Singing Communities: A Folksong Improvisation Workshop

Dr. Zechariah Goh Toh Chai is a Senior Lecturer of Composition at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), a composer of music ranging from choir, symphonic band, wind ensemble, chamber music to large scale orchestral works and whose work carefully fuses Southeast Asian-Chinese with Western traditions. He was awarded the David and Gunda Hiebert Scholarship from the University of Kansas and earned a Doctorate degree majoring in composition, under the guidance of Dr Charles Hoag.

Dr. Goh has premiered several choral works in Singapore and has won many international competitions. He has conducted numerous folk song arrangements and choral improvisation workshops for choral directors and composers in Bandung (2017), Kuala Lumpur, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Taipei, and Tianjin, China (2018). He was also invited to lecture and give workshops at the Oklahoma State University and University of Kansas, USA. He adjudicated the World Children and Youth Choir Competition in Hong Kong (2017), Bali International Choral Competition (2018) and The Malaysian Choral Eisteddfod (2018). His commissioned work 《纪元晨光》 performed by the Diocesan Boys’ School Choir (Hong Kong), won Best Male Choir at the World Choir Games in South Africa (2018). His other choral works Reminiscences of Hainan, In the Bamboo Forest performed by the NUS Choir was awarded top prize at The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod 2018, and Assassination performed by Diocesan Choral Society won the Grand Prix award at the Tokyo International Choir Competition 2018. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra commissioned and premiered Blossoms for large orchestra in 2017. Dr Goh has collaborated with Ding Yi Music Company on a multi-disciplinary production with Chinese Chamber music, documentary film and ceramics entitled Songs of the Dragon Kiln (2017).

For his artistic excellence in the field of music, Dr. Goh was conferred the Young Artist Award (Music) in September 2003 by the National Arts Council, Singapore, was awarded the Artistic Excellence Award from the Composers and authors Society of Singapore in 2013 and was also presented with the distinguished Alumni medal from NAFA in 2014.

Vox Camerata is a non-profit registered society which aspires to be a centre of advocacy, discovery, learning and practice for choral music making in Singapore and is a bridge between communities in Singapore, regionally and internationally. Since its inception in 2004, Vox Camerata has held on to two fundamental values—that everyone, irrespective of their background and ability, should be given opportunities to participate in a choir and, the society strives their utmost best to make good music. These twin beliefs are held together by a practice of teaching, mentoring and nurturing as a community.

2019 presented Vox Camerata the opportunity to reassess its role in the wider arts community. With the SG Arts Plan (2018 – 2022) as a framework, the society bridged the gap for advocacy and research within the choral music spheres. While the Vox Camerata Community Choir continues to be the heart of the society, embodying the best of their mission and values, they have also expanded their activities to encompass new areas of professional and community development. 2021 saw the formation of Vox LLinette, a professional choir that plays a vital role in the interventions enacted by Vox Camerata to rejuvenate Singapore’s choral music sector.

Vox Camerata welcomes members of the public, even those without a music background, to join them in their efforts to advocate for the choral music scene in Singapore and to make Singapore a more conducive home for the arts.