By Stanley Benjamin Yukon (20S03M), Vice-Chairperson

Amazon has nearly no stores.

Uber owns almost no cars.

Facebook creates no content and Bitcoin (as we all know) has no physical coins.

However, millions of people are willing to fight tooth and nail for shares in these imaginary entities.

 Saying the internet and computers have revolutionised the world is nothing short of an understatement; they form the very backbone of modern civilisation. Chances are, you have absolutely no idea how they work. But it’s okay! We didn’t either! (Some of us still don’t.)

 That’s why here at Raffles Computer Science Club (CSC), we dedicate two hours of our lives every Wednesday into discovering the technicalities of things such as Python (a programming language), computer architecture, web development and basic cyber security tools. We may even decide to start a course on neural networks and machine learning.

 CCA training sessions are usually conducted by the ExCo members in an informal and interactive format, with a typical session as follows: A short lecture on a given computer science topic will be given at the start. Following that, members will then get to apply what they have learnt through a guided hands-on practice, such as coding a program to solve a problem. Members can raise questions anytime during the session if they are unsure about anything.

The quality of training may vary depending on how masterful the ExCo members are on the topic being taught. Given that training materials are prepared within a tight schedule due to the hectic JC life, members might not be able to receive lessons that are always highly rigorous. Nevertheless, peer teaching and learning is what helps forge closer bonds among club members. 

  The depth of the topics covered also tends to nrange from introductory to intermediate as one year the exco tried to give a course on university-level algorithm building. Which nobody could follow in the end.

We don’t talk about that year anymore.                            

  Besides internal training, we go on external learning journeys throughout the year to learn about technology outside the computer labs. In 2017, we got free tickets to go for Maker Faire, an annual showcase of DIY technological projects done by others. We also take part in competitions to apply what we have learnt. Such competitions include hackathons, where we usually build a prototype of an idea in 24 hours as a team or try to capture pieces of information called “flags” in mock-hacking trials (e.g. Whitehacks or Cyber Defenders Discovery Camp (CDDC) organised by Defence Science Technology Agency).

  CCA training sessions are conducted once a week, every Wednesday, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm, at Computer Labs 5/6. CSC welcomes students of all skill levels, including complete beginners. All you need is to be willing to learn. Any student, including non-members of CSC, can pop by to have a look at the lessons, subject to the spatial constraints of the computer labs.

If you are interested in learning more about how computers work or how to utilise computers to do cool things like how to hypothetically build your own social media site or your own mobile games, do join us at CSC! 

By Bridge Club

“No matter where I go, I can always make new friends at the bridge table.” – Martina Navratilova

Perhaps you are more familiar with the simpler, more casual version of bridge commonly played at social gatherings, called floating bridge—abound with sub-4-point washes, hysterical bidding, confused cardplay and random partner calling. But we don’t do that here. With an enormous inherent luck factor, floating bridge isn’t much different from gambling. It… isn’t a hardcore game of skill and intelligence. Where’s the challenge?

Here in Bridge Club, we shun this primitive, unstimulating form of bridge in favour of the real deal—Contract Bridge. Rather than leaving the outcome of the game in Lady Luck’s hands, Contract Bridge demands and rewards concrete skill—extensive bidding knowledge, masterful card play technique, astute card-counting skills, and muuuuch more. The often-heard complaint in floating bridge, “why does my hand have no points zz no point playing :(“ isn’t a problem in Contract Bridge! Each game result is compared with the results of other players who played the identical hand, giving an excellent measure of how well you actually played. Therefore, you can still net the top score with expert defence, regardless of your hand strength. 

Each round of Contract Bridge pits two partnerships against each other, North-South and East-West. Play involves 2 stages—bidding followed by cardplay. In the bidding phase, each player utilises a systematic arsenal of bids to convey information about their hand and find the optimal contract to play or defend. The subsequent cardplay phase is where players work their magic, employing various strategies to maximise the odds of defeating their opponents’ contract or making their own. At first glance, all these new terminologies being thrown around can be intimidating. Declarer? Dummy? Vulnerable? Slam? Finesse? What are those?? Don’t worry, these terms will soon be part and parcel of your vocabulary within a few weeks of joining us!

Our training sessions are held weekly on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3:30 to 6:30. Trainings include lessons to help improve your gameplay, followed by informal playing sessions where members hone their skills and put what they learn into practice. Our members also head down to the Singapore Contract Bridge Association nearby at Bishan CC on Friday nights to spar with other bridge enthusiasts. The highlights of each year are surely the numerous competitions we participate in, such as National Schools Teams, Matchpoint Teams, Hwa Chong Cup, and our very own Raffles Pairs.

Don’t worry if you do not have experience playing Contract Bridge or even floating bridge; many of us did not when we first joined Bridge Club! Your friendly seniors are more than willing to offer help and advice to nurture you into an accomplished bridge player in your own right. As long as you are interested and willing to learn, do consider joining us :) We’re confident that your passion and enthusiasm for the game will only grow throughout your journey in this CCA :D So what are you waiting for? The fascinating world of bridge awaits!

By Raffles Bowling

To the untrained eye, bowling seems simple. It’s always the same bowling ball, rolling down the same lane, in the same bowling alley. Again, again and again. But beneath the surface, there’s so much more. Bowlers are required to strike a delicate balance of knowledge, technique and mental strength to hit every seemingly effortless strike.

