By Clarine See (18S03G) and Yeo Kee Hwan (18S03Q)

The Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) is a biennial event for performing arts CCAs to showcase their talents, and entails hundreds of hours of hard work and practice behind the scenes. Raffles Chorale’s months of preparation and dedication culminated in an enchanting 15-minute presentation on 20th April, at the SOTA concert hall.

Although Chorale’s performance was scheduled in the late afternoon on a weekday, there was still a heartwarming turnout of supporters who came to cheer them on. The concert hall was fully packed, and Chorale was met with thunderous applause and shouts of encouragement when they finally took the stage.

The girls cut a solemn figure in their red-lined black dresses, and the boys livened up the conventional suit with a dash of red for their bow ties. Chorister Ganesh Gunasekaran (17S06D) introduced their three pieces, adding that the members had learnt to work together for a common cause, before wishing that the audience would enjoy their performance. Conductor Mr Toh Ban Sheng then took the reins and the performance commenced.

Chorale’s first song was Timor et Tremor, a Latin motet whose title means ‘trembling and fear’. Indeed, they opened it with a bang, with a bold soprano line grounded by a strong bass. The strong start was continued by a crystal-clear melody that soared above the repetitive motifs in the lower registers. It was fortunate that the female soloist had a bright and resonating voice that held strong despite surges in volume in the bass parts, such that the lyrical melody could be maintained in tandem with the solid beat.

In a display of their skill, Chorale also played with changes in volume and rhythm to great effect, effectively embodying the dark and dramatic nature of the song, while demonstrating impressive vocal control, teamwork, and a variety in tonal colours.

Their next song, Bunga Sayang, is this year’s set piece (a piece that every participating choir must present). Composed by Dick Lee, a celebrated composer in the local arts scene, the song’s Malay title translates to ‘flower of love’, and through its gentle, rocking melody and sweet flowing harmonies, conveys a uniquely Singaporean flair.

Beginning with words that call to mind the fishing village we began as, the breathy voices of the soprano line set the tender mood of the song. Before long, the tenor line joined in, creating a rich layered effect between the upper and lower lines.

In the second part of the chorus, the bass joined in at the same time as the rest of the choir, adding more substance to the song. This then continued as the girls utilised a lower register than before and the boys’ voices begin to dominate, utilising a range of ornamentation like turns, as well as an offbeat rhythm at a faster pace. The song was rounded off with the return of the lyrical soprano line as all the voices melded as one before ending off on, quite literally, a high note.

Their last piece was The Conversion of Saul, a piece based on a Biblical account of Saul the Apostle, who was an active persecutor of followers of Jesus before being struck by a divine revelation on his journey to Damascus, leading to his conversion to Christianity.

Quite aptly, it began with a lone male voice, before the other boys and eventually girls joined in. The vehemence in the initial part of the song was amplified by the entire choir stomping in unison, further punctuated by the soprano line’s forceful melody, highlighting Saul’s initial hatred of the Christians. Here, a transition occurs as the boys begin chanting, creating a sense of unease by combining a series of descending chromatic scales with dissonant harmonies, before resolving and ends off on a high pitched, plaintive note.

Keeping in accordance to the story, the boys broke the silence with their plaintive question ‘why do you persecute me?’ as the girls maintained an almost modal tune. Finally, the leading of the piece returned to the hands of the soprano line, with the bass line quietening and slowing, accompanied by drawn out, dissonant chords that eventually, rather appropriately, end in a perfect cadence, highlighting the revelatory nature of Saul’s conversion.

Within a short span of 15 minutes, Raffles Chorale enraptured their entire audience, be they supportive parents and friends, or simply members of the public. The mastery in skill and the passion with which they delivered their songs was admirable, and reflected the age-old power of music in conveying emotion and touching hearts.

Raffles Press would like to congratulate Chorale on earning a Distinction in their arts presentation, and wish them all the best in their upcoming concert!

Chorale, all-smiles after an excellent performance.

Set list:

Timor et Tremor (Francis Poulenc)

Bunga Sayang (acapella, arr. Zechariah Goh)

Conversion of Saul (Randall Stroope)

By Liu Enqi (18S03C)

If you had walked into the Pasir Ris Sports Centre on the afternoon of 20 April, you would have felt the floor vibrate with the deafening sound of rousing cheers. Thursday, 20 April marked the day of the National Inter-schools table tennis finals, and our Raffles paddlers were undoubtedly under tremendous pressure to excel since they were facing traditionally formidable rivals Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) and Nanyang Junior College (NYJC).

Table tennis is a game that is part intense concentration and part pure reflex – a heady combination if skills are put to good use. It is mesmerising and strangely hypnotic to watch the back-and-forth service between both parties at the table.

Two of our Raffles paddlers have all their concentration fixed on the ball.

From the very first serve onwards, every half-second, every millimetre is crucial and directly influences the entire team’s chance at the championship. As you watch, you find your eyes tracking the ball’s every movement, and your heart, too, speeds up in your chest, your breath coming faster as the suspense builds, until the fateful moment when either side slips up and their opponent’s side of the stadium erupts in cheers.

The Raffles supporters were very much hyped and their spirit was evident, which went a long way towards boosting the team’s morale. They would periodically cheer loudly with all their hearts and whenever any Raffles player scored.

Supporters cheering after a point was scored for Raffles.

The game consists of 5 matches, and the champion title goes to the team who wins 3 matches. Each match has 5 sets and similarly, the team who wins 3 sets wins that match.

Response started out lukewarm and the spectators were mostly rather disengaged at first, but by the end of the third match, especially when the boys’ team was leading NYJC by 2-1, most of the supporters had shot to their feet, transfixed.

With the atmosphere fraught with tension, there should have been much buzz among those watching, but many were tense and silent, watching intently for fear of missing a crucial moment.

Under these circumstances, with hundreds of eyes on them, the Raffles paddlers were definitely under much stress to play their best. Yet, the team were admirably unfazed. They proceeded to triumph in that match, resulting in a 3-1 for Raffles which successfully clinched them the title.

Instead of packing up and going home, everyone moved to the other side of the stadium to support the girls’ team, who had not yet finished their final. Even the boys, high from their recent triumph, stayed to support their teammates.

With the Raffles school flag flying high above the ground, watching the three schools gather to cheer on their schoolmates or seniors was a truly heartwarming sight. It was the best display of the Rafflesian spirit and the strength of the bond that brings us all together as one Raffles family. The girls’ team played excellently and emerged champions as well.

The Raffles teams with all the trophies they clinched that afternoon.

Perhaps another significant moment worth mentioning was after the final. Despite the longstanding rivalry between the two schools Hwa Chong and RI, the delegations from each school still exhibited admirable sportsmanship and assembled to cheer for each other at the end. Both teams congratulated each other on matches well played and no matter the results, it was mutually agreed that every player was valuable and every team was a winner in their own right.

By Deborah Lee (17A01D)

Every year, approximately half of the Year 6 cohort score distinctions for all 4 H2 A Level subjects, and a quarter achieve a perfect University Admission Score. It would be a lie to say that most students do not feel a pressure to be part of these annual statistics, to be contributors towards the exemplary results that are often associated with the Raffles name.

However, this pressure does not merely permeate the academic sphere alone, but extends much further into the future domain of career choices. This can particularly be seen through Career and Scholarship Days in Raffles usually boasting participating establishments that are mostly government organisations, ministries, and other prominent institutions.

While this is far from unexpected, given the number of notable alumni in distinguished public service positions, it does give rise to the question of whether the career paths suggested for Raffles students are wider in certain directions, and narrower in other diverging routes.

An informal poll with 63 respondents found that 89% believed that there exists a pressure for Raffles students to find a conventional and well-paying job in the future. This likely includes jobs in law, the medical field, business, as well as with other prestigious organisations.

The reason as to why this particular belief exists could perhaps be the extensive list of illustrious alumni, and the fact that year after year, many Guests Of Honour that are invited to grace school occasions are also part of this list. All of this serves to affirm the presumption that there is a tendency for alumni to undertake impressive careers after graduation, thus placing expectations on younger batches to continue the trend.

But what about the students who wish to follow less conventional career paths? Do they receive the affirmation that they should follow their dreams, or do they become weighed down by the typical expectations that come from being in this school? 12 fellow Rafflesians were asked about their dream jobs, in a scenario where they would not have to worry about practicality and finances, and answers ranged from bartending to becoming a Taekwondo coach.

Upon first look at the above infographic, would you have associated the jobs with Raffles alumni? From a young age, we have been told that we should chase our dreams, but does that mean that once we become students of a prestigious school, our dreams should be tailored to fit a conventional mould that is deemed proper?

Of course, certain arguments against this might be put forth, most particularly that large sums of money have been invested in our holistic education and in turn we should go on to give back as much as we can to society.

The idea of this is usually fulfilled through taking up jobs in public service and other highly-skilled sectors that our quality education has enriched and equipped us for. Therein lies the pressure for Rafflesian students—given the amount of resources that have been allocated to our education, we then feel pressured to go into these jobs that are perceived as high-value added and fairly conventional.

We are definitely fortunate to be able to benefit from impressive campus facilities, dedicated staff, and various exchange and enrichment programmes. However, this does not mean that we, as a society at large as well as Rafflesians ourselves, should start viewing education as a transactional process: inputting resources and then churning out public service scholars and alumni with excellent credentials as the sole expected product.

To do this would reduce education to a mere factory line production and further place stress on students to perform well by feeding into the notion that the ways in which we give back to society must necessarily be extraordinary– “Here, we’re giving you a good education, so you have to get good grades and a good job in future.”

This in turn perpetuates the impression that the only concern that matters to students should be the credentials and prestige that come with the Raffles name, which shall then be used to find a fairly conventional but successful job in future. The issue with this is the persistent sense of obligation that weighs on the shoulders of every Rafflesian to become accomplished, outstanding, impressive: the pressure to be extraordinary.

The quality education that we receive definitely should not be considered unconditional, since we should indeed be grateful for the opportunities offered to us and give back to society in one way or another. Giving back, however, should not be interpreted as an action only accomplishable by those in high-paying jobs and prominent government positions.

We can all give back in different ways, regardless of the jobs we do.

The bookshop owner provides a safe haven for bookworms; the guitarist thrills listeners with the enchantment of music; and the traveller brings glimpses of a larger world to those stuck in an unmoving place. Giving back isn’t only done by CEOs, Ministers and those in highly respected positions; it is something that everyone can do as long as they make a conscious effort. The prestige of a job shouldn’t and doesn’t define your success as a person, and while it might be important to some, you don’t have to prioritise it if you are in pursuit of other aspirations.

There are days when we look at our marks, our grades, and perhaps wonder if we will eventually be able to live up to the Raffles name. We wonder if we can ever catch up with the straight A’s that are synonymous with our school’s reputation and move on to bag scholarships and high-paying jobs. It’s a constant worry, an incessant nagging at the back of our minds whenever we are reminded that A Levels are not a distant concern, but an impending threat.

However, it’s all right if we don’t end up fitting in this mould. It’s all right if we don’t get an excellent set of grades, if we don’t move on to a job that we think is befitting of a Raffles alumni. Life is much bigger than the expectations placed on us during the few years of our teenage lives.

We don’t need an extraordinarily big house, an extraordinarily flashy car, or an extraordinarily prestigious job to be happy.

Yes, a conventional job does have its undeniable benefits, mainly the security that comes with a tested and stable career. However, a question we have to answer, is whether we are willing to trade our true passion for practicality.

Life will be full of risks that we have to take and it will admittedly be too short to regret the paths wanted, but not taken, because we feared impracticality and uncertainty. Perhaps, in order to pursue the passions close to our hearts, the risk is one that is worth taking.  

To all the prospective bartenders, backpackers, and hairdressers out there, don’t feel guilty about wanting to pursue your dreams. True, you may have been fortunate to receive a good education, but don’t let the pressure force you to become someone bigger than you want to be.

