top of page
New Sights Fellowship Programme 2025
About the Programme
New Sights Fellowship returns in 2025, a programme designed for music composers to produce original intercultural work, focusing on the process towards creation. Selected Fellows will go through a rigorous programme of talks, performances, site visits, lectures, and mentorship over a span of six months. They will then premiere their compositions with The Straits Ensemble and conclude the Fellowship by presenting what they have learned at a public sharing platform.
For the inaugural fellowship, six fellows were selected from a pool of 15 applicants, made up of 4 professionals and 2 music college students.
The Process
The fellows went through a rigorous programme of talks, performances, lectures, site visits and mentorship. They were also guided to have a reflective practice, focusing on their identities and connecting with their audience. The fellows were given ample time to work with the musicians from The Straits Ensemble to review the compositions.
The Presentation
The fellows premiered their compositions with The Straits Ensemble at The Great Hall, housed within Tzu Chi Humanistic Youth Centre, in August 2023. Guided by veteran Teaching Artists, Kamini Ramachandran and Peggy Ferroa, the fellows also employed various tools (poetry, engagement activity, animation and videos) to help the
audience connect, in a deeper way, to their compositions.
"GARDEN: Beauty Found Within"
by The Straits Ensemble
What makes our "GARDEN" truly flourish? Listen, as we peel back the layers to reveal beautiful intricacies that nourish our musical backyard and make it unique. For one day only on December 21st, the Esplanade Recital Studio Singapore will come alive with the vibrant sounds of The Straits Ensemble, a multicultural group known for its fresh take on contemporary Singapore music.
Presenting new works rooted in The Straits Ensemble's distinctive intercultural musical style, "GARDEN" will also feature world premieres of original songs by three talented Singapore singer-songwriters. Embark on this next phase of growth with us, on this night of inspiration and celebration at our communal"GARDEN".
Featuring
The Straits Ensemble
Felix Phang (Double Bass), Kailin Yong (Violin), Azrin Abdullah (Oud), Gildon Choo (Pipa), Eugene Ang (Piano/Keys), Govin Tan (Tabla & Perc), Nizarfauzi (Rebana & Perc)
Singer-songwriters
Dawn Wong
Khidir Surattee
Katya Krishnan
Date: 21 December 2024
Time: 3:30 pm-4:45 pm and 7:30 pm-8:45 pm
Venue: Esplanade Recital Studio
Roots and Routes is a four-day intercultural music exchange for youth and individuals interested in cultural music. Attendees will participate in workshops to explore various cultural music styles and their popular pieces. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to collaborate and showcase their talents in an intercultural ensemble context. The event will culminate in a concert on June 21st, marking the conclusion of this enriching music exchange experience.
1. Develop deeper understanding of the different types of cultural music found in Singapore
2. Learn to apply these ideas to your own practice
3. Connect and forge friendships with individuals who share an interest in cultural music traditions
4. Perform together with new friends and professional musicians
5. A platform for participants to exchange their musical traditions and aspirations
The Straits Ensemble "Sing Our Songs" Concert
Venue: Cool Cats at NCO Club Level 1
Time: 7pm -12am, first set at 8pm
Singapore Symphony Orchestra x The Straits Ensemble at the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert 2023.
New Sights Fellowship Programme
FEB-AUG 2023
The New Sights Fellowship Programme is designed for composers to create new intercultural work, with a focus on the process towards creation. Fellows will go through a rigorous programme of talks, performances, lectures, site visits and mentorship. They will then premier their compositions with The Straits Ensemble and conclude the Fellowship by presenting what they have learnt at a public sharing platform.
The Straits Ensemble
The Straits Ensemble is a musical collective that champions Singapore cultural music changes, influenced by the ever-changing global music landscape with jazz sensibilities.
With an instrumentation that embodies' Singapore's cultural sound, The Straits Ensemble navigates the rich tapestry of Singapore's heritage and taps on a global kampung spirit to celebrate diversity.
Playing a repertoire of original compositions, reimagined folk tunes and more, the ensemble's range of expression run from tender nuances to high energy, driving rhythms.
The Straits Ensemble (2018-2023 Lineup)
The Straits Ensemble is a musical collective that champions Singapore cultural music changes, influenced by the ever-changing global music landscape with jazz sensibilities.
With an instrumentation that embodies' Singapore's cultural sound, The Straits Ensemble navigates the rich tapestry of Singapore's heritage and taps on a global kampung spirit to celebrate diversity.
Playing a repertoire of original compositions, reimagined folk tunes and more, the ensemble's range of expression run from tender nuances to high energy, driving rhythms.
"Beneath the Surface" Promotional Video
String Quartet, Oud, Sanxian & Percussion
The Straits Ensemble
"Light a Thousand Candles"
The Straits Ensemble
Excerpt of "Let the Children Play"
THE ARK ROYAL
Sextet the Ark Royal defies conventional genre classification with its brand of original Mandarin jazz/folk/rock/pop music.
The band's debut album of curious stories about animals and vegetables earned positive reviews in the local press, but was denied radio airplay for not being suited to mainstream ears.
Rat in the City - The Ark Royal
00:0000:00
bottom of page