Contrary to popular belief, bowling is not a mindless flexing of muscles to whack the ball at the pins. Instead, it demands precise technique and knowledge of your equipment. Most importantly, you can still flex, since flexibility in adjusting according to the lane conditions is absolutely imperative. Whilst you might think that all lanes are identical, they each consist of different oiling patterns that vary in length and thickness.

Bowling is often misconstrued as an individual sport—each shot being taken individually against wooden opponents. In reality, the element of competition forces us to work together as a team to achieve a strong cohesion, spurring each other to the summit. There are three separate events in the national inter-schools—Singles, Doubles, and Team (made up of four bowlers per team), all of which culminates towards the all-events placing. Whilst there is a finite limit of bowlers within the pair of lanes you bowl on (anywhere from four to eight!), the wild screeches and hollers of support from our teammates behind our back becomes a constant throughout the competition, pushing each of us through every shot.

Throughout our events, we strive to maintain a high level of team synergy throughout the three to four hours of intense battle,​ ​giving​ ​each​ ​bowler​ zeal​ ​to​ stay focused and push​ ​through​ ​even​ the most nerve-wracking of moments. This is the team spirit that has been inculcated in Raffles Bowling over the years and is the defining characteristic of our family. We are proud to say that none of our achievements in A Division 2019 could have been possible without such strong pillars of support.

Cheers done before every event not only motivate us to give our best, but also gives us the assurance that we are a team on this journey. We know that there will be someone watching our backs in every shot we take—solid strikes or ghastly gutters—and that sense of assurance is what drives us to never call it quits, even in our darkest hour. 

WHAT TEAM?
RAFFLES!

Training​ ​for​ ​A Division (held in April) commences from​ ​November​ ​the​ ​previous​ ​year​. They are usually held at Orchid Country Club (also our competition venue) ​three​ ​times​ ​a​ ​week: ​Mondays​ ​and​ ​Fridays​ ​from​ ​6​ ​to​ 8 pm​ ​and Wednesdays​ ​from​ ​3​ ​to​ 5 pm​ ​(subject​ ​to​ ​change​ ​according​ ​to​ ​our​ ​timetables). 

After some simple stretching exercises and jumping jacks on the lanes, we start training with some interesting and sometimes seemingly dubious drills, sometimes even ​throwing​ ​our​ ​balls​ ​to​ ​our​ ​teammates instead​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pins. These​ ​exercises​ ​help ​us​ ​to​ ​hone​ ​various​ ​skills​ ​vital​ ​for​ ​bowling​ ​such​ ​as increasing our accuracy and ability to hit our targets.

These training sessions strengthen our repertoire of bowling skills, helping us get into the zone for competition whilst perpetually solidifying our overall team spirit. Consequently, we achieved good results in the National Inter-Schools competition in 2019, with both the Girls and Boys Team coming in second, whilst simultaneously bagging numerous individual achievements—including two gold medals.

Apart from our toil of trainings and the annual National Inter-Schools competition, some of our most memorable highlights originate from our much-anticipated annual events: March Holiday Camp, Post A Division Party, and Y6 Farewell. 

The March Holiday Camp focuses primarily on promoting inter and intra-batch bonding, ensuring that our J1s are able to transition into the team smoothly. Breaking from the usual monotone of the bowling alley, we partake in various sports and games ranging from the adventurous treasure hunting to the nonsensical United Badminton to foster a close-knit family before we are thrust into our competitive mood.

Upon the conclusion of our A Divs, we traditionally throw a Post A Div Party to celebrate our accomplishments, allowing us to build stronger, long-lasting friendships to last us for the remainder of our tenure, and possibly beyond.  

Last but certainly not least, ​​the Y6 farewell celebrates our seniors’ hard work and efforts; allowing us to express our gratitude towards their guidance and support, which serves as the very foundation for our batch spirit since our induction. Well-wishes for Prelims and A levels aside, this also serves as a warm way to wrap up the year.

Lack prior experience in competitive bowling? Fret not, our team has a wide range of competitive experience from seasoned veterans to those whose A Div experience this year was their first outing. As long as you’re open-minded and possess an enthusiasm to learn, no peak is too high to surmount!

 Hence, if you’ve ever found it a struggle to get that balance between social life and grades but still seek to achieve some form of perfect balance, or felt up for a challenging mental game to test your tenacity when​ ​faced​ ​with​ ​ten​ ​pins 60​ ​feet​ ​away, or just ​want​ ​to​ ​be​ ​part​ ​of​ ​a​ ​fun​, ​loving​, supportive bowling family​, we​ ​look forward​ ​to seeing​ ​you​ ​at​ ​trials​!

By Coline Staes-Polet (20A13A), Girls Captain, Brandon Tan (20S03G) Boys Captain, Vivien Tai (20S03G), Girls Vice-Captain, Edison Yap (20S07B), Boys Vice-Captain

If you ever happen to be craving an ice cream waffle after a long day of classes on a hot afternoon, you may find yourself outside Y1-4 Chill surrounded by the sounds of splashing water, loud screams and laughter. You see, this is where we train. Just a fence away from Y1-4 Chill, the RI pool, is Water Polo territory.

Water Polo is a physically demanding yet exhilarating activity that requires players to attack, defend, and pass a ball, all without being able to touch the bottom of the pool. Surely then, many may ask: why play a sport that is such hard work? What do you stand to gain? To that, we say: because of our team that we call family. Let us share about our family here in Raffles.