A small, energetic spirit is sometimes better than a large empty shell, and there can always be something extraordinary found in all things seemingly ordinary.

by Zacchaeus Chok (18S03O), Liu Enqi (18S03C), Ling Young Loon (18S07A)

Singapore boasts a narrative of economic prosperity, but at what cost? It is becoming more evident today, more than ever, that the continued oppression and human rights violations migrant workers face are a constantly overlooked, but nonetheless atrocious, part of our society.

Migrant workers are a community which has been side-lined from Singaporean society both literally and figuratively. Unfortunately, their plight is understood by few and most have skewed impressions and ideas of the problems they face.

As part of Raffles Community Advocates, Doveswarm is a student initiated group (SIG) that strives to support various organizations in furthering their welfare. Through their experiences working with organizations like the Social Development Initiative and Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Doveswarm members hope to raise awareness among schoolmates by sharing their knowledge as part of the advocacy movement.

Advocates offered in-depth explanations which were accessible, without oversimplifying the issue

This year, Raffles Community Advocates brings together all the sights, scenes, sounds, and stories foreign workers experience  — in a short but salient field trip. Press reports on Inroads 2017.

By focusing on the physical landscapes of their community and the geography of their experiences in Singapore, the trail immersed participants in the rather foreign environment of Little India, providing a glimpse of their lives.

The journey started from Little India, the heartland of South-Asian migrants. Known for its vibrant culture and incredible shopping variety, Little India is a second home to many Indian and Bangladeshi migrant workers.

A group of students listening to a facilitator as they make their way to Tekka bus terminal

The trail was not all walk and no talk: our facilitators, many of whom were well versed in the features of this area through their time spent volunteering and learning about these issues, enthralled us with stories of the place’s history and heritage. We listened intently as they shared their experiences volunteering at migrant worker welfare organisations like TWC2 and previous projects.

The trail began at Racecourse Road Junction, the site of the infamous Little India Riots in 2013. Though the fire and debris have long been cleared, the aftermath of the riots is blatantly obvious. Triggering intense socio-economic debates, the government amplified the regulations of alcohol sales, particularly in areas where foreign workers congregate. With this, many cautionary posters on alcohol consumption, along with surveillance cameras, were scattered in close proximity to one another. However, such measures are at best cursory prescriptions to tackling the problem. In fact, it stereotypes South Asian migrant workers with alcoholic habits, instead of acknowledging the deeper, long-held unrest felt by many of them.

Posters cautioning people of surveillance and not to purchase alcohol after a certain time

Being directly on the riot’s site prompted many of us to empathise with the dire straits of migrant workers and to consider the various factors that spurred some of the workers to riot. A careless dismissal of the riot as a result of cultural gaps would breed a pernicious “us” versus “them” mentality, which would do the migrant workers great injustice. On a deeper level, the riot points to deep-seated oppression and discrimination faced by migrant workers as the root cause.

Following that, we visited Tekka Bus Terminal, a facility built in response to the Little India Riots. Originally intended to ease congestion and to make it more conducive for workers to return to their dormitories, the bus terminal is now long overdue.

When a migrant worker reports a salary or injury claim with MOM, they are legally required not to work as they hold on to a special pass, which can mean they are denied from basic necessities of food or lodgings if their employer does not provide them. Fueled by the need to remedy this, VWO Transient Workers Care Too (TWC2) initiated the Cuff Road Project. Since 2008, it has been providing free food for these  workers at Cuff Road. Now, the Project has shifted base to Rowell Road, another migrant hotspot in Little India

The last stop in Little India was Bangla Square; it’s the Hodge Lodge of Little India — except it’s barren, without any facilities, and surrounded by tens  of surveillance cameras. Nevertheless, it remains an attractive hangout for migrants to chat away their worries. Migrant gatherings at places such as these continue to fuel public anxiety. The Advocates used this as an opportunity to highlight how poorly the authorities and the public deal with the negotiation of space — and how space negotiations is also a grounds for continued intolerance and discomfort towards migrant workers.

Facilitators shared their experiences at Bangla Square

Finally we enter Orchard, every shopaholic’s wet dream. Besides its humongous tourist traffic and superb shopping sales, Orchard Road also has the largest concentration of domestic workers in Singapore. The mall features Philippine delicacies like Sisig and Pata, drawing throngs of domestic workers. On Sundays, you will see them gathering in groups around Lucky Plaza — the closest Singapore will get to a Little Philippines.

To some Singaporeans this may be an annoyance. To them, it is their home and retreat, which rekindles a sense of community and fellowship especially after a week’s labour.

Overall, this fieldtrip added clarity to a situation understood by few. Behind the  faces of migrant workers is a cobweb of problems – triggered by many agents including family conditions, employers, the government and even our own ignorance. While the situation may lead one to despair, what advocacy, when coupled with regular volunteering and research does is to bring these issues to the forefront of public consciousness, casting a glimmer of hope, instigating renewed awareness and vigour for a brighter future.

“Inroads showed me that Singaporean society has many misconceptions about both labour and domestic workers. Perhaps we need to be more open, step forward and work hard to create systemic change, together.”  – Eugene Leong (17S06E)

By Ling Young Loon (18S07A) and Lynn Hong (18A13A)

It’s the festival of elections yet again – vibrant canteen displays and posters line the school’s corridors. To get to know our presidential candidates better, Press presents an interview feature with them.

The presidential elects, from left to right: Jared Foong (JF), Beverly Fu (B), and Warren Liow (W)
Photos courtesy of 36th Students’ Council

P: What makes you most suited for the role of President?

B: So I think as an individual, what makes me suited for the role of President is my calm and perceptive disposition. I’m someone that doesn’t crumble under pressure and with regards to [sic] my leadership style, [it] is a thoughtful and introspective one… I believe this will allow me to bring a certain grace to [the] position of President as I’m respectful and mature in my dealings with everyone. I don’t want to be overbearing; I don’t believe in micromanaging, and I want to give everyone the chance to further their own leadership

JF: I think we’re all suited to the role in someway. For me, throughout [sic] my past experiences and even now, it’s about action – action in everything through different activities that we do together, or whatever it is that we’re planning or executing for the school. The leadership I believe in is one of empowerment… leadership is not about following and leading, but about leading and developing, leading and growing, leading and empowering our peers around us.

W: For me, something really unique about me will be my positivity la. When the tough gets going… Warren doesn’t! That was my original campaign theme (chuckles) I think what really defines me is my optimism. Even when there are challenges or setbacks, I won’t give up and I will make the most of the opportunities that come my way.

P: All of you held formal leadership positions in your secondary school. Tell us one thing you have learnt from those experiences.

JF: Back in secondary school when I was PSL chairman and standards head, these two roles gave me a greater insight with regard to both interacting with my peers and what kind of actions leaders must undertake. On the first point of interactions, it was really about maintaining sincere and respectful conversations with everyone I was working with. Regardless of what position I was in or he was in, it was mutual respect that really defined our relationship. The second point is really about how action is required on everyone’s part… everyone has to come together to complete the task.

W: If I may cut in at this point, I agree that action is really important — not just by the leader but by the followers. When I was head prefect, we were able to achieve what we were able to achieve not particularly because of the leaders but because of the individual prefects, [who came] together to create something special. I think it’s a proven fact that leaders are nothing without their followers. This support network is really important to student leaders like us.

B: I think my journey as head prefect… when I had to work with all the different leadership board [sic] in RG… the whole journey just taught me that change and progress can’t come about from just one person. I realised it was super super important to support and enable each other, whatever duties we have. Everyone has a role to play in shaping the school’s culture.

P: Six months from now, if we were to ask one student “What is the most impactful thing Council has done for you?”, what would you like to hear?

B: I would like to hear that council is receptive and has listened to the concerns of the school population. I want to hear that we have strived to address these concerns. Besides formal communication channels like Town Hall Sessions, I think it would also be beneficial to have more frequent and informal feedback channels for students as well. So six months down the road, I want to hear that Council has listened out [sic] and followed up with this feedback. Ultimately, it’s my wish to see students engaged and that they find the activities organised by Council meaningful.

JF: What I would feel honored to hear would be that Council has made him or her look forward to coming to school. Council has made him/her more involved in the school and made him/herfeel like an active student in RJC. I hope that every student can be engaged in this school, regardless of class or CCA. I want Council to be able to bring people together, and that’s what I hope the student feels that way [sic] as well. It will make me very proud to be a Councillor indeed.

W: Everyone has said so many things… I think it doesn’t matter what impact it was… as long as it was a positive impact, I’ll be happy. We’re just one batch of Councillors — there’s a limit to how much we can achieve. It’s through both the small things and big initiatives that can make the school, as what Jared mentioned, feel proud and happy to come to Raffles.

P: It is often said that every Rafflesian is a leader. As President, how will you ensure that every student can be recognised as a leader in their own capacity?

W: I believe that everyone is a leader in their own right because ultimately we all lead our lives and choose how we want to treat others. Everything is part of a choice that you make on a daily basis about your life, and that choice is what defines you as a leader. You have to take responsibility for your life and actions, and so, in that right, everyone is a leader. As councillors, one of the things we do is to maintain the standard in the school, to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. To be disciplined is to be a leader, as you need to have self-restraint and that maturity to control yourself and behave in the way you should. So together with our promotion of standards through the school, it’s important that each Rafflesian steps up to be leader they should be and council will seek to further explore that point.

–

It’s not just about standards, but having a positive mindset and coming to school and participating in the school culture on a day to day basis, not just at events. That, in itself, is being a leader.

B: I would like to enable people, by giving them opportunities to lead and support them, enabling the everyday student to give them the opportunity to lead and initiate things in their respective fields, for example interests groups. I can’t promise that they’ll necessarily receive recognition in the form of RD, but i don’t think that that’s what matters, because we don’t have to have that title or that line on your CV to know that you are a leader. I sincerely believe that every Rafflesian can be a leader, and as president i hope to promote an everyday kind of leadership by giving people opportunities to lead and providing avenues through which others can serve. As for recognition…it can come in many different forms, even in the form of peer encouragement. For example, Raffles Press can feature everyday student leaders, not just positional leaders.

JF: I think my view is that leadership isn’t about the position but about the influence, so everyone has the potential to be a leader and has the potential to influence others; that’s very powerful and meaningful. If you think about it, every action or word can impact someone and change that person’s outlook and attitude and their actions. I can think of a two-pronged approach for recognising our student leaders: listening and empowering. For listening, it’s about listening to their views about what they want school life to be, what they want Raffles to become. That’s the first point as to how we can recognise them as influencers and leaders. My second point on empowerment is about getting students involved. I feel [that] we can involve more non-councillors in planning and executing events for their batchmates, and that involves engagement. It’ll be rewarding and empowering for students, and give them an opening for growth and self-discovery.

P: That’s great. Do you have anything you would like to say to the school?

W: I think we are all very capable in our own [right] and whoever gets the position in the end, i think council will be in good hands. Yeah, because of that I think it’s important that the school really votes for the person they want to see serve in the position of council president, not just because they are your friend or because they really want the position but really who they think will serve the school best.

B: I actually have a quote to share, its like my favourite quote actually “As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters.” Even though we are still J1, and we’re young, 16, 17, there’s really no limit to what we can do. So I would just like to tell everybody to go out there and do good things.

I feel that elections really is the time not just for us to tell the school what our visions are, but it’s also a time for people to tell us what they feel, what change they feel needs to be made and what kind of leaders they want to be elected and I fully respect the student body’s eventual vote as to who they believe is best suited to be council president because I trust and I believe in the student body. And I look forward to working forward with you guys and I’m excited about the journey and I look forward for elections to be over actually! But yes, I look forward to serving the school alongside Warren and Jared.

