Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band

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NP ARTS FIESTA 2012
NP CONCERT BAND PRESENTS:
NOSTALGIA: WHEN I WAS YOUNG
Date: 27th October 2012
Time: 7pm-9pm
Venue: Music Box @ Seventy3, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Price: $10 (All proceeds go towards the President Challenge 2012)
How to Purchase Tickets: Visit the NP Arts Fiesta Website or inquire with any band member!

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Wednesday, 29 June 2011

21:08

Hi Band-its!

Some updates and information for everyone!

1) Band practices will be on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays starting from the week of 4th July! Tuesday practices are full band practices as well.

2) Sectionals can be held everyday except Sunday at our own Music Studio or rooms in Block 71(YES THE OLD STUDIO THERE AND OTHER OLD CCA STUDIOS THERE!). Block 71 operating hours are from 5pm - 10pm and Saturday 9am - 5pm. Section leaders, please take note of the timings, it will help when you are planning your sectionals. Please inform me at least 3 days earlier to hold your sectionals. The committee and I cannot fly down to open the doors for you to have sectionals if you inform us too late.

I hope you all know I am trying my best to get air-conditioned rooms for everyone to have their sectionals and not in the heat or in the open space where everyone can hear what others are playing. SECTIONALS ARE VERY IMPORTANT!

3) Water Coolers will be put up in 3-4 weeks time at Level 2, 3 and 4 of Seventy3! That is what the school told us! :)

4) Basic housekeeping rules like not leaving litters around your area still apply. I am sure you all won't throw your tissues, water bottles around your house, am I right? Just make sure when you leave the Music Studio every time, find a litter be it yours or not yours, and throw it away at the bin inside the music studio or outside the music studio. If the issue is not resolved, I will assign a section to come back on a non band day to clean the room for 30 mins, weekly. I hope we don't have to resolve to this kind of treatment. So please make sure you do your part, check whether you have left your water bottles around or tissues and dispose them as accordingly! :)

6)Ensemble performance yesterday was awesome! I would like to take the chance here once again, to thank everyone that has contributed to this performance, in a way or another. Performers, I believe we all have learnt something be it musical or life. We have once again represented Ngee Ann Poly and the school is very happy with the performance! People who did not perform for the event, please do not feel that you are not part of the band or the ensembles! Hard work had paid off, GOOD JOB EVERYONE! :) And also not forgetting members who had come down and support us, THANK YOU! :)

7) The Air-Con Issue have been settled. Air Con will only switch off after 10pm instead of 9pm. Cheers! :)

LAST BUT NOT LEAST,
THERE IS BAND PRACTICE TOMORROW AT 6pm! SEE YOU! :)

Kay Min

Monday, 27 June 2011

23:57

Hi band-its!

Music In-The-City 2011

NP Flute Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble and Brass Quintet will be performing at a stage outside Ngee Ann City later, at 7pm. I hope you all can come down to watch and give us your support!

We are playing pieces like Pink Panther, Totoro, Greeeen, Yankee Doodle, Battleship Yamato, Bengawan Solo, Rasa Sayang and a lot more pieces!

I will be at the band room after 12noon because I end my lessons at 12noon. Anyone who ends lesson already, can come to the Music Studio. Everyone who are performing must report at the Music Studio by 5.30pm. Thank you! Remember your scores, your file(to make sure scores don't fly around), your instruments, reeds, mouthpieces and accessories!

A note to all performers for the show later

I would like to thank you all for practicing so hard for this performance. When the school asked various performing arts CCAs to take up the performance, I thought of ensembles. It is like a dream came true. I hope all the 3 ensembles will still stay tight throughout as there might be an Ensemble Concert in September! Look forward towards that! :) The performance will be a presentation of all the hard work that you all put in from the previous 2 weeks! :) Let's all work hard for Pops & Classics 2011 after the concert! :) Oh ya, I am very happy that not only you all practiced the repertoire for your performance and also the P&C Repertoire! CCA Points will be rewarded to whoever who performed for this! :) IT WILL BE A GOOD SHOW! :)

To those who are constantly practicing hard for the P&C 2011, keep the good effort up and always strive for music excellence!

For those who do not come practice with a reason but didn't account to anyone, I would like to remind you all that accountability is one basic thing that everyone should have. If you cannot come for practice, please inform your Section Leader and also state the reason(s). If your Section Leader is unable to be contacted, please contact the President, Darren. His number is at the whiteboard of the Music Studio.

For those that skips practice, I would like remind you that if you are a performer for any event/concert/performance, you are responsible for the quality of music. We will not hesitate to take you out of the concert/performance/event if you constantly never attend practice.