The girls’ team, despite being categorised as a “developmental sport” in RI, trains just like any other competitive team sport, and sets its goals just as high. As Water polo is a relatively new sport for girls, none of us had any prior experience playing this sport. So it is through pure determination and perseverance that we have managed to retain the A Division National School Games Championship title for over 10 years, and are hoping to continue this feat. As intimidating as that may sound, know that we are not looking for people with extensive experience in swimming or even any other sport, but rather someone dedicated, courageous, and open to challenges.

Though we admit that the learning curve may seem daunting at first, having a group of friends by your side every step of the way, to push you through the tough times and celebrate with you during the happy ones, will make the impossible possible.

For the boys’ team, it is a little different. Boys are generally required to have prior competitive experience in Water polo should they wish to join the CCA due to the higher level of gameplay observed. The RI boys’ team has proven to be a formidable opponent, having clinched the A Division gold medal from 2016-2018 and silver in 2019. It is true that nothing comes for free, and this is the result of countless hours of training spent doing weights, swim sets, ball drills, tactical drills and game simulation.  

Our dedication to the team and love for the sport makes it possible for us to find unexpected ways to lift our spirits amidst the mundane yet intense drills. Additionally, the boys’ team also has an annual overseas training trip that is a perfect opportunity for the team to bond, as well as gain valuable experience for the upcoming season.

For both teams, the many hours spent in and out of the pool together naturally builds a sense of camaraderie, ethos and tenacity within each of us which never fails to put us in good stead for challenges to come.

Although we share the pool and training hours, the boys’ and girls’ team train and play separately. However, once out of the pool, we always find the time to bond as a team, be it by enjoying waffles by the pool before training or having dinners together after training. We form friendships that go beyond the occasional passing “hi” and eventually find ourselves teasing and joking with each other comfortably. These heartwarming connections allow us to escape from the monotony of our daily school routines, to a group of people we can call home.

Pre-season training takes place at the RI pool thrice a week on Mondays (5.30-8.30pm), Wednesdays (2-5pm) and Thursdays (3-6pm–Girls) / Saturday (1.30-4.30pm–Boys) and is reduced to twice a week when it’s off-season. Of course, all our achievements and progress would not be possible without our incredibly dedicated and knowledgeable coaches, Coach Yu Lei who coaches the boys and Mr Lim who coaches the girls. We also have our understanding and caring teacher ICs (Mr Chan, Mr Swee, Mr Ortega, Ms Lee) to thank for their guidance in and out of the pool.

With that, we look forward to welcoming you into the Water Polo family.

By Lim Zhi Xuan (20S03J), Girls’ Captain and Thaddaeus Ng (20S07A), Boys’ Captain

Cross Country: No half times, no time outs, no substitutions. It must be the only true sport. – Chuck Norris 

Indeed, cross country is not an easy sport—it involves non-stop running, regardless of rain or shine. And, it does not stop there. PT awaits us after torrid long runs or hard interval sessions, as if we aren’t battered enough by them. So in all honesty, to those considering cross country, we highly advise you not to. Unless, you know what you’re in for, and are willing to make countless sacrifices for it—including waking up before sunrise every, yes every, Saturday morning. 

Despite that, we still manage to drag ourselves to training and constantly push ourselves past our limits. Running makes us search for every last bit of strength and determination that lies within us. As we triumph over the pain, the rewards are unimaginable—the sense of self satisfaction at the end of the workouts, limitless personal growth in the form of discipline and resilience etc. Other than leading a healthy lifestyle, cross country focuses on nurturing the right attitude to always give nothing less than our 100%. It strengthens our mentality, such that even as we encounter roadblocks or take stumbles in life, we learn to pick ourselves up and continue unfazed.  

Training sessions are thrice a week—Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Weekday trainings are usually in school, while Saturday trainings are at MacRitchie/Bedok Reservoir. Each session is tailored to each individual’s fitness levels to maximise one’s potential. 

What makes arduous trainings more bearable is the companionship of our fellow cross country members. From a simple gesture of clapping as a form of encouragement to one another during training to post-training lunches and dinners, a strong sense of camaraderie is fostered. Raffles Cross Country is like a second family, where we spend the good times and bad times together. And as they say, those who suffer together, stay together. And of course, not to forget our teachers (Ms June Tan and Mr Teo Hui Koon) and our coach (Mr Lim Kien Mau) who are with us every step of the way. 

Cross country is truly a CCA which will bring out the best in you, and while it can be painful at times, the lessons and the friendships that you will take away from this CCA make it truly worthwhile. As the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. 

By Cherie Goh (20S06O), Chairperson, and Lily Wei (20S03C), Vice-Chairperson

An Introduction to Advocacy

In the midst of our hectic day to day life, it is all too easy to overlook a glaringly obvious fact—society has not dealt everyone the same fortunate hand that we have been dealt. Here in Community Advocates (CA), we refuse to ignore these injustices. We choose to take a stand, and we strive to drive a change. This is the essence of CA.

Advocacy doesn’t mean that we have to be loud, haughty or eloquent. On the contrary, if you have an open mind, a listening ear and a big heart, you are more than ready to become an advocate. Certainly, it isn’t easy to start reaching out to others and to have your voice heard. But keeping these three tenets in mind, our members have astounded us by quickly growing into more experienced advocates and empathetic people.

About CA

Our advocates’ journey of growth can be seen in our CCA’s progress. With just 12 years of history, CA is a relatively new service-based CCA that encourages students to go beyond direct community service and make a deeper impact in their community. Even in this short span of time, we have emerged with a unique identity founded on the close relationships within our ‘second family’!