JF: Ah yeah. The election process has been humbling right from the start. I’ve been saying that I’ll be a fresh voice with new ideas and new perspectives and i wish to seek the school’s support for this. But the fact is that whatever the result, I believe that we can and I hope that we do continue to work together. At the end of the day, I think it’s about finding unity and the kind of school spirit.

B: And yeah I think any student can come up to us and tell any of the presidential candidates what they feel so that we can get a good sensing of the ground and know what to work on.

Press wishes the presidential candidates all the best in their elections.

By Angus Yip (18A01A), Zara Karimi (18A01A)

While multiracialism is a core tenet of the Singaporean identity, our society is one that continues to be drawn along racial lines. This almost paradoxical relationship manifests itself in different ways: citizens and permanent residents have their race stated on official documents, the housing development board allocates flats with quotas based on race, and, most notably, the Singapore government has declared that the next elected president will be Malay.

These incidents have all sparked their own debates on race and representation in Singapore. Given the starkly different, and often diametric viewpoints, objective, open conversations are absolutely necessary. This was what Raffles Debaters set out to do with the focus of the recent Hodge Lodge Debate Series event – race-based affirmative action. The motion for the night was “This House supports race-based affirmative action policies.”

As Chairperson Emily Zhao (17A01B) explained, the Hodge Lodge Debate Series “aims to bring debates and discussions about important issues to students”. To that end, Raffles Debaters invited former national debaters Lee Chin Wee and Dr Vernie Oliveiro to represent the Proposition, as well as Joel Nee and Chong Ee Hsiun to represent the Opposition.  

The debate was followed up by a panel discussion on the wider issue of race and discrimination in Singapore, featuring panelists Dr Nazry Bahrawi, Dr Mathew Mathews, and Dr Oliveiro. Dr. Bahrawi is the Associate Editor of Critical Muslim, and specializes in Islam and culture between the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Dr. Mathews is a senior research fellow at the Institute of Public Studies, as well as a research advisor to the Ministry of Social and Family development. Dr. Oliveiro is the Lead Researcher at the Centre for Governance and Leadership at the Civil Service College.

The panellists and speakers provided a variety of nuanced viewpoints, allowing for a lively and engaging debate that helped students form their own opinions on race-based affirmative action.

Proposition speaker Lee Chin Wee delivering the first speech for the night.

Both sides agreed that it was necessary to level the playing field and provide social safety nets for disadvantaged individuals and groups. However, rather than focusing on the necessity of affirmative action in itself, the debate was centred around whether or not systemic inequality was class-based or race-based.

First Proposition speaker Lee Chin Wee exuded confidence as he pushed forth his reasons for the necessity of race-based affirmative action, and this was echoed in Dr Oliveiro’s speech, as she shared personal anecdotes about her experience with racism in Singapore as a member of the Eurasian community.

Proposition’s argument was as follows: in different countries, the majority enjoys privilege due to social capital, thus putting minority races at a disadvantage. Furthermore, race and poverty tend to intersect to create disprivilege, often due to larger social and historical contexts. An example of this would be the North American slave trade and its effects on black Americans in the United States today.

As such, Proposition argued that the majority must give up some of its privilege to benefit society at large. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that deserving individuals from diverse racial backgrounds get opportunities through affirmative action.

Opposition speaker Chong Ee Hsiun

On the other hand, Opposition speakers Joel Nee and Chong Ee Hsiun maintained that systemic inequality was the result of a class-based divide. Therefore, given the aim of aiding the disadvantaged, affirmative action would be an imprecise solution to the larger problem created by unequal distribution of wealth, citing the example of poor white people versus rich black people in America.

Additionally, acknowledging this inequality between races through affirmative action may exacerbate biases against minorities, by perpetuating the narrative that they are ‘inferior’ and ‘in need of assistance’.  Finally, the Opposition pointed out the injustice in forcing people today to pay for the mistakes of their ancestors, as the link between past oppression and current deprivation is inconclusive at best.

The general atmosphere throughout the debate was one of mutual learning as well as friendly discussion, with light-hearted remarks breaking the tension between Proposition and Opposition. As Dr Oliveiro began delivering her case, her first remarks were: “Please don’t learn from me if you’re planning on going for the World Schools Debate Championship. This really isn’t the way you should be speaking for something like that.”

Later on, when it was Opposition speaker Chong Ee Hsiun’s turn to speak, he quipped cheerfully, “Since this is not the World Schools Debate Championship, I will now break format and deliver five refutations to [Dr Oliveiro]’s arguments!” It was clear that the debaters were less concerned about adhering to proper structure and format than engaging deeply in the heart of the issue in a courteous and lively manner.

The panel discussion expanded on the points of contention in the debate, and went on to address issues of race in Singapore today, such as the relevance of the Chinese-Malay-Indian-Other (CMIO) framework. While dividing society along racial lines would only serve to exacerbate discrimination against minorities, this division still serves the purpose of protecting minority rights in a society where the majority tends to forget about their existence. A perfect model would therefore be able to balance these two needs.

Panellists (from left to right): Dr Bahrawi, Dr Mathews, and Dr Oliveiro

With issues such as the elected presidency bringing the idea of affirmative action to the forefront of public discourse, Raffles Debaters’ main topic of discussion for the Hodge Lodge Debate Series could not have been more timely. The issue of race is one that must be discussed in public because it forms such an integral part of our individual identity as well as our nation’s collective identity.

As discourse about race is very much controlled by the government in Singapore, it is important that we attempt to form our own views about race – one that interrogates the assumptions in the state-sanctioned narrative, before accepting or rejecting this narrative. After all, it is only through the process of hearing alternative views that our own opinions can stand up to scrutiny.

Ultimately, the Hodge Lodge Debate Series was immensely rewarding insofar as it helped the audience better understand why people have different opinions towards the complex issue of affirmative action. After the event concluded, Ivan Toh (18A01A) commented that “the Hodge Lodge Debate Series was extremely exciting and insightful. The multifaceted discussions on race went beyond the confines of the GP classroom to help us understand how race affects the classroom, workplace, and society.” This was a sentiment echoed by Matthew Wong (18A01E), who believed that the Hodge Lodge Debate Series helped him understand that “no issue is monolithic… talking about race must be understood as the first step towards creating an ideal society.”

The Hodge Lodge Debate Series will return next term, addressing another topic that promises to be as thought-provoking as this one. We hope that such a platform for fruitful discussion will continue to be supported by the school population.

By Catherine Zou (17A01B)

Photos by Erika Poh (17S03P)

I am a Player.

This has meant many things: fact-checking reviews of Players productions, being informed that I have a “theatrical quality”, and most importantly, being part of the yearly rush towards production. At this point of the year, conversations with fellow Players often revolve around the subject of ticket sales and publicity plans. With one week to go before production, our schedules orbit around rehearsals, publicity efforts, and set-building.

The CCA puts up a College Production every year, but this year’s set design for David Auburn’s Proof is, in the words of Choo Ian Kang (17A13A), “the most ambitious yet” — a fact that was quickly made apparent walking into the Performing Arts Centre on Saturday morning.

It was Bump-In Day, when all the sets are slated to be moved to the performance venue. Given the nature of the set design, much of the work could only take place at the PAC itself. At 8AM, the stage was completely empty. The team of seventeen was to construct a house, and string up a fixture comprised of mathematical symbols, all by the end of the day.

The set was constructed from scratch on Saturday.

Progress was slower than expected; it was only at 1.30PM that skeleton of this set started to take shape — the supporting columns had just been erected, and the fixtures were slowly starting to resemble the designs of the Sets team. “At first we thought it was difficult. As it turns out, it was impossible,” said Ong Yan Chun (17S06A).

And he is right — wielding a soldering iron or drilling massive wooden panels is not usually part of the job scope of most CCAs. The Sets team has had to go out of their comfort zones and pick up new skills, from drilling to wiring circuitry, just to make their designs come alive. During production time, being in Players means picking up skills far beyond just acting, from carpentry to sewing to IT literacy. The sheer amount of tasks involved means that there is always a job to do. Yet this work is undeniably fun, even as it is driven by the urgency to complete everything quickly.

Jared Ong (18A13A) uses a scroll saw to cut a piece of plywood.

Stringing up the fixtures was one of the most time-consuming jobs of the day.

When one thinks of theatre, acting is usually the first association that comes to mind. And rightly so, because the most immediate experience of theatre is created by the emotional pull of the actors. Mahirah bte Latiff (17S03B) explains that although Players might be associated with the “super stylised and abstract”, Proof is at heart a naturalist play. It centres around Catherine, played by Robyn Wong (18A01B), who struggles to prove that she, not her deceased father, had been the one to write the titular proof.  Getting the acting right is difficult:  “At this point I basically eat, sleep, and breathe theatre”, says Robyn. “My days consist of waking up for school, listening to my recorded version of the script on the MRT, attending classes while memorising lines in between them, then attending CCA, and then going back home to look at the script again.”

Robyn coordinating her stage positions with the lights.

But the larger process involves not just acting, but a tremendous amount of coordination. “The focus,” says Izzul, who acts as Catherine’s father, “is no longer on us and it’s really just about how the play is going to come together with Lights and Sounds.”

Saturday’s Bump-In Day is just an indication of the work this takes: the actors had come to coordinate their acting with the lights, while the publicity department had arrived to take footage of the set-building and conduct livestreams.

The lights and sounds crew had arrived to test the PAC audiovisual system.

In the words of Kavya Sundar (17S03D), “theatre…is actually quite like a sport. We train hard. Teamwork and synergy is imperative for a good performance of any scale. We focus so much on energy that we are just as emotionally and mentally drained as we are physically at the end of it all.”

— It is easy to see the kind of exhaustion Kavya speaks of. After over 12 hours of work, Bump-In Day ended at 10PM on Saturday night. “When we came, the sky was dark, and when we eventually leave, the sky will still be dark,” sighs Yan Chun.

The end of the day: the Sets team file out of the PAC.

There is still much to do before the show begins, with ticket sales being the greatest preoccupation. In response to the slow ticket sales, Izzul says that he understands how for some, “going to a play is a daunting thing”. Mahirah, too, agreed that people “are often worried that they won’t be able to get the ‘meaning’ of the play.”

Nonetheless, each member has reiterated that the play this year is both naturalistic and painstakingly put together. More than this, Hidayat Malik (17S06B) says that he hopes “people could catch this not just because we worked so hard.” Ultimately, what drives every Player is the fact that “we sincerely want to share the beauty of what we have created with everyone and to include them in this magical process that is theatre-making.”

College Productions: Proof will be conducting ticket sales in the canteen from Monday onwards. Tickets are going at $10 for performances on 12th and 13th May (Friday and Saturday), 7.30PM at the PAC. They can also be ordered online at tinyurl.com/proof17.

You can find out more about the production on Facebook.

CCAs who would like Press coverage on previews of their upcoming events are more than welcome to contact us through our Facebook page. 

By Abigail Ang (18S06B), Soh Gek Shuen (18S03B) and Soh Ying Qi (18A01C), photo credit to Sng Hong (18A01C) 

Why did Lee Kuan Yew call English “emotionally unacceptable” as a mother tongue? How do ideologies and political motives affect language policy? And could Singapore ever adopt an “open” bilingualism policy, where students could study any second language, not just their “mother tongue”?

These were some questions posed at the annual English Language and Linguistics Symposium, held last Saturday at Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC), in line with this year’s theme: “Language, Power and Ideology”.

In the first talk, Singapore’s Language Policy: Rationales and Challenges, Dr Lionel Wee, Vice Dean of Research at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore (NUS), analysed the assumptions on which the government first based Singapore’s language policy, and the possible changes to language policy as these assumptions are challenged or become outdated.

For instance, in 1972, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew claimed that English was “emotionally unacceptable” as a mother tongue as Singaporeans could never have the same cultural or emotional attachment to English as the language spoken by their ethnic groups. This was in the era when English was mostly learnt for pragmatic reasons only, such as to communicate between ethnic groups, and to access Western science and technology.

