CHIJ Katong Convent Concert Band

Since its formation in 2010, CHIJ Katong Convent Concert Band has grown by leaps and bounds under the baton of Mr Sim Kim Seng and Mr Ong Yeow Tong. The band comprises 40 well-trained and disciplined student musicians who undergo the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music practical examinations to hone their skills and talent.

Despite its relatively new inception, the concert band has made outstanding achievements in the schools' arts scene in Singapore. The band won Gold Awards at the biannual Singapore International Band Festival Competition consecutively from 2012 to 2022. On the band’s first overseas trip to the Hong Kong Winter Band Festival 2012, they were bestowed the highly acclaimed Gold Award. From 2013 to 2021, the band attained a total of seven Certificates of Distinction at the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation. In addition, its clarinet ensemble won First Prize at the 2015 Singapore Clarinet Festival Ensemble Competition.

Throughout the year, all the members attend numerous concerts by various ensembles including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In addition to their exposure to excellent musical works, the concert band also takes part in exchange programmes with ensembles from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Macau Youth Symphonic Band and West Winds. The band has also worked with renowned conductors and composers such as Yo Goto, Richard Saucedo, Dennis Fisher and Surapol Thanyawibool.

In 2015, 2017 and 2019, the band was invited to perform full-length concerts as part of Esplanade’s Limelight series at the Esplanade Concert Hall. The CHIJ Katong Convent Band will make its fourth appearance this year and will mesmerise audiences with several enchanting pieces such as Spring by Randall Standridge, Paper Cut by Alex Shapiro and pop songs from Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars.

Bringing the arts to communities in need through Limelight

Half of the ticket proceeds will go toward supporting Esplanade’s community engagement programmes which bring the arts to at-risk youth, the elderly, people with special needs and other underserved communities.