Student Interest Groups

Within this family, we are gathered into three student interest groups (SIGs), each championing a different cause. They are named endearingly—Lifeline (Healthcare), Empty Pocket (Poverty) and Doveswarm (Migrant Workers). Within these SIGs, each member has the opportunity to unite with other like-minded individuals to tackle social issues that they are passionate about. Lifeline SIG advocates for physical and mental health issues in society, Empty Pocket SIG is committed to combating poverty in its various forms, and Doveswarm SIG aims to promote mutual understanding and acceptance between migrant workers and local residents.

Year to year, while the causes we serve never change, the organizations we work with may. This is because each batch has the freedom to set its own direction. Each SIG partners with a local Social Service Organization related to their respective causes and members volunteer for regular direct service.

Weekly Service

This year, Lifeline is focusing on palliative care and has partnered with Assisi Hospice for regular service sessions. Members help nurses with basic care-taking responsibilities like feeding, oral care and sponging patients. At the same time, members also interact with patients and keep them company during the final stage of their life.

Empty Pocket conducts weekly tutoring sessions at a student care centre run by Faithacts, a non-profit community service agency. The SIG’s focus this year is on giving underprivileged children one-to-one academic support, as well as to be friends and role models to them as they progress through primary school.

Doveswarm is working with Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) in The Cuff Road Project, helping migrant workers who are currently unable to work—due to reasons such as work injuries or salary problems with employers—by giving them tokens that provide them with free meals. In their weekly service, Doveswarm members also have the opportunity to interact with the workers, be a listening ear to their problems, and advise them on any cases that they are dealing with.

General Meetings

Aside from weekly service, each CA member attends General Meetings every Wednesday from 2.30–4.30 pm. During such sessions, we discuss and plan upcoming advocacy projects, and from time to time we also invite speakers pioneering various social causes, such as Ms Dipa Swaminathan, founder of It’s Raining Raincoats and an advocate for migrant workers. 

Projects

In CA, every member has the opportunity to engage in different advocacy projects. Each SIG runs at least one advocacy project during their time in CA, and the batch comes together to organise a batch project every year. Examples of what we’ve done in the past include Hair for Hope in 2014, which aimed to raise awareness about cancer patients, and Homeground in 2019, an event to celebrate the contributions of non-teaching staff working in school. Last year, our Y5s embarked on The Little Green Book, a batch project in which they created a booklet aiming to promote environmentally-friendly habits to secondary school students. In line with our batch project, we also put up a thrift store in school where all proceeds went to Zero Waste SG, an organisation dedicated to reduce waste in Singapore. We also organise various pop-up activities throughout the year, such as a donation drive to collect water bottles and spectacles that were donated to Westlite Dormitory which distributes basic needs to foreign workers, and LSC Eye Clinic’s Recycling Vision Campaign (a spectacle recycling programme to help needy children and adults) respectively.  

As each batch is not tied down by previous years’ commitments or events, we enjoy a rare degree of autonomy which allows us to chart our own path in our advocacy journey. This is a valuable opportunity for you and your batch to truly follow your passions and advocate for a cause that you believe in. You hold the power to choose the sort of difference you wish to make!

To End Off

It sounds like an insane idea to claim that we want to change the world. But we like to think that the ones crazy enough to change the world are often the ones who do, even if it’s only in a small way. From interacting with patients to serving a meal to migrant workers, each of these small acts add up to become something bigger. Should you join us on this journey, the change you make, the lessons you learn and the people you meet will make it all worthwhile. If you think you’ve got what it takes, CA welcomes you with open arms!

To find out more about CA, do visit our website speakactchange.wordpress.com or our Instagram @rafflescommad!

By Raffles Debaters Exco ’20

Who are debaters? Perhaps you have seen us on one of our regular trips to Chill, leaving with an armful of coffee, honey lemon and Strepsils (and sometimes, to the sighs of our coaches, spicy seaweed that is bound to ruin our throats). You might also have spotted us going up to the cashier at Popular bookstore, trying our best to balance a teetering tower of blank index cards. If you happened to be in school on a Monday or Wednesday afternoon, you may have even caught us rushing up the stairs to the 4th floor classrooms (the only cardio we do in this CCA).

Jokes aside, the simple answer is this: we are a motley crew of people who bond over our common love for arguing (in debates only, we must stress—it is probably unwise to extend this into one’s daily life) and desire to become better at it. Although we say “arguing”, debating is more than that—it is a clash of style and wit, where speakers go head-to-head in a fiery exchange of arguments and rebuttals. In debates, teams are given a topic, such as “This house would support military retaliation against cyber attacks”, to either propose or oppose (we don’t get to choose our sides!). Speakers then construct and defend their case while attacking their opponent’s case, often by evaluating moral principles and practical outcomes for different stakeholders. Ultimately, logic and rhetoric must be wielded effectively to convince the judges of their team’s stance.

Our club, founded in 1886, is the oldest CCA in RI, and has a strong tradition for excellence, having produced luminaries who have gone on to contribute to Singapore such as former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and Professor Tommy Koh. We seek to nurture critical thinking and a passion for knowledge in all our club members, regardless of debating background. By the time you leave the club, we hope you will have honed your speaking skills and intellectual dexterity, developed a greater sensitivity to the world around us, and made some good memories along the way.