However, as Mr Wee emphasised, languages are dynamic entities and their relationships to their speakers are constantly changing. As the use of mother tongues in households continues to fall, one may argue that Singaporeans have a stronger connection to English than any other language. Just compare the number of Chinese students in Singapore taking English literature as compared to its Chinese counterpart.

Emotionally unacceptable?

The current bilingualism policy is also not without its problems, as it excludes groups outside the “CMI” (Chinese-Malay-Indian) model. For example, Non-Tamil Indian students were only given the option to take Non-Tamil Indian Languages (NTILs) as mother tongue subjects after 1989, and the current list still excludes some languages like Malayalam. Students of mixed-races used to have to take the “mother tongue” affiliated to their father’s ethnic group, and since English cannot be taken as a mother tongue subject, many Eurasians take up a language they have little to no affiliation with —simply to fulfill the bilingualism criteria.

This means that for many, the language taken as a mother tongue subject is often arbitrary. This problem is even more keenly felt now as Singapore welcomes more people of different nationalities and ethnicities, as their actual Mother Tongues may not even be offered as unofficial languages (e.g. Vietnamese and Filipino).

Another trend that may cause the current bilingualism policy to be unsustainable is China’s economic growth; if Mandarin also has economic value, it would be unfair to reserve it only for Chinese Singaporeans.

One possible, though perhaps controversial, solution would be adopting a more flexible system in which students simply pick up a language of their choice, in addition to English. This would recognise the diversity of mother tongues in Singapore, beyond the rigid allocation of mother tongues based on ethnic identity.

The  discussion about Singapore’s independence-era language policy segued nicely into the second talk by Dr Bruce Lockhart, Associate Professor in the Department of History at NUS, titled Colonial Languages and Language Policy in Decolonised Southeast Asia: A Historical Overview, which provided a historical perspective to language policy in Southeast Asia.

Dr Lockhart highlighted one of the main points made by both himself and Dr Wee: “language is always about power.” Historically, the languages of Southeast Asian colonists were considered more prestigious than the local vernaculars, and were viewed as a way for locals to climb up the social ladder. Hence, English-language schools like RI and Anglo-Chinese were popular.

As an interesting side note, Dr Lockhart added that “Raffles and Anglo-Chinese represent the two different traditions in Singapore…the AC system represents the mission school tradition, Raffles represents the self-consciously secular tradition.”

ACJC plays religious music before their assemblies; RI, Top 40 pop.

Colonisation not only introduced competition from colonial languages, but from other local languages as well. Christian missionaries helped modernise and spread local minority languages; as Dr Lockhart explained, “If they come in and the Bible is not available in the local language, they will do translation of the Bible into that language, and very often they have to create script.”

Writing systems allowed minority languages to compete with major regional languages. However, this created tension between speakers, which had far-reaching ramifications for Southeast Asian countries after independence.

With the topic of language policy and education relevant to all students present, their interest was palpable from their enthusiastic participation during the Q and A session. One student asked whether an “open” bilingualism policy would result in more people identifying with other cultures, and even taking it to a level some may find offensive.

Q&A session with Dr Lionel Wee and Dr Bruce Lockhart.

Though the student stopped shy of using the term “cultural appropriation”, murmurs rippled through the crowd as the audience recognised that students may abandon their mother tongue not just for economic reasons, but for a different culture and even nationality.

The idea that one need not know one’s “native” language to “truly” be a person of that ethnicity may also seem radical to some, especially if they have grown up hearing such sentiments from parents or teachers. When approached after the talk, however, Dr Lockhart emphasised that one’s language ability did not affect one’s attachment to the ethnic identity they held, citing Asian-Americans as an example of an immigrant culture maintaining their cultural identity.

One could argue that one’s attachment to the culture of your ethnic group or nationality is not so much dependent on the language one speaks, but the effort one puts into maintaining one’s relationship to the culture. A case in point: many pioneer-generation Singaporeans have a second language different from the one typically associated with their ethnic group, such as Malay instead of Chinese, due to societal circumstances. Yet, one would hardly say they are any less Singaporean.

The event certainly provided much food for thought, and ground sentiments regarding the talks were largely positive. Nurul ‘Afaf bte Badrolhisham (18A01C) praised the symposium’s interdisciplinary nature, saying, “The fact that they managed to link other subjects such as history into ELL made it an even more enriching experience.”

By Clarine See (18S03G) and Yeo Kee Hwan (18S03Q)

Photo credits to Raffles Photographic Society

If one had to sum up Piano Ensemble’s recent concert, ‘journey’ would be a most apt description. And a journey it was indeed, as the audience was transported to a world beyond the confines of Lecture Theatre 2 on the night of 28th April.

It was clear from the start that Piano Ensemble was going beyond presenting a well-rehearsed repertoire for the night — from the tropical decor of the venue to the entertaining island shenanigans that the emcees brought to the audience, the time and effort dedicated to creating a mood of adventure was evident. The usually drab LT2 was dressed up for the occasion – fairy lights were strung along the stage, paper cuttings of coconut trees and lush waves lined the walls, and paper boats were placed on every seat, a delightful invitation to sail away to worlds unknown.

Keeping in line with the theme of adventure, emcees Gillian Yeong (17A01A) and Joshen Lim (17S07D) acted as tour guides for a tour group (the audience) that had been shipwrecked on an island. The entertainment factor was definitely not lacking, with the emcees running from wild crocodiles and desperately fixing broken boats while exchanging playful banter along the way.

Gillian and Joshen leading the voyage.

With a fairly long set list consisting of 18 pieces in total, one might think it to be an overload of foreign classics that all blend into each other after awhile. Fortunately, the adventure theme brought direction to their selection of songs as well; familiar tunes from well-known movies and musicals were interspersed with the expected classical pieces. And even then, these pieces happened to be easily recognisable ones, thereby allowing the audience to fully experience their time exploring the variety of music that was performed that night.

The first song to be played that night was, quite aptly, a prelude. Though not necessarily as well known as the other songs that were played later in the night, it served as a good lead-in, being a piece with archetypically classical elements such as an alberti bass line, light ornamentation, as well as slight use of rubato for stylistic purposes. It certainly did set the stage for the well-known “Libertango”. Composed by Piazolla in 1974, and arranged by Kyoko Yamamoto, this rendition that Jacie Lim (17A01C) and Ashiley Annushri (17S03I) brought to life remained true to the essence of this spirited tune. Skilfully swapping the melody lines between them, they maintained continuity in their performance while simultaneously altering chord progressions and using dissonance to add colour and texture on top of the original’s catchy beat.

Beyond indulging the audience with classics, the Piano Ensemble also took care to cater to a whole variety of music tastes, performing well-loved popular music pieces arranged by the members themselves. They ranged from Joe Hisaishi’s timeless “Kimi wo Nosete (Carrying You)” from animated film Laputa: Castle In The Sky (arranged by Faye-Anne Ho, Ashleigh Aathar, Paul Low) to pop song “7 Years” (arranged by Ashleigh Aathar). They even performed a spirited medley from “Les Misérables” (arranged by Paul Low), demonstrating the prowess of the guests performers and drawing cheers from the audience in their excitement.

Keeping themselves updated with the latest trends, the Ensemble also performed Rocoberry’s “Always” (arranged by Ashlyn Ng, Dione Lim, Isaac Lee, and Chen Xinyuan) from the wildly popular Korean drama Descendants Of The Sun, drawing cheers from the audience. Memorably, guest violinist Jackie Sim (17S03G) performed “Theme from Schindler’s List” along with Chloe Chia (17S03N) and Anna Cheang (17S07D), suffusing the piece with the melancholy tune of the violin to truly convey its character.

Special guest Jackie on the violin.

But of course, the mood was not entirely sombre, as it was meant to be an adventure. The atmosphere was cheerily lightened by Rachmaninoff’s “Italian Polka”, particularly with Hao Jia (18S05A) and Yuchen’s (18S06H) energetic performance. Besides enthusiastically completing phrase after phrase of the fast-paced melody, the performers also added in their own quirks to liven up the mood. From standing up to twirl around the bench to switching parts but playing the other’s equally skillfully, they were indeed in equal parts admirable and entertaining, rightfully earning the cheers from their friends in the audience. And the fun did not end there; upon ending their performance on a dramatic note, they promptly looked at each other and smiled cheekily before dabbing, to the uproarious laughter of all.

The dabbing duo.

The last piece of the night, Johann Strauss’ “Trischt-Tratsch-Polka” (arranged by Paul Low), was undoubtedly the most entertaining, and perhaps most perfectly embodied the theme of the concert. All eleven members of the J2 batch split themselves between the two pianos on stage, and so commenced a piece that was a sheer delight in both the execution of the music and the performance aspect. High-fiving, slapping on party hats, and alternating between standing and squatting all took place around the piano while the members somehow maintained perfect synchrony in both rhythm and tempo. The playful, frenzied nature of the polka was well-expressed, conveying a sense of unrestrained joy and spontaneity to the audience.

The J2 piano batch sharing pianos.

An infectious party mood.

All in all, Piano Ensemble’s attempt to bring its audience along on a journey was definitely a rousing success. Beyond weaving in an adventure into the script, the music that was carefully curated was in itself a journey as well -the pieces were varied widely to ensure that the audience would not be alienated by unfamiliar works, and every piece brought something unique to the table. Notably, in evoking a whole range of emotions, from solemn despair to unfettered joy, the Piano Ensemble also conveyed the idea of music itself being an adventure of passions. By the end of the night, there was a sense of reluctance to accept that the adventure the emcees had brought the audience on had come to a close, as testament to just how engrossing and enjoyable the ride with Piano Ensemble was.

By Jeanne Tan (17A01B)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (dir. James Gunn): the fifteenth movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the second movie in the well-received Guardians of the Galaxy series, and possibly one of the best so far. The promotion for this movie might leave some sceptical – the poster looks like a poorly-coloured amateur Photoshop job with the saturation turned on high, while the trailers featured some of the more uncomfortable jokes to come out of Marvel.

The poster looks like a rainbow threw up on it. (Source: Movieweb)

Lately, movies from the Marvel franchise seem to have embraced the so-called Marvel ‘formula’ tenfold: the colours are bright and saturated, the jokes in-your-face, and the plot increasingly carried by the dialogue. The lighthearted, action-packed, and colourful movies have painted a specific aesthetic, making any Marvel movie instantly identifiable. This particular ‘recipe’ has given every movie in this ‘universe’ a consistent character, and helped develop the strong reputation these movies now possess.

However, this style has not been without its share of blacklash. The bright and colourful style has been criticised for the quality of colour grading and lack of contrasts; the insertion of self-deprecating humour has disrupted audience appreciation for serious, emotionally-heavy moments. There have been several controversies of directors leaving movies over artistic differences, due to the firm hold over individual style that the studio maintains in order to keep the movies similar.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 falls prey to the same flaws: every feature that makes this movie fall short from perfect stems from the adherence to the prescribed ‘style’; from the exposition-heavy script to the forgettable villain to the excessively lewd jokes, the features that made this movie a part of Marvel’s uniformity were its biggest weakness. Admittedly, the first Guardians movie set a precedent for witty jokes and corny 80s’ style, but the excessive need for branding atop the movie’s individual flavour disrupted the flow and made the movie feel less than enjoyable at times.

However, despite this, the movie’s personality shone through strongly. It maintained the strengths of the first movie, namely the entertaining and plot-relevant soundtrack of 80s music, the cast’s hilarious dynamic , and the out-of-this-world (literally) visual effects. While some might find the vibrant colours overwhelming, the different settings this movie explored showcased such a variety of palettes and brightness that it added to the fun of exploring a galaxy.

