Many audience members were very much impressed with our 'Circle of Life' & to quote one of them, "Wow, they were super energetic!" HOORAY!
Here, we would firstly like to thank the Sec4s: Bryan, Dexter, Bernard, Jun An, Amri, Sandra & Jeanette, who took time off from their strenuous O'Level preps to join us for their very last performance with DMNChoir! Thank you so much guys & 加油 for the Os! We'll miss you dearly!
Secondly, we would also like to thank the SLs who really surpassed themselves in making sure that every single one of us were ready for the performance, be it in techniques, rhythms or actions! They were ever ready to help any of us & gave new meaning to the word, "dedication'".
KUDOS TO YOU GUYS!
Thirdly, we would like to thank every single one of you! YES, YOU GUYS! We could tell that everyone was dead serious about this performance & really focused on the music & the details before the performance. On stage, you guys were professional & sang your heart out! For the virgin performers, we hope that you enjoyed yourselves & will look forward to the next performance!
Next, THANK YOU teachers! At the same time, DMNChoir warmly welcomes 2 new teachers, Ms Lyanna Wong & Ms Pearl Ong, who has joined our huge family! YAY! (: We hope that you guys enjoyed this first time experience with the choir! So, thank you teachers for being there to listen to us talk about anything under the sun & offering words of wisdom & encouragement when we face a setback or feel down!
Finally, a BIG THANK YOU to our beloved conductor, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, who always inspires us to do our best in everything that we do!
Whether I be far or near, may I hear only good news of you all.
A sunbeam to warm you,
A moonbeam to charm you,
A sheltering angel, so nothing can harm you.
May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.
May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
This year's edition of Farewell... is definitely special and especially emotional(!) as it saw the departure of Mdm Ng as well as the seniors 2010 from the Dunman Choir family!
When the news broke to us, many of us where stunned beyond words...
Others lamented...
"Aww... there won't be anymore good food during camps and performances!"
" We lost a mommy!"
Indeed... with Mdm Ng's departure from this family, it seems as if we have lost an endearing mother who's always been there for us. Taking care of us, doing things behind-the-scenes, often unacknowledged. Yet, she never seeked any acknowledgement of any sort.
It seems as though our selfish selves failed to see her dedication until the day she left us.
However, there are no use for regrets... so... let's cherish those whom we still have around us and move on!
Though things will definitely be different without Mdm Ng... I am sure with the equally capable, motherly and meticulous teachers-in-charge, Ms Yeo & Ms Chin... DMNChoir will be well led in our endearvours in 2011!
As you guys know, it was officiated that the Secondary Four 2010 batch, have left their positions as members of the Dunman Choir family after about 1,187.03715 days of passionate music making, strict diet controls and the high levels of commitment required for every practice.
This special batch therefore decided to give us juniors as well as Mdm Ng, a beautiful farewell gift as they performed a harmonious stage of the Oh! Medley as well as If We Hold On Together, arranged by themselves, on the 8th of January.
Although it is sad to see them go, don’t be too disappointed. Even though the members are ceasing their activities in choir, (some of) the seniors will still be making appearances on concerts as part of the alumni choir... so it’s not like we won’t be seeing them for a long while (subjective!).
Also, don’t forget to congratulate them for their fine performance during the 'O' Levels!
Without further ado, check out their farewell performance below!
[To be Updated!]
As it is all too familiar to us, goodbye is the hardest thing to say.
However, us, here at Dunman Choir, we know for a fact that we may be physically seperated, however, the strong bonds we share(d) will last for years to come.
Whoa how time flies! The last time this blog was updated was in April 2010?! Wow we've been so busy with choir to update this blog! Sorry to any stalkers out there :D
It's already 2011, and I can't believe how quickly time has passed. It seems as if just yesterday that I entered DMNCHOIR as a rotund, blur-sotong sec one kid, not knowing what I had in store for the rest of my 4 years in choir. Well, these 4 years have been very colorful indeed, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every event- SYF, Tour, concerts etc. Oh Lord, I'd totally give my all to rewind these 4 years. :(
So let's look at our 2010, shan't we? :D
JANUARY DMNCHOIR Sec One Recruitment Drive
Everyone got to play various roles in the Auditions, such as Auditioner, Runner, Rara etc, and I know everyone had fun in their own way right? The sec ones sooooooooo cute!! :D *I'm not being pedophilic here ok!*
And there also was our small performance at the CCA Orientation. We also sang the school song with the band which played it out! :D DUNMAN BESTOWS KNOWLEDGE THE TORCH OF LIFE!!!~
Oh, and for the first time in DMNCHOIR history, we recruited more boys than girls! Who says boys can't sing huh? :D
Sec Ones Welcome Tea Party
Fun and games and yummy food!! :D
March
Choir Exchange at Catholic Junior College
For some of us, this was a wake up call. Our standard was horrible, just weeks before our first ever Esplanade concert.
We performed This Is The Moment and Wana Baraka, both of which were easy-peasy-lemon-squeezy songs. And yet, we were able to screw up the performance. What a joke, for a 10-time gold medallist choir.