All these may sound rather daunting, but fear not—we have capable and qualified coaches who, along with our dedicated teachers-in-charge, Ms Umarani, Mrs Ruth Koh and Mr Ashton Tan, will go out of their way to help you grow! Training is held twice a week for four hours per session, usually comprising debates, drills on specific skills, and feedback sessions to boost our development as debaters. Often, our illustrious alumni also come by to spar us and give valuable advice. In addition, our club participates in numerous competitions every year, ensuring that everyone, new and seasoned debaters alike, has the experience of debating in a competitive setting. We are proud to say that our debaters did extremely well in 2019, winning multiple competitions such as the Singapore International Schools’ Debating League and Infernus Cup, clinching top 10 speaker rankings at the Oldham Cup and Asian World Schools Debating Championships, and emerging as champions at the MOE-ACJC Intercollegiate Debating Championships. Alongside these achievements, our club members have also made great personal strides as speakers and debaters (which we are sure you will too)!

Honing our skills as debaters, however, is not all that we do, as we also actively find ways to serve our community. Our club members frequently volunteer to adjudicate at tournaments, and we also organise the annual Raffles Debate Academy Under-14s Debating Championships, a debate tournament catered to secondary school students. We have also held the Hodge Lodge Debate Series, inviting students to witness engaging debates by guest speakers on various topical issues.

If there’s one more reason we hope you will join us, it would be the community you will find in this club. Cliche as this may sound, we are more than just a group of people who meet twice a week. Rather, we are a family, and some of the best memories in debate are made over post-training meals at J8/ Prata House (including the perennial struggle to find tables long enough for everyone), bad jokes/memes shared on group chats and wacky games played at club events (for our club camp in 2019, we had a lip sync battle—fun stuff!). Admittedly, debate can be challenging at times, but besides becoming a better debater, what makes the journey particularly worthwhile is the camaraderie you’ll share with your fellow debaters.

If all these sound inviting to you (and we have successfully convinced you with our logic and rhetoric), we invite you to come for trials! Prior experience is not necessary—we only request that you come with an open mind and a sense of fun. Whether you are a first-timer or an experienced debater, we welcome you to our club!

By Soccer (Boys)

While the football boys aren’t exactly known to have the sharpest minds out there, don’t let the cheery, happy-go-lucky exterior fool you. Trainings are intense and serious, with the basic expectation that everyone should put in their 100% and push themselves; expect sessions to include drills like possession, high press, crossing, and practising the D (our signature move). Furthermore, don’t be surprised to see the footballers putting in the extra work, be it with self-trainings or going for runs. With our motto “Belief, Desire, Teamwork”, all footballers are expected to put in their all to bring out the best in themselves and their teammates.

While training sessions are long and we spend a lot of time in one another’s company, footballers are still always together outside training. We eat, study, watch matches, and even engage in bowel movements together. It’s more of a close-knit family that supports one another when the going gets rough—be it failing to score either on or off the pitch, you can always count on your teammates to be there for you.

Another added perk of being in football would be that you’ll never be taunted for “skipping leg day”. We can guarantee that the regular 2.4km timed tests, PTs, and trainings will leave your lower body disproportionately larger than your physique.

The team enjoys a great relationship with Mr Iqbal, our coach, who is very much like a father figure to us. Think strict, kind, a magnificent-looking beard, and a touch of narcissism (he insists that #IQBOYS be printed on the sleeve of all our jerseys), and you have Mr Iqbal. Don’t be surprised to see him joining the footballers in futsal sessions or challenging players to 1-on-1 situations. Thanks to Mr Iqbal, injury rates are fairly low despite the haphazard tackles that happen occasionally. As an expert on physiology, he frequently shares his expertise on shin splints, muscle injury treatment (ask him about the hot towel and cold towel method!), and a more-than-vivid description on how one can tear his ACL during a tackle. However, as an avid fan of Liverpool Football Club, do expect gloating when the team wins a game and the constant belief held among most fans of the club: that next year will be their year and the front 3 can do no wrong. 

Many of our alumni have gone on to play in the National Football League and form teams to win other local leagues. In addition, the regular video-analysis sessions will get you up to speed with the strategic aspects of the game. In these sessions, previous matches would be analysed to improve our positioning and movement and to iron out any mistakes (often through the meting out of 20 pushups to offenders).

Don’t be afraid if you haven’t had any prior experience playing football competitively! As a developmental sport, we pride ourselves on being able to transform hopelessly uncoordinated individuals to fully-functioning players on the pitch. We have players coming from different backgrounds and various levels of experience, so fret not—no matter how skilful or experienced you are, you still have to go through the 2.4km tests and pushups.

If you are interested in joining us and love football, do come down for the trials. We hope to see you there!

By Megan Hon (20S06D), Chairperson, Shitong (20S06G), Vice-Chairperson, Zhang Ming (20S07A), Musical Director, and Ruoqing (20S06O), Secretary 

Psst… do you feel like you are a green banana sometimes, with stiff fingers that never seem to follow what your brain dictates? Well, here at RIPE, we can be your personal catalyst for your RIPEning journey!

Jokes aside, RIPE actually stands for Raffles Institution Piano Ensemble, and we are one of the Performing Arts CCAs offered here in RI. And no, we do not have the whole ensemble banging on a single piano (poor piano)—it’s much more peaceful than that. Contrary to popular belief, we usually practise duet or quartet pieces, with the number of hands on one piano at a time totalling up to no more than six!

Practice makes Perfect

Let’s start with where the magic begins—the practice room. To be accurate, the room we use for weekly Tuesday practices from 4.30pm to 7.30pm is the MEP room, situated at the end of a narrow, shady corridor on the 3rd floor of Block A. 