One of the opening scenes of the movie showed us right away that the filmmakers knew what their audience wanted: a closeup of the baby Groot (a fan favourite tear-jerker from the first movie) having a solo dance party while his team members battle a monster around him. Besides this, the dialogue is still packed full with Chris Pratt’s epic humour, pop culture references and overall cheesiness which made the first movie stand out amongst similar films.

The frequent spotlight on the cuteness of Baby Groot felt like viewer exploitation. Exploitation that viewers (at least this one) completely consented to. (Source: CBR)

The movie also moves beyond surface quirks in terms of artistic choices – it featured several visual references to movies the director was inspired by (notably the ending scene, which visually parallels the ending to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, making this reporter squeal in her seat). It also showcased a surprising amount of subtlety; some almost undetectable visual cues hinted at the villain throughout the movie until the big reveal. Overall, this movie knew its audience well and gave them what they asked for and more.

But what was more surprising was that the movie, instead of somewhat ignoring the character development established in the first movie, as commonly seen in ensemble films, built on pre-existing stories and developed them further, elevating this movie above and beyond that of its prequel.

Storylines such as that of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), adoptive sisters who were bitter enemies in the first movie under the rule of their father Thanos, blossomed beyond the established positions. What was originally a one-sided tale of enmity driven by fear and hate was given another voice in this movie as a simultaneous story of misunderstanding and human connection, of love and family.

The development of Nebula’s and Gamora’s relationship was one of the more understated triumphs of this movie. (Source: uproxx)

Other subplots included Rocket (Bradley Cooper) struggling with his identity and sense of belonging, and, of course, the main storyline revolving around Peter Quil’s (Chris Pratt) relationship with his father.

Family played a central role in this movie, tying all the different subplots together to tell the story of a team, working together through their individual struggles, and growing stronger as a family through it. It was a genuinely emotional journey, and felt true to both the characters, and to real life, despite the distant setting.

This movie was, on the whole, incredibly enjoyable. Even this sceptic was won over by its unique charm, its understanding of its audience, and the strength of its story. The question now is whether the movie would have fared better without its adherence to the prescribed style. Its flaws arose in the areas where it mimicked the Marvel ‘formula’; perhaps if the director had been given total creative freedom, the movie could have soared above and beyond its already considerable accomplishments. 

Nevertheless, this movie was a creative triumph; we can celebrate this victory with a dance-off to some awesome music.

Stay tuned for: Awesome Mix 3: now on Microsoft Zune (Source: movieweb.com)

By Carman Chew (17A01D) and Nadiya Nesseer (17S03B)

Upon the signal to begin the gruelling 10-minute tuning session, the cold, bare tuning room lit up with tuners flashing orange and green as guitarists scrambled to get their instrument to the perfect pitch. Seconds before the ensemble began their final practice run, guitarron player Novis Lim (17S03M) shot her hand up, calling for the conductor — something was wrong with her strings.

A lonely guitar sitting outside the SOTA concert hall

On the 28th of April, the Raffles Guitar Ensemble Y5-Y6 (RJGE) took part in the biennial SYF competition. With almost three quarters of the CCA having no prior guitar experience, RJGE spent 8 months, painstakingly perfecting every note. For many, this was their first time taking part in the prestigious event.

Being the last group of the day, the anxious yet excited guitarists streamed hastily into the SOTA concert hall, the clacking of their court shoes reverberating off the intimidating soundproof walls. Despite the initial scare regarding the guitarron strings reacting to the low temperatures, the ensemble maintained a calm composure once conductor Mr Michael Gaspar stepped on stage.

RJGE performed two pieces.

First up, was Archangelo Corelli’s “Concerto VI” arranged by Andrew Forrest. Opening with a slow adagio segment, it took the audience by surprise when the tempo progressively picked up in the allegro segment. It was clear that the ensemble had taken months to perfect as each segment was delivered clean and the transition, smooth.

Following that, the ensem performed one of their favourites pieces, “I Could Have Danced All Night” from popular broadway musical My Fair Lady, as arranged by their very own conductor. While the blend of bright crescendos and mezzo forte demonstrated the astute ensemble’s mastery of dynamics, it was their pizzicato plucking that ultimately gave their song a unique and upbeat flavour. By the end of it all, the cheerful tune left even the SYF crew bobbing up and down in their seats.

After what seemed to be the most important 15 minutes of their life, the guitarists scooted eagerly off the stage, each dying to buzz with their CCA mates about how the performance went. One of the prime guitar players, Teng Chu Yu (17A03A) commented that “this was definitely one of the more enjoyable performances; usually during practice, you’re more anxious to play the right notes, but since it was the last one, everyone really just wanted to relish the moment.”

Even Mr Gaspar praised the ensemble, saying: “I couldn’t ask for anything more, they were really well-controlled during the performance.”

The RJGE bass players huddling together to celebrate their spectacular performance

Sure enough, their efforts did pay off because 4 nerve-wracking days later, there it was on the SYF website: For the first time in 6 years, the Raffles Guitar Ensemble had achieved a Certificate of Distinction. Raffles Press would like to congratulate the guitarists on their achievement.

A jubilant RJGE after their SYF

Set list:
Concerto VI by Archangelo Corelli
I Could Have Danced All Night by Frederick Loewe

By Calista Chong (18A01A), Lynn Hong (18A13A) and Yeo Kee Hwan (18S03Q)

The dancers gathered in a circle, their eyes drawn in intent concentration toward their captain as they rallied for what would be the culmination of months of hard work. On 28 April, RJ Modern Dance performed at the Kallang Theatre for the Singapore Youth Festival. 

Before

As the minutes ticked by, the dancers waiting to be called were locked in intense focus. The other school’s raucous group practises and cheers hardly fazed them. Instead, they polished their moves individually with their earbuds in. As the time of their performance neared, they began to practice in smaller groups, mostly amongst those who shared a similar pattern of choreography for the opening sequences. Soon after that, it was time for their performance to begin.

The J1 batch huddled together before the performance

Andrea Cher (18S07B) took the stage, greeting the audience before introducing their performance. Its title is “Passing”, which depicts the inexorable rhythm of time with hurried leaps and inching crawls, through the fast and the slow seasons of life.

During

The music starts on a languorous note, the spotlight a bare white light on the dancers as they drift, poised and graceful onto the stage, like the opening scene of a French film; a romantic black-and-white vignette. The dancers begin to move: slowly, like statues in a courtyard come alive.

All of a sudden, they all leave the stage, and there is a moment of stillness before a group of dancers emerge from the wings, pausing to turn and stare contemplatively at the audience. Then the moment is over, and the music builds, with a layer of light trills dancing over the main motif injecting vivacity into the performance as a new group of dancers runs onstage.

True to their theme of ‘passing’, they alternate between large movements in fluid shifts of formation, and running across the stage in ever growing numbers. They move like marionettes, controlled yet lively. This was a performance showcasing their technical ability and muscle control, their disparate movements synchronising to form perfect formations.

With every layer the music grows in complexity, and every new set of dancers capturing a different nuance, with movements measured or energetic, languorous or jerky, strolling or sprinting across stage, or twirling or leaping. The music rolls to a dramatic climax, the stage a fevered kaleidoscope of dance with every dancer breaking into individual spontaneity.

This was the part where Chelsea Li (17A03A), one of the performers, found most memorable, noting that “it really captures the idea of “passing”, portraying the liveliness of our everyday world, with so many different lives and stories passing by each other”.

The music closes on a slow dolorous note, the girls moving statues once more. As they pause in their movements, the lighting changes from a cold blue to a warmer yellow, almost as though it were adding a touch of life to their still figures. Then they leave, one by one, the light stark against them. The music peters out on the honeyed wings of the main melody, drawing to a bittersweet close. They freeze mid-motion, before drifting off the stage individually, till the lights dim and the stage fades to black.There was a momentary sense of loss as the dancers disappeared one by one, as though they had indeed left behind another stage of life by the conclusion of their item, while the audience was left to ponder whether they were on their way to doing the same.

After

Leaving the audience stall was much like walking out of a cinema; and not just because of the sudden change in lighting.

Much like how one would mull over the distinct themes and style of arthouse films, this performance, with its unique subject matter and style was bold and evocative. This earned more than appreciative applause; like most art aspires to, it also provoked audience members to ponder upon the significance and instances of passing.

Particularly in as fast-paced a society as the one we live in, it is especially close to home, with things and people entering and leaving our lives in such rapid succession we often neglect to treasure them for what they are until we turn around to find them gone.

To unpack such a complex theme for a showcase performance, the dancers’ skills and styles were also extremely crucial. The avant-garde approach that was chosen was a refreshing take on the theme, and coupled with the synergy and technique that each of the dancers had displayed, came together to make a performance that captivated the audience from start to end.

After the mesmerizing performance, the dancers streamed out of the hall, looking visibly relaxed. Where they had been huddled in nervous anticipation before their time on stage, the dancers were now embracing each other in good cheer after a performance well delivered. Even before the results were known, they appeared much less tense now, greeting friends that had come to support them and soaking up the warm atmosphere, knowing that the effort they had put into an art they loved would come to fruition.

As Chelsea concluded: “It was a performance we should all be proud of because it showed how much we grew together as a CCA and a family. On stage, [we took] pride in our art and the [effort] we put into choreographing and practising, and I’m really proud of everyone [for that].”

Raffles Press congratulates Modern Dance on attaining a rightful Certificate of Distinction!

Modern Dance smiling radiantly after putting up a brilliant performance

by Noor Adilah (17S06B)

While the National School Games Canoeing Championships held at Macritchie Reservoir may be a yearly fixture for most schools, this year’s competitions held a special significance to RI’s own Canoeing team — it would be their last.

Canoeing Championships are held at Macritchie Reservoir every year.

Raffles Canoeing is no more. First announced early last year, 2017 marks the beginning of the new Dragonboating CCA – and the end of Canoeing. With this change comes a sense of loss, as the canoeing and kayaking sports have a long and storied history in RI, having produced notable alumni such as the current coach, Ms Cheryl Tay (more affectionately known by the team as “Muddy”).

The girls team with the adored Muddy.

This atmosphere of finality might push most to adopt a defeatist mindset. Not for our Canoeists. The last lap of their CCA inspired an even stronger sense of determination from the team — a determination to end off with a bang.

And end off with a bang they did.

The boys’ team qualified for two races on the 20th of April, fighting hard to make it past the qualifying rounds and showing much potential in the heats. For the first event, the 1000m K4 (4-person Kayak) race, the canoeists pushed hard to overtake SJC in a heated match, placing 5th. The boys, still exhausted from their previous race, pushed even harder for their second match, the 500m race. Even qualifying for this race was a difficult endeavour, so despite their 6th placing, the boys finished with dignity and pride, placing 6th in the overall A division.

The K4 boys team.

The girls placed 4th overall in the A girls division, coming ahead of strong teams from SAJC and CJC. The K4 girls competed in 2 events on the 19th of April — the 500m and the 1000m races. In the 500m race, the girls led comfortably in the first few seconds, but ACJC pulled ahead after a slight mishap the RI canoeists experienced before the halfway point. They paddled furiously for a hard-fought 2nd place — something of an accomplishment given their competitors’ experience in the field.

Later on, in the 1000m race, the girls trailed back in the first few seconds, but gained a burst of speed towards the end. They were visibly upset at what they thought was a 4th position — but what they would later find out was a much-deserved 3rd place. The consistent performance from the girls was a cause for celebration — placing in the top three for all qualifying events is, according to the Canoeists, extremely difficult. What once seemed unachievable, had been made possible through months of hard work.

The girls team finding out they placed 3rd.

The next day, the K2 girls would go on to win another 3rd in the K2 500m race, making it 3 races worth of top-3 placings, later bringing them to 4th position overall. The girls are “proud of how all [their] hard work paid off”.

The girls team with their awards.

