, it’s hoped our musicians on the music elective programme will continue to shine, both on and off the stage.
Hear from a scholar…
“This music scholarship has expanded my experiences and challenged my musical abilities. Each time I learn a new piece, it pushes me to grow and build an extensive repertoire. It’s deepening my passion for music and helping me develop as a musician. Performing at the inaugural Scholars Concert at Chijmes Hall as part of the Centenary celebrations was truly an unforgettable experience. Being selected for the music scholarship after the challenging audition process was another memorable milestone in my Tanglin Music journey. My dream is to become a performer in West End productions, where I can pursue my passion for singing, dancing and acting on stage. Before that, I plan to pursue a master’s degree in musical theatre after completing my undergraduate studies. For now, I’m embracing every opportunity that Tanglin offers.”
– Olivia M, Year 13
Tanglin Trust School
95 Portsdown Road
6778 0771 | tts.edu.sg
This article on the music elective programme at Tanglin Trust School, its music scholarship and Centenary celebrations first appeared in the November 2024 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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