Upon entering the practice room, you will be greeted by two shiny, majestic grand pianos, both of which you are entitled to use whenever you want to. Soundproof practice rooms are also available if you wish for some peace and quiet to work on that musical number you chose after much deliberation. Yes, you heard that—here in RIPE, you get the autonomy to decide what you want to perform in the next big event, as long as it adheres to any theme(s) that our CCA decides upon for events such as concerts. Tired of having someone else telling you what to play? Want to try out pieces with different CCA mates? RIPE is perfect for you!

Our practice sessions focus a lot on the personal growth of our members, featuring masterclasses and workshops that hone our skills in performing, composing, and arranging. Of course, the element of fun is not to be neglected—our CCA sessions are spiced up with games, food parties, and CCA dinners added into the mix. 

Performance Opportunities

The biggest treat we have in store is our annual concert, happening in late April every year. Click here for the Press review of Reverie 2019 to get an idea of how our efforts came into fruit-ition on the 26th of April. 

The thrill doesn’t end there though—July marks our competitive season with the commencement of Vivace, an annual piano ensemble competition organised by National Junior College. Participation is on a voluntary basis, and our teams have brought glory to the ensemble and the school by maintaining a streak of gold accolades or higher in the past few years. 

Beyond the spotlights and roaring crowds, RIPE has its down-to-earth side as well, and we make giving back to society a vital part of our RIPE journey. In 2019, we held a mini-concert at Changi General Hospital, bringing music to patients and staff as well as livening up the atmosphere. 

This, of course, is only one of the many ways you can spend the second half of your J1 year after the action-packed first half. You are free to explore all the possibilities out there: be it conducting piano lessons for the disadvantaged, showcasing your talents to the school population, or playing it chill and bonding with your batchmates. After all, at any point in time, you may not be sharing a piano with all your batchmates at once, but being in an ensemble means working with other people, which means that teamwork and camaraderie is of utmost importance. 

How to join us

It’s easy—all you need is a burning passion for piano music and an ABRSM Grade 5 Practical qualification or the like. Our selection process involves a short sight-reading test, followed by a performance of a piece (of at least 3 minutes) of your choice and a brief interview. If all these seems daunting, fret not—just make your passion known and we will take care of the rest. 

To end off, here’s a final banana joke: why does the banana on the floor like music? Because if you don’t C sharp, you will B flat! We hope we have a-peel-ed to all of you smart bananas to join us on your journey to RIPEning.

By Valerie Tan (20A01E) and Emily Ni (20S03C)
Photographs courtesy of Raffles Photographic Society

Before walking into Albert Hong Hall on 7 December 2019, we’d just eaten a whole box of popcorn in the span of twenty minutes, and thought life couldn’t get any better than that.

Then Raffles Symphonic Band decided to prove us wrong.

It started when the members began strutting out with their instruments, lowering the hubbub of the supportive crowd to a murmur as they signalled the beginning of the concert. Sporting snazzy suits and ties (even colour-coded by section!), they looked positively grand, prepared to blow the audience away with their performances. As the lights dimmed, the emcees came out on stage to open the concert, and we settled in for what was about to be a night of pure entertainment.

The band began with four movements from Suite of Old American Dances. First came the Cakewalk—a movement befitting of its name, jaunty as it was. Indeed, much like the actual cakewalk, a “strut” danced to jig-like music by couples, this piece was fun and exciting, and its perky, lively melody had many nodding their heads or bouncing their feet to the rhythm. Light staccato notes opened the piece to create a lively atmosphere; this was followed by a seamless change in key and strong dynamic variation that made this piece especially suspenseful. The drums also served a great role in heightening tensions  towards the end of the piece, closing this movement with a thud. It was a well-chosen piece to start off the concert, being buoyant but with room for more excitement. 

The atmosphere then took a more sombre turn with the next movement, Schottische. The sudden low, dramatic entrance set the tone for a more solemn-sounding piece, though a bright, jovial atmosphere was still maintained throughout. Once again, suspense was built by the contrasting tempos of the piece, as well as with the use of the woodblock (which we thoroughly enjoyed). High, tinkly notes concluded the movement—very cute, we thought!

The band proceeded with the third movement, the Western One Step. If the previous two movements had been a stroll in the park, this movement was a thrilling action movie car chase—considerably more fast-paced and exciting, with lots of twists and turns along the way, and the animated smiles on the members’ faces only added to the enjoyment experienced listening to this performance. Perhaps an appropriate word to describe this piece would be “momentum”; a plethora of cymbal crashes built up the piece, while the shorter notes made it perkier and livelier. An ostinato of four notes towards the end similarly developed a sense of drama. Overall, we found this a welcome change from the previous two movements, and bopped along to it quite a bit!

Ending off the Suite of Old American Dances was the fifth movement, Rag. What captured us the most about this movement would be the interesting syncopations and rhythm patterns that are used throughout the piece. Intended to represent the ragtime era, the syncopations and rhythms were the herald of a new generation, often criticised by its elders for embracing novel ideas. Opening jubilantly, its enthusiastic tone suddenly transitioned into a softer, thinner-sounding section, before returning to its former brightness. While there were admittedly a few awkward squeaks in this movement, the piece overall was performed well, closing the band’s first piece smoothly.

