Beyond music: Singapore Youth Choir Ensemble Singers explore the visual and aural world

Imagine sound as a dancer, fitting and bouncing in staccato notes, then softening and flowing in long melodies. This is what the Singapore Youth Choir (SYC) Ensemble Singers showcased in ‘Curious and Curiouser’, a concert exploring the interplay of sight and sound.

Established in 1964, the SYC Ensemble Singers made history as the first Singaporean choir to win an international competition, the Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod in 1974. Led by Music Director and 2012 Cultural Medallion recipient Jennifer Tham, they consistently push boundaries and disciplines, exploring spatialised sound, theatre and movement.

This innovative spirit is rooted in Singapore’s choral scene, which blossomed in the 1960s with the Ministry of Education’s support. The establishment of the Singapore Youth Choir (now the SYC Ensemble Singers) and the Choral Excellence Programme nurtured a vibrant choral community, which included the highly anticipated biennial choral competition as part of the Singapore Youth Festival.

‘Curious & Curioser’ explores the intersection between space, light and sound , Image Credit: Law Kian Yan

Achieving higher levels of performance with experimentation and play

Curious & Curiouser emerged from the company’s desire to create a more visual performance, “where we explore what a theatre of voices can bring to the performance through staging and blocking, and movement and lighting,” says Company Manager Albert Yeo.

Beyond the typical choir performance, Curious & Curiouser focuses on the physicality of sound. Performers move in patterned and random sequences. Their black choir folders are lifted and lowered, almost as if they were dancing with them. Pages of the folder are turned at exact, rehearsed moments while the choir sings, adding a visual element to the performance.

“We hope that people could see a choir play outside the box,” Albert shares. “The narrative begins the minute we step on stage.”

 Jennifer Tham experimented with sound in the Esplanade Recital Studio, where the performance was held. In ‘5. umbrella songs’, singers scattered around a central octet and echoed word-notes, creating an “impressionistic effect” like drops of colour in a watercolour painting. This spatial manipulation highlighted sound’s malleability, a treat for the eyes and ears.

Performers in ‘5. umbrella songs’ surround one singer Image Credit: Law Kian Yan

The production delves into the complexities of haiku, capturing their essence through word painting. For example, close canon and clusters evoke “white” in ‘I. water mist fog’, and vowel overtones depict dusk in ‘II. stretching pine across’.

Empowering Artistic Experimentation

The support from Presentation and Participation grant was instrumental. “Without (it),” Albert explains, “it would have been impossible to mount a project of this nature.” The support allowed for experimentation with lighting, enhancing the visual experience and provided consistent rehearsal space for the performers to perfect their movements. The grant also supported the exploration of haiku and word painting, enabling the choir to delve deeper into the nuances of these poetic forms and create a truly immersive experience for the audience.

The P&P Grant empowers artists and arts organisations to present quality artworks that showcase Singapore’s artistic diversity and excellence. The Grant also hopes to increase appreciation and engagement with the arts in Singapore.

Curious & Curiouser lives up to its name, pushing boundaries of choral performance. With NAC’s support, the SYC Ensemble Singers created a unique and memorable experience, contributing to a vibrant arts scene in Singapore.