For the Canoeists, the past few months of preparation did not just build up to the few minutes of the races, but lasting friendships with their CCA mates. While all good things must come to an end, they enjoyed the little infinities they found in Canoeing — their friendships, a learned and interminable strength of will, and a passion for paddling.

Raffles Canoeing. 

Results:

19 April
K4 girls 500m – 2nd position
K4 girls 1000m – 3rd position

20 April
K4 boys 1000m – 5th position
K4 boys 500m – 6th position
K2 girls 500m – 3rd position

RI placed 4th overall in the Girls A Division Championships and 6th overall in the Boys A Division Championships

By Ernest Lee (17A01A), Angus Yip (18A01A), Jonah Tan (18A01A), Photographs by The Humanz Initiative (THI). 

Take a look at most concerts and plays put together by the different CCAs and student groups within the school. One trend emerges: these performances are by Rafflesians and almost always for Rafflesians. On the 29th of April, the spotlight shifted away from the student population to the world beyond our campus.

Enter Those Days, a concert organised by The Humanz Initiative (THI), a group of Humanities Programme students. Their work and interaction with seniors from the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society (THK) culminated in an afternoon of warmth and celebration at the PAC.

The concert brought together many performers, all having the aim of putting on a good show for the elderly. From the J2 acoustic duo, Gillian (17S05A) & Joelle (17S03A), to a strings ensemble comprising former members of the CCA in RGS, the afternoon performances were a welcome change for many of the elderly, and even the invited non-teaching staff. Rather than showcasing the specific efforts of any one CCA, the concert featured a wide variety of acts, some performing popular hits, while others performed nostalgic songs of the past.

Highlights included tap-dancing from Ayrton McCully (17S06N), whose self-choreographed routine wowed many. Incorporating elements of comedy and waltz, the deft rhythm and casual confidence charmed the audience and received thunderous applause from many.

The wushu group, Weiyang Wushu, were no pushover, either. Led by former SEA Games gold medalist Dorain Tang, the cast of eight to nine children were both adorable and dazzling. Showcasing a mix of both group and solo performances that incorporated a wide variety of weapons from the jian to the dao, Weiyang Wushu were enthusiastically received by the audience.

The elderly were not merely audience members. A ukulele group from THK took to the stage to deliver moving renditions of songs from the 1950s. Strumming along to the crooning of a lead singer, the ensemble was complete with not one, but two electric guitars.

Renditions of Island in the Sun and Yellow Bird were reminders that they, too, enjoyed popular tunes of their youth. Harry Belafonte and Arthur Lyman may not be household names today, but when the songs were first released the performers would have been teenagers. This concert helped showcase the liveliness and vigour still present in their golden years.

The elderly from THK during their ukulele ensemble performance

In between the different performances, emcees Abdul Qayyum (17A01B) and Xin Hwee (17A13A) would ask some seniors in the audience to share their thoughts regarding the performances they had watched. At one point, one elderly audience member cheerfully proclaimed, “From the very first act, every performance has been outstanding. All these performances managed to hold their own against internationally renowned performers!”

Prior to the show, the elderly had been treated to a buffet lunch on campus, accompanied by volunteer befrienders who showed them around school. Non-teaching staff, from canteen stallholders to security guards, had also been given tickets in the days leading up to the concert. Other concertgoers even brought their own grandparents, who indeed enjoyed the concert greatly.

Audience participation segment of the concert

Despite the community-oriented nature of this concert, however, the organisers were unable to garner much publicity for the concert. Gathering support and selling tickets was a tough sell, as the perception that Those Days was for the elderly may have led to it not being seen as an event that was accessible to all. Nonetheless, familiar faces from newly-graduated alumni to supporters from other schools turned up to show their support.

That being said, the organising team refused to give up, persisting in their efforts to ensure that this concert would be a success. The enthusiastic and meticulous planning for the concert guaranteed that the elderly would be treated to nothing less than a perfect experience.

Importantly, the concert stayed true to its mission of celebrating the elderly in the community, weaving modern acts of song and dance with more traditional forms of performance, such as Wushu, that the elderly could easily identify with.

Gerbera booths were organised to allow concertgoers to purchase the multicolored flowers as gifts for the elderly, while the emcees were conscious to alternate between English, Mandarin and Malay to accommodate their audience. From the pre-concert touches to the closing of the curtains, THI’s commitment to making this a delightful concert for the elderly shone through.

Their efforts paid off. As well as being entertaining, the concert was highly meaningful for the audience. Whether it was during their ukulele performance on stage, or when the emcees asked them about their thoughts, it was clearly apparent that they appreciated the concert very much.

THI EXCO member Cassandra Ang (17A01A) stated that “the most fulfilling and amazing part was being able to really see that the elderly – beneficiaries whose faces and stories we know – enjoyed themselves with the catered lunch, the planned activities, the concert theme which had been arranged around their interests and the flowers from our befrienders.”

The seniors from THK enjoyed the concert very much!

The concert was not simply staged with the aim of entertaining the elderly. It was a reminder to us all how crucial the elderly are to the community and also how vibrant they are. As the elderly are people we do not constantly talk with, due to factors like the generation gap and language barriers, it is easy for us to dismiss the elderly as irrelevant to society today.

The concert easily disproved this, however, revealing the vitality and vibrancy of the audience for everyone to see, and it was through this that the concert truly became a celebration of the elderly around us.

In the screening of a short film made by Timothy Fong (17A01A), Jotham Ng (17A01A), Teoh Xuan Min (17A01B), Samuel Ho (17A13A) and Jared Ong (18A13A), students were asked to share some of their unique and memorable interactions with their grandparents. They answered with sincere and contemplative responses, mixed in with occasional dashes of humour and nostalgia from the heart.

Elizabeth Xu (18A13A) recalled her grandfather sacrificing a slipper or two to help her pluck mangoes, while Li Wanjie (18A01B) mentioned how his most memorable experiences revolved around how sad he was when he had to leave his grandparents in China.

Those Days was a highly meaningful conclusion to the service project with THK that volunteers had engaged in over the past few months. As Cassandra happily affirmed, “This is a wonderful denouement to our journey, and it has been really fulfilling to see how far we’ve progressed from the very beginning!”

Indeed, the concert was a sincere love letter to the elderly around us and a clear reminder to all of us to treasure our interactions with the elderly.

THI will be organising another concert next year as part of their long-term commitment to service, and we truly look forward to attending another event as meaningful as this.

Performance Lineup

Acoustic Duo: Gillian Cheong (17S05A) & Joelle Ocampo (17S03A)

Wushu: External Group

Tap-Dancing: Ayrton McCully (17S06N)

Strings Ensemble: Ashley Tan (18A13A), Jovi Koh (18S03R), Calista Chong (18A01A), Rachel Chung (18S06E), Fong Huan Ting (18S03I), and Tian Xindi (18S03S)

Music Act: Isaac Tan (18S06Q) & Manas Srivastava (18S06H)

Ukulele Ensemble: Elders from THK

Film: Directed and produced by Timothy Fong (17A01A), Jotham Ng (17A01A), Teoh Xuan Min (17A01B), Samuel Ho (17A13A) and Jared Ong (18A13A)

Acoustic Duo: Jesse Tan (17S06N) & Goh Chou Xuan (17S03J)

Duet: Su Ying (17A01B) & Samuel Ho (17A13A)

By Bill Puah (17S06B), Nerissa Loe (17A13A), Zara Karimi (18A01A), Marilyn Kang (17A01B), and Catherine Zou (17A01B)

Photos by Raffles Photographic Society and Loh Yuan Yee

With their peers cheering them on, the finalists took to the track at the National Stadium on 28 April, each hoping to deliver their best performance of the season. Despite the rowdiness of the crowd and the overwhelming uncertainty, the athletes still glowed with confidence and stood elegantly in front of the crowd.

Ready, Steady, GO!

On the fateful day, the finalists took to their positions for their respective races. Everyone was undoubtedly facing their own expectations, as well as those of the watchful crowd — some of the gazes fixed on them belonged to their friends, batchmates, or teachers.

It was easy to sense the anticipation arising from the crowd. While most understand that Track and Field is highly energy-draining, it is unlikely that anyone apart from the athletes can fully comprehend the intensity and the anxiety of the competition.

As sprinter Nicole Hu (17S03A) mentioned, “track teaches the runners to fight even harder because [they] have nothing else to lose, only to win back.” Against all odds, including themselves; such was the spirit of the Raffles Track and Field Team that saw them finish off the season with 9 podium positions.

In particular, Tanisha Moghe (18A01A) and the 4 x 100m Relay Girls excelled and attained 1st in their A Division events.

With the Singapore Sports School Female Athletes

Against the sheer number of medals bagged, the runners from Track impressed not just by their achievements, but by their spirit of excellence. Tanisha, gold medallist for the Girls’ 100m sprint, said that even though she had won, she felt that her timings for my individual races were not satisfactory. “That just gives me motivation to train harder for other competitions,” she adds.

The girls pose for a picture.

And no one is likely to question the hard work that the finalists had put in for their big day. When asked about the journey,  Shafiq (17A01D), who won two silvers for his races, commented, “the harsh truth is that, for most of us, we’re going to lose more often than we win, but we still have to keep fighting, keep our dreams in sight, and never lose hope.” While not all may not have emerged victorious with titles or totems, we feel that all of their dedication is extremely commendable in itself.

It is difficult to be blind to this brand of resilience, when it is so passionately put on display. Sprinter Joshua Chua is one example of this. A few weeks before the start of Nationals, Joshua pulled a hamstring, resulting in him having to drop out of his individual hurdles event (100m). Still, Joshua pushed through, overcoming his injury to clinch the silver medal in the A Div Boys’ 100m sprint. In fact, this banner of unswerving dedication is one that is shared across the team and its multitude of events and athletes.

Clenyce Tan, too, was especially anxious for her 400m hurdles event — although she had been training for it since December 2015, she has had “to perfect hurdle technique”, especially because she needed to retain enough strength to clear the last 100m of hurdles. Yet despite her insecurities, her hard work did not fail her, allowing her to clinch 2nd in the 400m hurdles event with a score that would have won her the gold medal in all the finals since 2010 had another competitor not broken the record.

For many, the finals on Friday truly represented the essence of Track and Field — the very three words invokes the images of neck-to-neck sprints, or relays. In reality, it was only a concluding chapter to months of hard work and competition in a repertoire of different events, and likely marked the beginning of greater heights and distances.

The CCA had had a record of excellence throughout the season, bagging coveted medals in several events — many of which are, whilst less recognised as relays or sprints, equally arduous and demanding.

As Jordan Chia explained, Shot Put and Discus are both sports that require consistent technique: for Shot Put, it’s about engaging the whole body into the throw, and for Discus, “it’s all about the technique in the rotation.”. This challenge is often compounded by injuries — Jordan, “just like every other sportsman”, has had his fair share of them, but stated that “that’s sports and we just have to move on and keep getting stronger”, a drive that won him a gold medal in Shot Put and a silver in Discus.

Boys Long Jump and Triple Jump were no less challenging. Toh Wei Yu, who won a gold and a silver medal in both of the events respectively, told us that “both events require athletes to combine speed, strength and agility to leap as far as possible”, and all in a space of “less than a second”. This was made more difficult as he had sustained some injuries during season, which forced him to miss a few trainings. Yet despite the initial pressure, Wei Yu states that his “coach and teammates helped and encouraged me through tough times”. He concludes that “I might not have gotten a personal best at this year’s nationals but looking back, I believe that I have given my all and am happy with the results”.

More than just individual drive and hard work, a recurring theme across the interviews was a sense of being a team. Although Track may be seen as an individual sport, it is clear that the camaraderie between members is a source of support for many.

