Dunman Secondary School Choir

Since its inception in 1992, the Dunman Secondary School Choir has distinguished itself as one of Singapore's premier choral ensembles. Within just three years of its formation, under the direction of Mr Toh Ban Sheng, it made history as the first neighbourhood school choir to clinch a Gold Award at the 1997 Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Choral Competition. The choir has since maintained a stellar track record, consistently garnering top accolades, including three consecutive Gold with Honours awards.

On the international stage, the choir has earned numerous Gold diplomas and prestigious accolades, including the Repertoire Prize, the Outstanding Performance Prize for Contemporary Work, and various Conductor’s Prizes. Their artistry has been showcased across the globe, with tours spanning Australia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom. Locally, the choir has performed to sold-out audiences at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.

Supported by a dedicated team of teachers, the Dunman Secondary School Choir remains committed to nurturing the passion and talent of its members, striving to touch lives through the transformative power of choral music.

A self-taught musician in his early years, former Physics teacher Toh Ban Sheng pursued his passion for music to earn two Masters degrees in Choral Conducting and Voice from the United States, supported by a National Arts Council Bursary. Today, he is recognised as an eminent conductor and music educator with an illustrious international career, having led his choirs to more than 70 gold awards at national and international competitions.

Mr Toh is a prominent figure in the choral community, frequently invited as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor across Europe and Asia. His choirs have secured numerous Grand Prix titles and Category Championships in countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, and Lithuania, earning him the Conductor’s Prize on seven occasions. Notably, he led the Raffles Singers in two acclaimed performances at the 11th World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona.

In Singapore, his choirs have twice been conferred the Best Choir of the Year award. Mr Toh has served as a Music Specialist with the Ministry of Education and notably directed the 800-strong Combined Choir for the National Day Parade. His work as Chorus Master for Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 received critical acclaim from The Straits Times.

In recognition of his significant contributions to the arts, Mr Toh was awarded the Young Artist Award in 2006 and named an Honorary Member of the Choral Directors Association of Singapore in 2016. He is a founding member and the Continental Ambassador for Asia of the International Choral Conductors Federation. Currently, he directs several schools and semi-professional choirs, serves as the Artistic Director of the Orientale Concentus International Choral Festival, and is the founder of Resonance of Singapore. His biography, The Accidental Conductor, was published in 2010, and his choral series is published by Earthsongs (USA).