Everyone is important in the process of making music. Everyone got their own lives to lead, but if you are part of the band, I hope you can make band as one of your priorities and attend practices religiously. Mr Tan alone cannot complete many things as he wants in a 1 full band practice. Sectionals are very important to make sure your section members know their own parts well and play together as a section. I'll arrange to book classrooms and decent venues for sectionals. SLs, please decide on your sectionals time and let me know so I can try to book for you! Section Leader is not a post for nothing, you are supposed to be leading the section hence you're the person responsible for your section. It is always a two way thing, the committee will always give their support to the section leader and the section leaders also give the committee the support!

Repertoire List for P&C 2011(not in order)

Cats

Voyage

L'arlesienne Suite No.2

Hymm To The Fallen(with choir)

A Whole New World(with choir)

Galop

Crest of Honor

The LocoMotion

Let's all work hard for the upcoming POPS & CLASSICS 2011! Cheers! :)

Kay Min

Vice President & Stage Manager for NP Concert Band FY11/12

Thursday, 16 June 2011

00:20

Hellllllo band-its! Just some updates and repeat of annoucements on monday!

1) Band Day Camps

Monday(20th June 2011), Tuesday(21th June 2011)

Time to report on Monday : 9am!

More Details will be given for this!

2) Performance for Music-In-The-City 2011 by Ngee Ann City

Date : 28th June 2011, Tuesday

Time : 7pm-8pm

The stage is in the outdoor Civic Plaza( stage will have shelter) and is semi-circle in shape).

There are up to 8 microphones provided(all wired).

Ensembles that are practicing for it : Flute Ensemble, Saxophone Ensemble, Brass Quintet

Attire for the performance for male : Black long sleeves, black pants, black long socks, black

shoes. For female : same as male, except for the shoes part. courts shoes or heels or smth. Or

if you all want, can wear black dress, nothing above knee level.. at a decent level.

We hope that the band members can drop by the area to support us on the performance

timing! :)

3) Discipline has always been bad during band practices but it is supposed to be like that? How does talking not band related stuff improves your playing? Even if you need to talk, please be considerate and WHISPER. Think as a whole. We got more than 45 people

sometimes and what happen if everyone whisper? Can Mr Tan even convey what he wants to

certain sections or the band? Best is everyone keep quiet and listens to what Mr Tan got to say. Rehearsals are not very effective because we are talking when Mr Tan is trying to guide certain section/sections. We are a Band. I hope everyone get this into their head and start thinking how to contribute to making rehearsals efficient. You should have practiced your parts before coming for full band rehearsals. SLs, please hold sectionals!

When Mr Tan finished rehearsing a piece on a day, then he changes to another piece, there

will be lots of talking as if everyone have not talked for ages. Please control and minimize the

talking so Mr Tan can start his rehearsal for another piece faster. We only have slightly more than a month to Pops&Classics 2011, VERY NEAR. Nobody wants to be the bad guy,

but honestly, this cannot go on.

Anyway, please bring your jackets/sweaters/windbreakers to band as it is cold! There

is nothing we can do about the air-cons except to run it because it needs to be 'seasoned' to make sure it is not so cold after a period of time!

On a side note, I would like to thank the 3 ensembles for coming back frequently to practice. I

appreciate the hardwork you all put in for this performance! It will mark the start of forming

ensembles in band and I hope this tradition goes on every year and year.. We never know if

big organisation people walk past on the day and appreciated our performance and contact us for other performances and gigs! You reap what you sow. The performance standard will

be the level of hardwork you put in. Keep the hard work going everyone! :)

Kay Min

Our Band Director

ME4 Tan Aik Kee Steven started learning the clarinet when he was at a tender age of 7. During his studies in Ngee Ann Polytechnic, he performed as a Clarinetist for the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band and was also appointed as the band’s Concert Master and Student Conductor. Upon graduation, he continued to be the assistant conductor for the band and the conductor for the Ngee Ann Polytechnic Alumni Band.

In 1993, ME4 Tan was enlisted into the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Band and has served as Concert Master for the SAF Central Band since. In 1998, he was selected to attend the Drum Major Course in the Defence Force School of Music, Melbourne. In recognition of his dedication to the SAF Bands, he was awarded the 'Excellent Award' by the Defence Administrative Group, Ministry of Defence of Singapore that same year. During his stint as a musician in the SAF, ME4 Tan became an Associate of the Trinity College of London and Licentiate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

In 2001, ME4 Tan was offered a scholarship by the SAF to pursue the Bandmaster Course in the Royal Military School of Music (RMSM), Kneller Hall, UK. During his stay in the UK, ME4 Tan was sponsored by the school to participate in the UK 2004 National Association of Brass Bands Conductors (NABBC) Young Conductors competition. He won the first prize during the semi-finals in London and the Southern Counties and went on to win the third prize during the National Finals.