The team cheering on those amongst them who were competing

The significance of such camaraderie came alive in one of the most astonishing performances of the season, from Angelina Lim of 17A01E, who clinched 2nd in the Girls Javelin event. Originally from Netball, she was scouted during Raffles Games last year and subsequently invited to join the Girls Javelin team. When interviewed, she could only recount that her training with the team, which lasted for one and a half months prior to the start of this season, was “a very nice experience” because “everyone was very nice and supportive, which wasn’t what I expected.” Her praises for the team did not just end there, as she gushed, “The team is very very nice, super supportive, [and] super cheerful every training.”

After her win, Angelina leaps in joy with another teammate from Netball

For Jordan, it is a shame that, inevitably, “too many times we focus on winning so much that we forget the friendship that is so so valuable.” It is ever more heartening and worthwhile, and to Jordan — his proudest moment — when “we had finally finished our nationals — although we didn’t bring home that coveted trophy, we brought home our friendship and our team spirit.”. A sense of “being in something greater than yourself, with people that share the same passion”, as Jordan puts it, is what makes the experience of track both rare and amazing. Clenyce echoed these sentiments, telling us how much she hoped for her teammates to do well: “I trained with them and I know how hard they worked for this.”

With the conclusion of the Track and Field Championships 2017, Raffles Press would like to congratulate our runners for another stellar season, and wishes the whole Track team many more in years to come, of excellence and camaraderie.

Rafflesians Unite, let’s show our might

A DIVISION RESULTS

GIRLS

BOYS

By Choi Hoe Chang (18S07A), Ianni Tan (18S03C), Lynn Hong (18A13A), Ryan Wee (18A01A), and Soh Ying Qi (18A01C)

The Kallang Squash and Tennis Centre was bubbling with excitement on the 3rd and 4th of May – after all, the players from Raffles Squash were battling it out in the ‘A’ Division championship finals. The sweltering heat failed to distract the players, and did nothing to deter supporters from showing up. After rounds of fast-paced, grueling matches and supporters cheering themselves hoarse, it was evident that the efforts had paid off.

Boys’ Finals

Our Boys’ team had been training hard for their championship match against Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), pushing themselves beyond their limits. As the captain Bryan Tan (17S03M) commented, “We’ve been training 3 times a week, and for 2-3 hours each time…we’ve had some players go through injuries and take time to recover. But we’re all well today.”

First up was Tan Hua Wang (18S03K). It was inarguable that he dominated this game, as he easily conquered three consecutive sets while his opponent struggled to keep up.

Hua Wang starting Raffles off strong.

Up next was Clement Hung (18S06L). Much like his teammate, he had no trouble in maintaining a huge lead against his opponent throughout the game. He concluded the match quickly by winning three consecutive sets.

Clement keeping up the pressure on HCI.

Our third player was Aaron Liang (18S06O). Aaron struggled a little in the first set, giving way to his HCI counterpart to win the first set with a remarkable lead. He eventually picked up his pace as he seized 2nd and 3rd sets, although the competition showed much resilience by narrowing the gap in the scoreboard. The fourth game was perhaps the most important moment in the whole match, as Aaron’s victory would have guaranteed victory not just for his own game, but for the team overall as well. However, HCI bounced back from his slump as he broke Aaron’s streak, extending the game into the 5th set. With the score of 2-2 for both players, Aaron pulled through and secured the win in the end, granting RI the championship. The epic fight concluded with passionate outpours from the audience and, undeniably, clear exhaustion of both players. We could not help but applaud as the two players supported each other while walking out of the court together.

At this point in time, our boys had already secured the championship. Nevertheless, the last two games delivered a brilliant performance and excellent sportsmanship from both sides, with all remaining players striving to give their best shot at the game.

Our fourth player, Anders Ong (18S03E) delivered yet another three consecutive wins. He showed a consistent performance in the first two sets, and seized his game despite a strong comeback from the Hwa Chong player in the third.

Anders with another decisive victory.

Last but not least was our fifth player on the roster, Tan Ijoe (17S06N). The only Year 6 player on the team, he played well against his counterpart. Ijoe’s dominance in the court was indicated by his 10-points streak in his first set and then a 8-points streak in the second.

Ijoe, scoring point after point.

Overall, after much hard work and round after round of intense play, our boys have done us proud by bringing home the national championship title, with a clean score of 5-0. To quote captain Bryan Tan (17S03M) in the post-game interview “(It was a) very very close fight, but we’re proud that we pulled through”.

The team with their well-deserved trophies.

Girls’ Finals

The A Division girls’ team fought to defend their championship title against strong rival Anglo-Chinese Junior College (ACJC). From the outset the competition, was expected to be very close, given the high skill levels of both teams.

First on the court was Nicole Mak (17S03H). While she put up a brave fight, it was not to be; ACJC won three consecutive sets by scoring 11-4 for each, winning the five-set match.

Nicole fighting fiercely.

Taking back the momentum for RI was Alyssa Cheong (18A01E), who trounced the competition in the first two sets (11-2, 11-5), holding on in the third set to push spectators to the edge of their seats before finally emerging triumphant 13-11 to take the match.

Alyssa bringing in a win for Raffles.

With one match won on each side, Bernyce Tay (18S03N) extended RI’s streak by defeating her ACJC counterpart in three consecutive sets (11-6, 11-9, 11-6). The play was intense, gripping the audience as they lunged for every shot and rallied long and hard.

Bernyce furthering the lead.

Subsequently, ACJC evened the score in their match against RI’s Elena Khoo (17S03D), resulting in a very close second set (12-10, advantage to ACJC) and two other wins against RI (11-4, 11-7).

Elena up against stiff competition.

With only one match left to determine the champion of this year’s finals, all eyes were on the last match. In the first set, Christabelle Lim Wen Sing (18A03A) bested her opponent 11-9, in a tense fight where both players were neck and neck throughout. But ACJC recovered well, and rallied to take the second set 12-10. At this point, the audience was frozen in suspense by enthralling rallies, as Christabelle persisted tenaciously to fight for every last point. Ultimately, however, the next two sets (11-6, 11-6) went to ACJC.

Christabelle in the nail-biting final match.

The team pushed themselves to their limits, giving their best effort in an awe-inspiringly intense final.

The girls’ team receiving their 1st runners-up medals.

Both teams achieved commendable results against their opponents, and it was heartwarming to see teachers and fellow Rafflesians supporting them from outside the courts. Raffles Press would like to congratulate both squash teams on finals well fought, and wish them all the best for the seasons to come.

Boys’ Scores

Girls’ scores

By Adri Faris (18A13A) and Chung Sohyun (18A13A)

Photos courtesy of Raffles Tennis

Raffles Tennis posing in pride with their shining trophies after the match.

As the sun blazed bright on the morning of 4th May, our Raffles Tennis Team played their hearts out at the Kallang Tennis Centre for the annual National A Division Tennis Championships.

After hours of gruelling, intense matches, our A Division girls’ team emerged as champions once more – for the 8th year running – defeating their rival Hwa Chong Institution (HCI). Our A Division boys’ team also put up a remarkable performance, bringing home the equally priceless 1st runners-up trophy against Anglo-Chinese School (Independent).

Despite battling against the formidable opponent HCI, the girls’ team put up an excellent performance overall. The singles match was a clean victory for Meg Ang Shi Yi (18S03K) with a score of 6-0, 6-0. Although Shirina Mulani (18A03A) lost the second singles match 0-6, 1-6, her grit and determination were incredibly commendable. Both our doubles teams claimed victory, with Kirsten Chow (18S07B) and Sophie Lim (18S07B) winning 6-3, 6-2, followed by an impressive 6-1, 6-1 by Laura Ann Chan (18A13A) and Tamara Tan (18S03E). With Ng Qin Yi (17S07C) ending the final singles match with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 score, the girls’ team triumphantly retained their honourable championship glory.

The highly-coveted championship trophy of the season

The boys’ team also displayed equal strength and fervour against strong competition from their ACS(I) counterparts. In the singles matches, Clarence Lee (18S03S) played well with a score of 1-6, 2-6; Brendan Yim (17S06Q) with a score of 1-6, 1-6; and Marcus Teoh (17S03E) dominated his sets 6-2, 6-2. In the doubles match, Aveek Goswami (18S06E) and Park Jung Woo (18S03I) showcased their excellent teamwork, securing a win with a score of 6-4, 6-1.

With the neck and neck competition between Raffles and ACS(I), the final doubles match played by Ashton Tan (17S06J) and Wesley Wong (17S07C) became the deciding match for the championship. The Rafflesian and ACS(I) families eagerly gathered at the courts, anxious to witness the outcome of this decisive match. Even though there was considerably less number of supporters from Team Raffles, our supporters still did a commendable job on heightening the atmosphere to boost our players’ morale.

In the nerve-wracking first set, both Ashton and Wesley lost by a close margin of 5-7. Despite the immense pressure, both of them gave their all in the second set, winning with a strong 6-4. Throughout the match, Ashton and Wesley constantly displayed remarkable teamwork, and were notable for never losing their smiles even as they recognised the high stakes involved in every move they made.

As our school flags flew high and the supporters roared on, the third set kicked off in a tense atmosphere. Every time a serve or a hit was missed, collective sighs of pity could be heard among the Raffles supporters. As the match drew on, the score gap widened increasingly in favour of the ACS(I) players.

Nonetheless, supporters disregarded the perspiration from the stifling heat and anxiety, continuing to cheer the players on with their constant “Don’t give up!” and “Go Raffles!”; Ashton and Wesley, fired up by these words of encouragement, kept their cool and fought their hardest to the very last point. This was undoubtedly the most heartening scene of the day.

The final set ended with a score of 0-6, but it was indeed a battle well-fought. As Yeo Shi Wen (18A13A) comments, “Their intense focus during the game, persistence in spite of setbacks, and incredible shows of sportsmanship were very admirable!”

The players from both sides shook hands, and players and supporters alike shouted “Three Cheers” for each other, a heart-warming show of sportsmanship amidst the intense competition. The graceful approach taken by our players to the outcome of the final match served as a great reminder to all that medals and trophies are not as important as the valuable experiences gained on the court.

As the morning of matches came to an end, each school put on their final display of school pride by singing their school songs with great pride, starting off with Raffles’ Institution Anthem and followed by the ACS(I) Anthem.

The Rafflesian family’s final display of school pride

When asked to summarise their entire journey from the start of the year to the end of their finals, girls’ Captain, Qinyi, beautifully sums the whole experience up, “It wasn’t an easy ride but we made it as a family.” Indeed, to the spectators, the hours of practice that every player had put in was evident in every match they played – their achievements were certainly hard-earned.

Raffles Press would like to congratulate our tennis team once again on their remarkable performance, and wish them all the best for next year’s season!

By Tapasya Singh (17S03C) and Grace Lau (18S03I), photos by Ong Tsien Jin (18S03I)

On the 11th of May, spectators streamed steadily into Seng Kang Sports and Recreation Centre to watch the Raffles Hockey boys play their final match against defending champions Victoria Junior College (VJC). The tension in the air was palpable as our players took their positions against the opposing team, awaiting the blow of the whistle with bated breath.

The game was expected to yield a tough fight, with both teams equally matched in skill, strategy and determination. How this fight would manifest on the pitch, however, was perhaps unexpected by the audience.

The team faced tough competition from VJC

The match had barely begun when Raffles captain Abdurrahim Hanif (RI #4) was hit in the face by a swinging hockey stick. Spectators looked on in both shock and concern as he collapsed to the ground while holding his head in pain. While injuries are common in hockey, this one was more serious than most, resulting in Hanif being rushed out of the pitch for medical aid. However, it was only a few minutes before he returned to the pitch, ready to keep the fight going.

The neck-and-neck competition kept spectators on the edge of their seats as the ball constantly switched possession between the two competing teams. Within just 30 minutes, RI experienced two near-misses, with the ball missing the goal by a hair. What can describe this more aptly than the rueful phrase “so near yet so far”?

Despite valiant attacks by the RI team, they were faced with the skilful defence of the opponents, and as a result, the whistle was blown for halftime with neither team having scored.

