Hwa Chong Institution High School Band
| Hwa Chong Institution High School Band | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | HCIMB |
| Origin | Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore |
| Occupation(s) | Concert and Military band |
| Associated acts | Hwa Chong Junior College Band |
| Members |
Conductor(s): Darence Leng Marching Band Instructor: Lawrence Siao Teacher(s)-in-charge: Melissa Choo, Rachel Chan, Quah Lee Hwang Drum Major: Zhang Chen Band Major: Teo Jer Rei |
The Hwa Chong Institution High School Band (formerly known as The Chinese High School Band) is a concert band run in a military style. While there is focus on the indoor aspect, the band also has outdoor skills. The band plays concert music but also does drills and marches. As a concert band, the band has performed at Suntec City, in the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and in the school.
The band has performed for the former President of Singapore, S. R. Nathan, and taken part in the National Day Parade 2001, together with Commonwealth Secondary School Band. The band has organised workshops with professionals, and exchange programmes with other school bands.
The band went to Perth in 1999, and Hawaii in 2000, for a two-week course of musical experience and training, which ended with a performance competition in which they won a gold medal. They participated in the bi-annual Singapore Youth Festival Central Band Judging, where they won a Gold in 1999 and a Gold with Honors in 2009, the highest achievable award in the SYF Band Judging.
The band took part in the biannual SYF Outdoor Assessment For Marching School Bands, but stopped in 2000 to focus on the symphonic aspect of the band.
History
The Hwa Chong Institution Band was formed on 2 February 1967, with band captain, Wu Pengdi.
In 1968, the band was listed as one of the elite bands in Singapore, and in the following year, it was televised over Television Singapura. The number of band members grew to 120 members the following year. The band took part in the annual indoor and outdoor competitions from 1977 to 1985, achieving a string of gold medals. In 1977, the band attained the prestigious Mace of Honour, and was chosen to represent Singapore in the Pesta Pulau Pinang in Penang.
Band conductors have included Wu Qi Ming, Richard Png, and Yeo Poong Poh. The band's former conductor, David Anthony Glosz, took over the band in 1997, achieving a Gold in the 1999 Indoor Band Competition. In April 2000, 60 members of the band went to the USA, attending band workshops and visiting bands in high schools. In Hawaii, the band attended the Pacific Basin Music Festival, attaining a gold award.
In 2005, the band won a Gold in the SYF.[1]
Awards
2006
The HCI Band made a comeback to the marching scene in 2006 and was awarded a Certificate of Distinction at the SYF 2006 Assessment of Marching Bands for secondary schools. In recognition of their performance, the band was invited to perform in the SYF @ Ngee Ann City and Police Parade 2006, also participating in CHINGAY! Parade of Dreams that year.
2007
In 2007 SYF Central Judging, the band won a Silver award. In August, the band performed at the opening ceremony of the 5th Band Convention at Raffles Town Club. The band was invited to perform at Namly Park, with guests, Minister for Education, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Christopher De Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC at the occasion.
Achievements and accolades
- 1967 2 February Band was formed
- 1975 First participated in SYF competition
- 1977 Top Band for both indoor playing and outdoor display, won the Mace of Honour
- 1978 Gold Award in SYF Band Display
- 1979, 1980 Silver in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1981, 1982 Silver in SYF Concert Performance Competition
- 1983 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1984 Gold in SYF Concert Performance Competition
- 1985 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1987 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1988 Gold in SYF Concert Performance Competition
- 1989 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1990 Gold in SYF Concert Performance Competition
- 1991 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1992 Gold in SYF Concert Performance Competition
- 1993 Performed at Closing Ceremony of SEA Games in Singapore
- 1994 Gold in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1995 Silver in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 1996 Silver in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1997 Gold in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 1998 Silver in SYF Band Display Competition
- 1999 Gold in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2000 Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition), Gold award. Invited to perform at National Day Parade
- 2001 Silver in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2003 Gold in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2005 Gold in SYF Central Judging of concert bands. Invited to participate in Chingay 2006 – Parade of Dreams
- 2006 Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of Marching Bands
- 2007 Silver award in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2008 Certificate of Distinction for Assessment of marching bands
- 2009 Gold with Honours Award in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2010 Gold Award in 25th Annual Pacific Basin Music Festival, Hawaii (International Competition)[2]
- 2011 Gold in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2013 Distinction in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
- 2015 Distinction in SYF Central Judging of concert bands
Conductor
Darence Leng was introduced to wind instruments upon joining his school band in Mei Chin Secondary. His interest in the flute grew quickly and he soon was performing in bands and orchestras, including the St. Andrews and Catholic Junior College bands, Church orchestras and the Singapore Wind Symphony (known then as National Theatre Symphonic Band).
Leng made his debut as a professional conductor of symphonic bands when he was appointed the Band Director of the National University of Singapore Symphonic Band in 1997, after having been the concert master for 2 years as a student there. He is now the Band Director of the Hwa Chong Family Band – Hwa Chong Junior College Symphonic Band, Hwa Chong Institution (High School) Band, Saint Joseph's Institution Military Band and also Balestier Hill Secondary School band. His accomplishments with these school bands include an immediate improvement in the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF), particularly for Hwa Chong Junior College which attained the Gold award after a 6-year hiatus from SYF participation. The school band continued to attain distinction at the SYF for the next 6 years. In 2005, Chong Boon Secondary also attained the SYF Gold award under his baton.
Leng's musical experiences also include tutoring and conducting at wind band workshops in Brisbane, Australia in 1998. In 2000, he adjudicated for the All Thailand Yamaha Wind Band Competition. Presently, Leng performs with and is the concert master for the Philharmonic Winds.[3]