Over time, more and more of us achieved the sense of urgency to improve so much more before April 14th.
April
Limelight 2010 @ Esplanade
Our first ever Esplanade concert. Preparations leading up to April 14th were getting more and more intense. As the day got nearer, it became more likely that our concert would be sold out (just like most other previous concerts which we usually held at the much smaller Victoria Concert Hall). 1614 pairs of eyes might be watching. Would we be able to put up our best performance?
Alas, the day itself. While we were backstage, we were told at first that less than 10 seats were left. Then a while later, it was sold out. We, Dunman Secondary School Choir, had a sold-out concert at the Esplanade. Wow. (And this was the first ever Limelight concert to be sold out.)
Showtime. Some people were nervous, but as soon as we started singing, the magic of the stage took over our nerves and music was the only thing that occupied our minds. We delivered our 10 songs trying to be the best we could possibly be. Song after song, thunderous applause filled the hall. Could you imagine how that felt?
It was a very special experience for all of us. For the sec ones, their first concert was at the Esplanade. For the sec fours, our last official concert, our swan song, was at the Esplanade.
I personally choose this as my best concert ever, with my beloved DMNCHOIR.
Dunman Secondary School Speech Day 2010
Hmmm what did we sing here? Ah yes, the Parent Trap Medley and I Can Make The Difference! What better use can we put our voices to, other than singing for our very darling Dunman Secondary School? :D :D :D
June
DMNCHOIR Non-competition Tour 2010, Cesky Krumlov and Olomouc, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria.
This tour was a non-competition tour. 19 potential student leaders were invited to go to Olomouc in the Czech Republic to sing as a Demonstration Choir, as our conductor, Mr Toh, was giving a talk on Choir Pedagogy.
Choir Camp 2010
Choir camp 2010 was fun FUN FUN!!! :D :D Great job to the Camp Committee!
Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this year's choir camp (as I did every other year as well) so let the picture above do the talking with all our tired but exhilarated faces!
Singing after Orienteering!! (Who on earth is able to sing after a tiring round of orienteering?! DMNCHOIR SPIRIT!!~)
Sec 4s' Talent time performances!! :D (I just had to post these hahaha!)
If We Hold On Together
Oh! Medley
Choir Games Day 2010
Choir games day!! Fun fun fun and everyone still managed to sing after that LOL! Truly the DMNCHOIR spirit!!!
November
Prelude To Advent 3 @ Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Hall
This was a combined concert together with 2 of Mr Toh's other choirs, the Raffles Voices and St Joseph's Institution Vocal Ensemble.
DMNCHOIR sang Pater Noster, Kalinda and a medley of Christmas songs!!! I was standing just outside the hall (I was ushering, so I had to stay outside to prevent people from entering during performance time) and I could totally hear them singing. And the medley was SO SO majestic!!! DMNCHOIR!!!~
What an eventful year it has been. Even though I had already stepped down in April, the other 2010 sec4s and I continued to be involved in DMNCHOIR activities, and what could we say, we miss DMNCHOIR and you're all very fortunate to be in the hands of a new group of very strong and capable leaders! :)
We are really going to miss you all so much. Really it's been an exciting journey and I simply cannot believe that you guys are actually graduating already.
Thank you for your love and commitment to choir and I must say that you have all brought choir up to another level altogether, not only in terms of singing, but also the unity and love that you guys have showed your juniors!
It is crazy but when I remember you guys in Sec One, how some of you were sworn enemies with me (HAHAHA! you know who you are!), how ACS was formed, how I had to chase you guys to go for practices and the fact that the remaining 20 of you still stayed on and stayed strong, despite the record number of people dropping out, astounds me. And how I'm so proud of you all and how you've grown so much since then and how you guys have learnt to sacrifice for choir and love choir! It hasn't been easy, the stress of SYF, the stress of putting up a Dunman Sec Choir only concert after so many years, leading the overseas tour with the most number of juniors on it, and even managing to juggle studies and choir!
Even though I may not express this to you, or even talk to you guys as much as I may have to some other batches, but that doesn't mean I treasure you guys less. You have shown me so much and taught me so much, things like humility, a teachable spirit, resilience, adaptability, and really the determination to ACHIEVE! You guys will always have a very special place in my heart and in all your juniors' hearts too!
Thank you for the sweet memories and making this year yet another year to be remembered fondly. WE will truly miss every single one of you so much and will remember the tears, laughter and music shared even in years to come. God bless each and everyone of you and remember you will always be part of DMNchoir family!
With much Love, Miss Yeo.
P.S. We will sing our hearts out on 14 April, yes? DMNchoir 2010!!!
'And as long as I have music, as long as there's a song for me to sing, I can find my way, I can see a brighter day, the music in my life will set my spirit free!!! '
TICKET PRICE (EXCLUDE BOOKING FEE) Standard - S$20
Student, Senior Citizen, NSF- S$10
Please add to above price $3 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets above $20 and $1 Booking Fee per ticket for tickets $20 and below. Charges include GST where applicable.
