Mentorships

Open Call for Voices Festival Choir

Love singing in harmony and flexing your vocal cords? In its fourth edition, Esplanade’s Voices Festival Choir comprises youth choristers aged 17–26, who audition and rehearse to be part of a well-toned ensemble. They will participate in various activities leading up to and during Voices 2025, scheduled to take place on 12 Oct, and between 24–30 Nov, Mon–Sun as well as 1–7 Dec, Mon–Sun. During this period, the choristers will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of rehearsal practices, be exposed to a diversity of choral and vocal styles and deepen their understanding of nuances.

 

For the first time at Voices Festival, the Festival Choir will offer a unique opportunity for choristers to collaborate with established local choral conductors Musicians’ Inc 6 (MI6) in their very own combined finale concert at Esplanade Concert Hall. The conductors in MI6 (Choy Siew Woon, Dawn Yin, Cherie Chai, Yong Chee Foon, Low Xu Hao and Terrence Toh) will also serve as the main facilitators and conductors of the project and concert.

 

This programme aims to inspire youth choristers by introducing them to new aspects of choral singing and creating opportunities for them to connect with established professional groups. It is hoped that the knowledge and expertise from these artists will galvanise this young community, encourage them to keep on with the artform, and foster a desire for further learning in the future.

 

Key activities include: 

  • Sectionals and rehearsals—participants will be exposed to a variety of vocal styles and gain a better understanding of their nuances.

  • A day camp in October conducted by MI6, which will focus on fun and effective ways to build ensemble skills, musicianship vocal production and aural skills.

  • The opportunity to perform alongside MI6 in the Esplanade Concert Hall, as part of this special SG60 edition of the festival which spotlights homegrown artists.

The VFC is a rare opportunity and a safe space for youths from all walks of life to share their love for music and singing, while learning from professional teachers and international artists who are very passionate about their craft. VFC is something that I look forward to each year, and for many VFC alumni, it is akin to a yearly reunion party. The friendships and musical experiences I have had with the VFC will always be kept close to my heart.

– Teh Siew Qi, VFC ‘22–’24

I learnt that to make choral music, everyone plays a part in singing with their heart while being disciplined about the vocal techniques we learnt from our conductors. Observing how the conductors interact with the choristers, I realise that it is something I can aspire to achieve. Learning a piece of music with the conductors' guidance brings about learning its context and musical ideas that I can implement in my interpretations and teachings in the future. I also thoroughly enjoyed the experience and learnt not only from the music professionals, but also the singers in the choir.

– Tiong Wen Xuan, VFC ‘23–’24

Joining VFC was a meaningful and eye-opening experience, making many new friends and uncovering the hidden potential in myself. Singing alongside incredibly talented individuals pushed me to grow—especially in sight-reading and vocal technique—and taught me to stay humble and learn from everyone around me. This journey not only improved my skills but also affirmed music as something I truly want to pursue in the future.

– Tan Yi Min, VFC '24

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