The band then began Danzón No. 2, and it was easy to see why this distinctively Spanish piece was picked—the exuberant, energetic nature characterising the bulk of this piece perfectly fit the fiesta theme of the night’s concert. Perhaps we were fooled at first with its slow, quiet opening, but the piece eventually grew fast and lively, even carnival-esque with a catchy refrain—a joy to listen to! And when the song eventually became slower and more emotional, the band managed to carefully switch between excitement and nostalgia, returning to its previously bright sound with ease. What made this piece especially memorable would be the band’s use of Latin American percussion instruments, namely the guiro (which produces a scratchy, rasping sound) and the conga (a type of drum from Cuba). These were definitely hallmarks of the piece, and helped to mark its origins as profoundly Mexican. Indeed, it is no surprise that Danzon is often called “the second national anthem of Mexico”, its spirited nature and cultural significance cementing its popularity. It was one of the pieces that the writers of this article enjoyed the most, and it was also mentioned by several Band members as being their favourite: Yang Xinyue (19S06L) remarked that it was “really fun to play [the] solos” in it, while Jordan Tan (20A03A) enjoyed the experience of making music for this particularly challenging piece.

Following the passion of Danzón No. 2, we now came to the third piece of the night, Spain, described as an instrumental jazz fusion composition. Contrasting greatly with Danzon No. 2, this piece started off slow and mellow, and might have fooled us from the beginning if not for the animated, fast-paced rhythm set by the cowbell. (“More cowbell!”, as a certain comedy sketch might say.) This piece saw considerably more audience engagement than the previous two: at one point, some members of the band clapped their hands for the audience to follow along (albeit for quite a short section, ending abruptly), and a saxophone solo by Renee Yeow (20S06R) was received with cheers and applause.

After a short intermission, the flute ensemble entered to perform the Coloratura for Flute Quartet to shouts of encouragement from the audience. While the rest of the band watched attentively from above, the flute ensemble gathered in a semicircle and began to capture the audience with a beautifully light, almost adorable piece (it could’ve been in a Studio Ghibli movie!). The airy, thrilling tones of the flutes injected even more bliss into the performance, leaving the audience asking for more.

Following the flute ensemble were the saxophones, here to perform the main theme of an anime well-loved by many: Detective Conan. Even louder screams punctuated their entrance, with piercing cries of “Go Renee! Go Aisha! Go Janson!” from the members’ excited friends filling the air. Perhaps this affected the members’ focus slightly; the beginning of their performance did, unfortunately, feel a bit uncoordinated. But they quickly gathered their composure, and almost instantly, the little countermelodies served not as a distraction but rather as a pleasant addition to the piece. Overall, the theatricality of the piece was definitely apt for a detective anime, and the exciting buoyant melody kept us jamming along to the music.

The full band then returned smoothly to commence their sixth piece, Sheltering Sky, conducted this time by student conductor Chen Ruikang (20S06O). With a long, lone note to serve as its airy opening, this piece was a great contrast from the previous cheerier piece. This sombre, sad mood continued for most of the piece—it would’ve been appropriate for a scene in the rain, we thought—except for a sudden crescendo towards its end, allowing it to fill the space majestically. While there were perhaps some hiccups with the acoustics of the hall, with slightly muffled melodies and messy lower instruments, this piece was overall still a hauntingly beautiful one; soothing yet grand, calming yet awe-inspiring.

Sheltering Sky came to an end far too soon, and the band promptly began their next piece, The Birds of North: a song equally glorious as Sheltering Sky. Composed against the backdrop of the ever changing northern land of Hokkaido, this piece evoked an indescribable sense of wanderlust and homesickness—truly reminiscent of birds migrating to the north—and the turbulent progression of the piece conveyed wonderfully the uneasiness of change. Even despite this uncertainty, a sense of determination and clarity was dramatically conveyed as the piece drew to a close; the song developed and grew in volume, while its triumphant ending reverberated throughout the entire hall, and definitely blew the audience away. This was another personal favourite of ours, and was, without a doubt, the band’s best piece that night.

At this point, the band paused to express their gratitude to several groups of people. Their conductor Mr Lim Yean Hwee was presented with a token of appreciation from band major Huang Xinshuo (20S06H). Following this, shout-outs were given to teachers-in-charge Ms Grace Ho, Ms Qian Kun and Mr Daniel Wong, as well as the band’s instrument instructors. And last but not least, the emcees thanked the audience for taking time off to witness the fruits of their labour (we’d like to thank you instead, Band!).

To conclude the concert, the band launched into their eighth piece, titled Bravo Brass! (exclamation mark included). If we had to select a piece that best encapsulated the theme of “Fiesta”, this would be it; though it felt a bit rushed at times, this song’s fast pace and strong, clear bass holding it together transformed Albert Hong Hall into a fun, fantastical circus. In fact, even when the band slowed down for a brief interlude, a powerful lively feeling was still evident. Jazzy sounds also further contributed to a sense of excitement that kept us on our toes; we thought we could (and would) totally tap dance to this with top hats and suits on. And with this piece, the band managed to end off with a literal bang, creating an explosive end to the evening.

“Encore! Encore!”

Or maybe the end hadn’t come yet. Thank goodness.

We thought the night couldn’t end on a better note (literally), but the band managed to blow away our expectations once again with their final hidden piece: Caravan. This was clearly a percussion-centric piece, evident not only from the number of sections the percussions had to shine in, but also from the sheer looks of both focus and enjoy on the section’s faces; every member of the section, whether they were on the drumset, or the conga, or the maracas, or the tambourine, poured all their energy into showing off their musical prowess. Of course, this made for a naturally bright and energetic piece: a whole party, so to speak! The trombones even stood up and played in one section, leveraging on the atmosphere that had already been established with their previous song; this, in fact, was what made ex-trombonist and audience member Cheryl Chan (20S06P) decisively select this as her favourite piece. Overall, an incredible sense of energy thrummed through the hall, and lingered even after the final note was played—for real this time.