Upon his graduation from RMSM, he was awarded 'The Besson Cup' for gaining the highest marks in the academic examinations, “The Graham Wallace Award” for being the best overseas student, 'The Chorale Prize' for best in chorale setting, 'The Fred Mortimer Memorial Prize' for best in brass band arrangement, 'The Jaeger Trophy' for gaining the highest marks in secondary instruments studies and 'The Principal Director of Music Prize' for best in conducting. ME4 Tan graduated with a First Class Honours Bachelor degree in Music.

Currently, ME4 Tan is the Director of Music of the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band, serving as a Senior Military Expert (Military Expert 4), and is a loving husband of Justina and a proud father of two boys, Jeremy and Cale.

Our Band

The Ngee Ann Polytechnic Concert Band was established in 1983 under the baton of Mr. Yeo Poong Poh. The idea of forming a band was conceived by our 4th principal, Mr. Chen Hung, a noted music lover.

The band holds two public concerts yearly, namely “POPS ‘N’ CLASSICS” and “RONDEAU”. RONDEAU is held to further strengthen the relationship among the alumni and main band members.

RONDEAU was first staged in 1986 in Victoria Concert Hall after the 1st POPS ‘N’ CLASSICS. The name RONDEAU means ‘coming around’.

The band has participated in events such as the Penang Arts Festival, which marked the starting point of the band’s many expeditions abroad, included a cultural exchange to Perth in October 2006.

Besides its annual performances, NP Concert Band performs regularly for the NP’s student body and the public such as the Singapore Arts Festival - Fringe, CCA Fiesta, NP Open House and Ngee Ann Art Festivals.

ME4 Tan Aik Kee Steven took over the title of resident conductor in 2004 and has since then brought the band to greater heights.

The band took part in the opening of the prestigious World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensemble (WASBE) 2005. The band also clinched a silver medal in the 1st National Bands Competition (Open Division) in 2006.

The band was invited by the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts to perform for their National Day Observance Ceremony. In addition, the band was awarded the Most Outstanding Societies Award (Art and Cultural) in 2005/2006.

In 2009, the band, together with NP Strings, staged the first ever combined concert, Ripieno, at Victoria Concert Hall. Through this concert, the members of both clubs have built up wonderful friendships and had an unforgettable experience playing in an Orchestra.

In 2010, the band took part in Singapore International Band Festival (First Division) and clinched a silver medal with score of 84.14%.

In 2011, the band was invited to perform for an event "Music In The City" held at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza. Through this performance, the band members have gained an exceptional experience performing at Orchard Road and bond with each other.

In our love for music-making, we hope to continue this amazing musical journey together...

Musicians

WOODWINDS	BRASSES	PERCUSSION
Flutes Samantha Tan Jing Yu * Siow Wei Yi Teo Mei Zhen Tang Jia Yi Tan Pei Jun Double Reeds Vanessa Goh Nur Amirah Clarinets Chong Bing Hong * Tan Si Yuan Kimberly Ho Lilin Tan Hui Min Nur Fitri Bte Suthree Ho Chee Yuan Khoo Jing Hui (Ashley) Wu Xiao Fan Tng Hong Xiang, Nigel Saxophones Terence Wong Wei Xiang * Hazmei bin Abdul Rahman Suryadi Dulcia Quek Yan Ling	Trumpets Tay Wen Lu * Andy Chan Yi En Ng Jun Jie Loo Kok Hao Joey Ranald Lai Jun Liang Yam Shi Lee Terence Wong Jun Jie Shaun Loh Shawn Tan Bi Xuan Vincent Wong Ryan Hidayat French Horns James Ng Haozuo * Yeo Jin Xiu Jaben Sim Patricia Goh Glenn Teo Trombones Thanapong Puangpathumanond * Ng Ming Jie Loh Hui Qi Toh Han Wei Ong Qian Yi Sherlynn Euphoniums Hoh Jing Wen * Darren Teo Bei Liang Nur Syafiqah Tubas Teo Kay Min * Huang Can (David)	Tan Ze Hao * Leng Kang Chun Arif Haikal Fatin Nadiah Gao Jing Xi Gary Koh Wang Minghao Priscilla Lim Zi Qi

* denotes Section Leader