The second half saw both teams return onto the pitch with an even greater hunger to win. Every player displayed impressive technique and control, and played instrumental roles in dictating gameplay.

As the clock ticked by, the players’ frustration and exhaustion became visible. Many suffered muscle cramps, and the pace of the game slowed down as both teams fought to maintain possession of the ball. Needless to say, it was their unwavering spirit that pushed them beyond their limits and motivated them to perform to the best of their abilities.

RI players fighting hard on the field

Soon after, Raffles was awarded a penalty corner. The place suddenly fell into nerve-wracking silence, with all eyes on the ball. While the team did not score, Raffles was awarded a second penalty corner, which we unfortunately were still unable to turn into a goal.

With barely a minute left before the final whistle would be blown, everyone was prepared for the match to spill into overtime. It was then that Ramalingam Gouthaman (RI #14) took advantage of a foul by a VJC defender, and skillfully dribbled past four defenders to score a brilliant goal that led his team to victory. With only a few seconds left in the match, the game’s fate was sealed, with RI winning back the championship trophy and maintaining a clean record of conceding zero goals the entirety of this season.

Emotions ran high and the entire Raffles contingent rose to their feet in exhilaration, cheering victoriously for our winners. However, even as they celebrated their victory, the Raffles hockey players were sensitive to the feelings of the opposing team and showed concern by giving the crestfallen players a hand.

As Rafflesians sang the Institution Anthem in unison, everyone’s heart swelled with immense pride. The team’s victory did the school proud, but the commendable sportsmanship and tenacity demonstrated by the sportsmen is what truly makes us proud to be called “Rafflesians”.

The team and supporters closing the event with the Institution Anthem

By Nadiya Nesseer (17S03B), Nicki Chan (18S03C), and Asfar Alim (18S03J)

On a bright afternoon in 1967, one hundred thousand young people convened in San Francisco to celebrate the culture of hippies, or “flower children”, with love, unity and merriment. Almost 50 years later on 5th May, Raffles Jazz’s highly anticipated annual concert, Summer of Love, took place within Raffles Institution’s very own Performing Arts Centre.

As audience members filed into the venue, jazz songs were played to set the mood and ease them into a night jam-packed with songs of this genre. The concert was not only a musical treat, but also a visual one. From the pretty flowers lining the stage to the cheerful costumes and flower crowns donned by performers, the atmosphere in the PAC was every part optimistic. The spirit of Summer of Love 50 years ago seemed to have lived on through the passion of the performing Jazz members.

“Tap your feet, groove to the beat, and feel the heat!”

With the emcees’ invigorating announcement, the concert kicked off on a funky note. The rendition of Cold Sweat, a popular R&B classic, by J1 vocalists Junius Pun (18S02A) and Han Ying Jie (18A01E), did not disappoint. The infectious melody significantly raised the audience’s energy levels, preparing them for the next song. Yardbird Suite, a famous bebop piece, featured a quick, skipping beat that had drummer Xueyan Huang (17S03E) visibly bouncing in her seat. The four performers were dressed casually in light blue and white, matching the lighthearted mood of the piece.

As per Jazz tradition, each instrument was given its own time to shine with solo melodies in each song, while the other instruments captured the beat in the background. The soloists made good use of this, receiving rousing cheers from the audience. In particular, Kwek Min Yih (18S06G) stood out with impressive saxophone solos on the first two songs.

A similarly striking component of the night was a short humorous skit in sepia tones, which had the audience doubling over in laughter as Orange Coloured Sky was introduced. Twangy vocals by Tara Teo (18A01E), coupled with unexpected yet pleasant riffs by electric bassist Justin Ang (17S06G) and guitarist Gillian Cheong (17S05A), kept up an element of surprise throughout the song, fitting the theme of love at first sight.

Next, the performers took the stage for Chega de Saudade, a slow, melancholic melody about yearning for lost love. This song showcased the soothing, breathy vocals of See Kaye (17S03C) who stood out on stage with her flowing hair and an off-shoulder dress. This song was followed up with  a poignant rendition of Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine, and When You Wish Upon A Star as the audience relaxed into the laid-back atmosphere. Bei Mir Bistu Shein rounded off the first half of the concert on a playful note, keeping the audience eager for more.

A particularly thoughtful touch to the intermission were the notes that the CCA had prepared for the audience members, who were invited to write notes to the Jazz performers, to be placed in envelopes for each member of the CCA. This heartwarming initiative was extremely well-received as sizeable crowds were spotted around the tables at the Front of House, with many taking turns to scribble congratulatory messages to their friends and loved ones on slips of coloured paper.

After the break, the audience returned to Moanin’, which featured four vocalists for the first time. Despite having different vocal timbres, the vocalists’ voices complemented one another’s remarkably well. The effortless scat singing, a well-known improvisational jazz technique, was definitely one of the highlights of this piece.

From left to right: Tara, Junius, Kaye and Ying Jie singing in melodious harmony.

This exciting performance was later followed by a mellower piece, Watermelon Man. Following in the same vein was Summertime, which evoked a sense of fading innocence as the violin and piano led a slow, sombre melody. However, in a smooth yet surprising twist, the pianist took the lead, and the soothing melody quickly progressed to an upbeat one. The performance was definitely more humorous, with vocalists Kaye and Tara injecting jokes about shared experiences in school. A single reference to ‘Marymount Junior College’, a school meme known to staff and students alike, elicited thrilled cheers of support.

The concert took on a melancholic mood with Yesterday I heard the rain, a sombre ballad which captured the essence of loneliness and heartbreak. This was swiftly followed by Aguas De Marco, which was relatively bouncy and cheery, with bassist Lim Tian Jiao (18A01C) delivering low, zappy beats which enhanced the performance of the guitar and drums.

Afterwards, Jazz performed its rendition of one of the century’s greatest classics, Sunny. Lead vocalist Junius made commendable efforts to liven up the song: not only did he don a cardboard cut-out of the sun, he also amused the audience by imitating the different instrument players during their respective solos.

Scott Tay (18S06E) on the saxophone and Junius hyping up the audience

Despite Sunny being the last song slated for the programme, it seemed the audience were in for a pleasant surprise. Most of the J2 batch came on stage for a lively performance of September, originally by funk band Earth, Wind and Fire. Violinist Kong Pek Yoke (17A01C) blew the audience away, carrying the melody to the uptempo beat skillfully. The remaining J2s soon came on stage and danced to the song, while the J1 batch danced in a row in front of the stage. It was the picture of merriment, and thus ended Summer of Love 2017.

Original flower children: The J2 batch of Raffles Jazz post-concert.

Jazz has certainly outdone itself this year, with a concert that displayed its members’ admirable talent and versatility. And more importantly, as Raffles Jazz’s Chairperson Elyn Tzen (17S03B) said, “At the end of the concert I realized that we’ve managed to create something that was so uniquely ours – all of the jazzers have given a part of themselves, big or small, to this concert. The result is a show that would not have been the same without any one of the Jazzers and that is so special to all of us.” Beyond the artistry that was on display, the sheer heart and drive of the Jazzers was what brought the warmth to Summer of Love’17. It is a performance we won’t soon forget. 

By Nerissa Loe (17A13A), Deborah Lee (17A01D) and Chung Sohyun (18A13A)

Photos courtesy of the Raffles Photographic Society and Raffles Players

(Warning: Spoilers Ahead)

As the curtains parted and the lights illuminated the PAC stage, the sight of the picturesque set drew a collective gasp of admiration from the audience. “Proof”, the highly anticipated production by Raffles Players, was about to begin.

Centred on the themes of family, love and Mathematics, the play revolves around the main character Catherine (Robyn Wong, 18A01B) struggling to recover from the trauma of her father Robert’s (Izzul Irfan, 17A01E) death, while coming to terms with the lost years of her life spent caring for him.

The cast.

The first half of the play finds Catherine, who has inherited Robert’s flair for mathematics, constantly haunted by the fear that his dementia and gradual descent into instability would befall her as well. It does not help that the other characters in the play — her sister Claire (Wan Jia Ling, 18A01A) and her father’s ex-student Harold (Sabariesh Ilankathir, 17A13A) seem to believe that she has already turned unstable. In fact, in the last scene of Act 1, when Catherine claims to have written an important theorem (the titular Proof), their immediate reaction is one of strong, even scoffing, rejection.

Conflicts begin.

The difference between past and present Catherine is stark – she transitions from a once-livelier self exposed in the flashbacks, to a guarded, emotionally vulnerable character. Despite the complexity and multiple sides of the character, Catherine was well-portrayed by Robyn, who mentioned her initial struggle with finding “coherence” in the “wide range of emotions” she had to convey throughout the play. Indeed, her self-awareness and adequate preparation pulled off as they led to great performances across both nights, even though it was her first time acting as the lead.

Catherine, in the present.

Izzul, the actor of Catherine’s father, stunned the crowd with his moving performance — touching the hearts of the audience as he teetered the line between passionate, fervent mathematician and broken, deteriorating father. Perhaps his most tear-jerking scene was the climactic outburst that occurred during one of Catherine’s flashbacks, in which he slowly realised that despite his desperate hopes of recovering from his illness, his condition was not improving. The emotional monologue truly shook the audience to the core.

Izzul delivering his passionate monologue.

Of course, to perform is not to just entertain, but to also learn and grow through embodying various personas and holding on to snippets of experiences. Said Izzul on his role, “I too share some of Robert’s fears — of being unable to do what I did so well in before, and I guess through Robert I got a little closure for that.”

Sabariesh learnt much from playing Harold as well, through which he was challenged to “become a much more technical actor” due to the length of this play. Additionally, the numerous kissing scenes made it necessary for him to “get out of [his] comfort zone” to “make it realistic”. Although filled with reservations, he was ultimately able to illustrate his excellence as an actor, mastering the balance between his role as comic relief and his role in providing emotional support for Catherine, as her love interest.

Harold – possible love interest?

Jia Ling’s performance as Claire was also spectacular, capturing the essence and emotions of her character as she artfully exposed the old grudges and familial tensions that existed between Catherine and herself. Claire’s charming, charismatic nature was brought across very well, even as the character managed to infuriate the audience in every scene with her questionable motives and decisions regarding Catherine’s future.

Impressively charismatic, amusingly infuriating.

Finally, the play would certainly not have been as outstanding without its strikingly built set. The large display of mathematical symbols and geometrically shaped lanterns stunned the audience from beginning to end. These contrasted against the domestic and realistic setting of the house – complete with quaint windows, fences, vines, and even a bicycle.

As set designer Tan Xin Hwee (17A13A) notes, the skillful blend of stylistic and domestic designs stemmed from a desire to illustrate “both abstract and realistic elements in [the] set”, which are represented by the “world of symbols and a naturalistic house respectively”. More importantly, the set was to serve an essential purpose of being a constant yet surreal reminder of the motivations behind proof — where “the stylistic fusion on a single stage [hints] at Catherine’s inability to ground herself firmly in reality.”

The gorgeous set.

When asked if the cast had any final words for those who had been a part of the whole experience, Izzul replied, “To the brilliant cast: It has been an emotionally draining journey together but thank you so much for sticking by when times got tough. To the crew: Bless you all for making this possible. And finally, to the audience: Thank you being there with us for the two nights – you remind us every single moment why we love what we do.”

The play played on the idea of “Proof” on various levels; beyond the proof that Catherine’s formula holds true, Catherine constantly seeks to prove to Claire and Harold that she is not “crazy” and that she is indeed the author of the mathematical proof. In fact, the final scene, where Harold recognizes that Catherine has written the Proof and convinces her to talk to him about it, is significant as he proves to her that she can trust him again.

All in all, as captured succinctly in the title of their play, the spectacular performance was no doubt Proof of Raffles Players’ hard work coming to fruition.  

The final scene.

The graduating batch of Players!

The next batch of theatre extraordinaires.

All together now.