Our History

From its humble beginnings in 1987, the Nanyang Junior College Symphonic Band (NYJCSB) has grown from strength to strength to become the strong ensemble it is today.

Under the baton of our conductor, Mr Brando Tan, the Band clinched the Gold Award at both the 2007 and 2009 Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Concert Bands.

In early 2006, the band hosted an exchange programme with the James Hargest College Band from New Zealand in our college. On 2nd June 2006, Aureus Experentia XII was staged to serve not only as an important fund-raising project, but also as a milestone for the graduating batch of JC2s, who will be handing over their duties to the JC1s, who will continue the work of their predecessors to lead the Band into new endeavours next year.

On 29th July 2006, Young People’s Symphonic Band Concert was held together with three other secondary schools to foster interaction between musicians and allow positive and better musicians to influence the weaker ones. Moreover, Secondary three and JC1 musicians are key leaders and role models for respective bands in the Singapore Youth Festival 2007. Every participating school had an opportunity to work with Dr Douglas Stotter from university of Texas Arlington in 2 workshop sessions.

On 16th December 2006, the NYJC Symphonic Band went on an overseas trip to Thailand (Bangkok) for a band exchange programme. This trip was designed by the instructors such that students may be better prepared for the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Bands 2007 and benefits students in terms of their musical learning .

Indeed, after the exchange and the master-classes we had with Wat Suthiwararam High School and Silpakorn University , our playing skills had improved and we had gained better musical knowledge. Upon return from the trip, we had learnt more about ourselves and the band as a whole. The band members are more bonded and we know that together as one, we are able to scale greater heights. This trip was definitely a fruitful one!

On 11th May 2007, the Band participated in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging of Concert Bands. Through meticulous hard work and passion, the Band clinched a Gold Award. Our hard work paid off, not forgetting to thank our teachers-in-charge
( Mr Foo Kok Wei, Mr Gary Neo & Mrs Michelle Tan ) and our conductor
( Mr Brando Tan ) for the encouragements they gave us and the tremendouus efforts they had put in.

On 4th September 2007, the band was involved in the 7th Junior Band Festival as a guest band. It is an annual event organised by our conductor,Mr. Brando Tan. The aim of this event was to allow the Junior Bands to share their musical knowledge and expertise with one another. The Band had gained exposure and improved its musicality through this event.

On 10th May 2008, Aureus Experentia XIII was staged by the Band and Guzheng Ensemble with a theme of "When East Meets West". This is the first time where both cultural groups collabrated to stage a performance. It is an enriching experience which the Band will always remember.

During the June holidays, from the 1st to the 7th of June, the band went on a overseas fieldtrip to Osaka,Japan where we had band exchange programs with three schools. Namely, Yuhigaoka High school , Osaka College of Music and Meijo Gankuni High school. The band also managed to catch Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band in action on the second last day of the fieldtrip at The Symphony Hall.

The fieldtrip was certainly an eye-opener for the band members as they are able to witness firsthand the musicality and enthusiasm of the musicians, both professionals and students alike. Additionally, many were able to pick up a few "tricks of the trade" during a band clinic at the Osaka College of Music and are able to bring their playing skills to a higher level. Lastly, this event will the last one for the JC 2s involved as they will soon pass on their duties to the JC 1s and turn their attention to the 'A' Level Examination.

In the later part of 2008, Nanyang Symphonic Band took part in SHELL-MOE Band Fiesta XIII part 1 on the 13th of july at the Singapore Botanic Gardens together with four other gold band schools, namely Rosyth Primary, Xiangnan Primary, Nanyang Girls High and Commonwealth Secondary. The Nanyang Symphonic Band also played host to Macleans College Orchestra from New Zealand who played for us several pieces such as "Winter From the Four Seasons" and "Marriage of Figaro". As part of their performance, Mr Nigel Weeks, Conductor of Macleans College Orchestra, requested a guest conductor from the audience. NYJC band members "volunteered" our student conductor, Nazreen, to take the mantle of guest conductor. Both Events certaintly gave the JC1 batch, much needed experience especially since the JC2 batch have already stepped from band to focus on their academic results.

In 2009, Under the baton of Band Director, Mr Brando Tan, the Band clinched the Gold Award at the 2009 biennial Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Central Judging of Concert Bands and would like to thank our conductor Mr Brando Tan, the teachers in-charge; Mr James Chia, Ms Pauline Peh and Mr Gerald Tay, other teachers; Mrs Judy Tan, Mr Gary Neo and Mr William Yeo.

Nanyang Symphonic Band has had numerous public performances. In May , the Band was invited to performe at the Official Opening of the Circle Line (Bishan Station). Then later in August, Nanyang Symphonic Band performed for the National Day Observance Ceremony at Braddell Heights. Both events were graced by members of the parliaments, namely, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Mr. Teo Chee Hean at the Circle Line Opening, and both Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Mr. Seah Kian Peng, MP for Marine Parade GRC at the National Day Observance Ceremony at Braddell Heights.

On 16th Dec 2009, Nanyang Symphonic Band set off for Malaysia for a 6-day trip which includes a school exchange, a concert and a performance in Genting Highlands. The main highlight of this trip was the 1812 concert, a combined concert with Hin Hwa High School, Sabah Tsung Tsin Secondary School and NYJCSB on the 3rd day. The collaborative effort among the three schools was a success as shown through the full concert hall and thunderous applause from the audience and members of all schools.

The other highlight of the trip is the performance at Genting Highland’s Outdoor Theme Park on the 4th and 5th day. NYJCSB is the first Singapore Band to be invited up to perform in the Theme Park and the band prepared a different set of repertoire for the four performances lined up for them which included dancing and gimmicks drawn from past performances by the band and fresh ideas from the performance given by the Seri Kembangan School during the exchange. The band was able to adapt to the different situations surrounding each performance timeslot and added impromptu gimmicks into the performance to make it more entertaining and electrify the on-looking crowed, allowing the band to garner the audiences’  participation such as having guest conductors from the crowed.

In addition, NYJCSB managed to catch the grand finals of the The Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band Competition held at Stadium Bolasepak Kuala Lumpur, Cheras which coincided within the duration of the trip. This gave the members a chance to witness firsthand the skill and technical artistry of world class marching bands and drumlines.

The band members have managed to exercise good time management skills, juggling between band practices and their academic results. Not only has our band members gain once in a lifetime opportunities, they have also acquired important life skills like self-discipline and perseverance and made lifelong friends through music making.

Together with our band directors, Nanyang Junior College Symphonic Band will continue our passion in music-making and strive for excellence in bringing great music to audiences.