Internet Booking starts on 18 Feb 2010, 9am. Other Sales Channel starts on 18 Feb 2010, 10am.
For Group Booking of 20 tickets and above, please contact Esplanade Box Office at (65) 68288389 or email at boxoffice@esplanade.com
ADMISSION RULES No admission for infant in arms and child aged below 6 years old. Child 6 years old and above must purchase ticket for admission.
* No Photography, Video recording and Audio recording is allowed for this event !
LANGUAGE English
SYNOPSIS The 100-strong Dunman Secondary Choir made history when it became the first neighbourhood school choir to clinch a gold medal in the demanding Singapore Youth Festival Choral Competition in 1997. It has since gone on to garner a total of 10 gold medals nationally and internationally under its resident conductor Mr Toh Ban Sheng. The most recent win was in Prague Christmas International Festival where the choir was awarded a gold diploma and a special jury prize for interpretation.
Though majority of the mixed children’s choir singers have no prior musical training, the Choir embraces a challenging repertoire and won itself a Repertoire Prize at an international festival in Europe in 2003. To date, the Choir had performed in Australia, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, England and France.
Programme :
Wana Baraka Ashita This is the moment/Come travel Cantate Domino Under Linden Natsuno Enongu Tonight from "West side story" Audete Gaudete O magnum mysterium Kalinda As long as there is music Masquerade/ Parent Trap I can make the difference
Thanks to all who helped out, esp. the alumni for taking time off your busy schedule to help us! Love every single one of you! It was lovely to see everyone take the lead as a classroom IC/runner/auditioner in the name of DMNCHOIR and bond together in the process (esp the sec2s!).
To all sec ones who are reading this, welcome to DMNCHOIR! Thanks for choosing to fly high with DMNCHOIR! :D
Okay that's it, hope to see every single one of you lovely people next week when we start choir practices! (Will inform you all of exact starting date soon.)
P.S. There will be auditions next Monday for some sec one girls who didn't get to audition for the 2nd round either because of some mistake on our part, or because they didn't come today. Will inform you all tomorrow (if you're reading).
Performed at Prague Christmas International Festival
Awarded Gold and special prize for interpretation of Kasar Mie La Gaji
Circle of Life-SYF Presentation 2011
Composed by Elton John, Hans Zimmer, Lebo M., and Tim Rice
Arranger: Audrey Snyder
Adapted by: Mr Toh Ban Sheng
Search.
About.
Dunman Secondary School Choir, a 100+ strong SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) chorale group in Singapore, comprises of singers between the age of 13 and 17. Led by her resident choral director, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, DMNCHOIR has built up a reputation of winning Gold Awards at both national as well as international choral competitions and is one of the top school choirs in Singapore. With the accomplishment of a Gold in the 10th International Competition Festival of Advent and Christmas Music, Prague Christmas in December 2009, DMNCHOIR is now officially a 11-time Gold medalist both nationally and internationally.
Mr Toh started out as a self-taught musician and earned his first music qualification at the age of 26. He began his first formal music lesson with Cultural Medallion winner Choo Hwee Lim. His three-year stint at the Co-Curricular Activities Branch of the Ministry of Education, where he left as Music Specialist, catapulted him into the Singapore choral scene.
Alto Sectional Leaders: Sandra Ng Mei Wen (4C), Ong Wan Jing (5A), Lee Hong Hui (3B), Goh Yi Ai (3C), Chin Yen Ping (3D)
Tenor Sectional Leaders: Bryan Loy Chang Xun (4C), Regan Lim Ming Lin (4C), Ang Jing Wei (3D)
Bass Sectional Leaders: Bernard Koh Geng Hao(4B), Dexter Choo Yun Zhang (4B), Long Jun An (4B), Lim Shu Qi (4C)
Level Representatives
Sec 2: Sherrie Soh (2A), Lee Iy Meng (2B)
Sec 3: Lee Hong Hui (3B), Ang Jing Wei (3D)
Choir Committee 2009-2010
Executive Committee President: Paul Maravillas Jerusalem (4C) and Teo Hweesze (4E) Welfare Officer-cum-Secretary: Doreen Soo Wei Shan (4E) Logistics Officer: Marc Koo Wei Yen (4B)
Music Committee Student Conductor: Poh Su Ern (4A)
Soprano Sectional Leaders: Poh Su Ern (4A), Brenda Lim (4C), Teo Hweesze (4E), Emmeline Koh Ming-Min (3C) Alto Sectional Leaders: Lim Aunn Ning (4A), Sing Peikheng (4C), Ong Wanjing (4F) Tenor Sectional Leaders: Paul Maravillas Jerusalem (4C), Cheryl Chong Jing Wen (4G), Bryan Loy (3C) Bass Sectional Leaders: Marc Koo Wei Yen (4B), Dexter Choo Yun Zhang (3B), Long Jun An (3B)
Level Representatives
Sec 1: Lee Iy Meng (1B), Sherrie Soh (1D) Sec 2: Lee Hong Hui (2A), Ang Jing Wei (2D) Sec 3: Teresa Yeap Sin Peng (3C), Regan Lim Ming Lin (3C)
