Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra HCCO

Joining HCCO as an external performer was a natural extension of my interest in music. I first picked up the Chinese flute in NYGH when I was a member of the NYGH Chinese Orchestra, and the beauty of the instrument has marvelled me ever since.

That being said, most of my friends did question my decision to take up another commitment with my already-busy schedule. HCCO practice sessions happened right after my H3 lessons and lasted till 7 pm / 730 pm. On top of that, I also had to balance my HCInteract commitments. However, I do not regret the decision to join HCCO as an external performer.

Playing in an orchestra is really quite different from playing as a solo musician. Orchestra pieces layer different instruments together as each instrument has its own speciality, making the music being produced a lot more complex and beautiful. Something I particularly enjoyed about HCCO was how passionate everyone was for their instrument, and how everyone played to the best of their abilities for the final musical piece to come out sounding ethereal.

The connections I formed during HCCO are something I will never forget either. It’s not every day that you get to stomp down empty Hwa Chong corridors singing some random Chinese song at the top of your voice at 8 pm. It’s also pretty difficult to find a group of friends who would randomly pick up their instruments and freestyle a melody with you. In the short period of time I spent with HCCO, some friends patiently taught me the basics of the drums, the Sheng (a Chinese pipe instrument), and the cello. I’m really thankful for all the friendships I have forged through this experience, and it's definitely something I’ll hold dear to my heart for many years down the road.