Even after the concert had ended, Bandemonium still reigned outside the hall as shrieking fans embraced the stars of the night. We fought bravely and awkwardly, stealing members from their much-deserved celebratory photos to ply them with questions. It was clear members were just as pumped up—when asked to describe the concert in three words, Jordan rattled off passionately before correcting himself with “something to remember” (not wrong, we thought!). He also expressed his appreciation for the tightly knit family that was RSB, thanking them for being such a strong support system. In the same vein, one member, who declined to be named, said that this experience was very fulfilling: “Even though I played some wrong notes, Mr Lim was very encouraging! I couldn’t have asked for better people to experience this with.”

There had, of course, been some challenges while preparing for the concert. Xinyue commented that she’d only had a week to prepare as a result of the delightful A Levels, while Jordan humorously complained about the trials and tribulations of transporting a tuba through the turnstile gates every CCA day. (Spoiler: it’s impossible, so he had to walk to the main gate every single time. A tragedy. We feel for you, Jordan.) Nevertheless, the joys definitely outweighed the frustrations for every band member; Year 3 player Titus talked about making TikToks with his fellow performers when they went out for lunch and dinner together after practices, while Jordan similarly cited the wonderful support system that he had that made sessions more fun.

Walking out of the school, we still felt dazed, as if the mood of the concert had yet to dissipate, and agreed that this concert we’d just experienced beat any box of popcorn that we would ever eat. Raffles Symphonic Band had truly popped off that night, and the festive cheer they’d added to our dreary December would stick with us for a while to come.

Repertoire

Suite of Old American Dances (Robert Russell Bennett)
Danzon No. 2 (Arturo Marquez, arr. Oliver Nickel)
Spain (Chick Correa, arr. Tohru Minakuchi)
Coloratura for Flute Quartet (Satoshi Yagisawa)
Detective Conan Main Theme (Katsuo Ohno, arr. Abel Bernal)
Sheltering Sky (John Mackey)
The Birds of North (Hayato Hirose)
Bravo Brass! (Takashi Hoshide)

By Zachary Chan (20S06B), Boys’ Captain and Ashley Fok (20S07C), Girls’ Captain 

Have you ever felt like you are hitting walls in your life? Squash players would tell you they are doing that every day! Jokes aside, do you ever crave for demanding physical exercise that will make your muscles melt—but with satisfaction? Well, you have clicked on the right article! 

Squash is a high-intensity racket sport played between 2 players in a four-walled court. This sport prides itself on being physically and mentally challenging, where stamina and agility are crucial aspects of the game. Squash does not require a net and is played by hitting a ball against a wall while both players are present on the same side of the court. Even though the black squash ball might be miniscule and not very bouncy, do not underestimate its power as it can reach unbelievable speeds of up to 280km/h. It is a sport where intense focus and concentration to stay in the game are key.  

Trainings are held twice or thrice a week during non-peak and peak seasons respectively. Each training lasts from two to three hours.

Leading up to the anticipated National School Games in March, trainings are held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday weekly. Apart from the physical training sessions on Monday, which are held at the New Stadium Track, trainings are held at Serangoon Gardens Country Club. Court sessions consist of a wide array of intensive drills and exercises and ends off with friendly matches with one another. These trainings are specifically designed to help every player, experienced or not, to achieve the best. Don’t worry if you are completely new to the sport: our friendly and dedicated Coach Allan, as well as your fellow CCA-mates, will be there to guide you along the way! After the National School Games, training sessions will be reduced to twice a week for the Year 5s. Year 6s will then step down from the CCA as they prepare for their upcoming ‘A’ Levels. 

The high intensity of the sport, coupled with the strenuous training sessions, might make the CCA seem daunting. However, beyond all these, Raffles Squash is a family. A family where we will have one another’s backs both on- and off-court. With our small numbers, long-lasting friendships are forged and you will definitely enjoy a strong camaraderie within the team, whether it is through team dinners after training or cheering one another on during nail-biting matches. 

As the saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.” Most think that the sport is individual, but here at Raffles Squash, we compete as one, we fight as one, and we celebrate as one. After all, it is not the team with the best players that shines. It is the players with the best team that will go far as one. If you are looking for that in a CCA, don’t hesitate to come down for our trials this coming year! We are excited to have you join the family :)

By: Alastair Tam (20S06N), Boys’ Captain, and Yasmin Tay (20A01C), Treasurer

Did you know that the fencing sword is the second fastest moving object in sports after the marksman’s bullet? Pretty cool, huh? Due to the likes of pop-culture icons such as Captain Jack Sparrow and Obi-Wan Kenobi, sword fighting is vastly misrepresented. In reality, a lot more than the mere clashing of swords is required for victory. Apart from the extreme physical prowess required to outmanoeuvre opponents on the piste, a lot of mental dexterity is also required to strike at the opportune moment.

The first historical evidence of fencing dates back to as early as 1190 B.C. From then, fencing has evolved tremendously. Comprising three different weapons, épée, sabre, and foil, fencing has more variety than one might think. Now you may ask what the differences are between these weapons—and that would be the rules and characteristics of the weapons. Épées are the heaviest among the three, and have a large umbrella-shaped guard to protect the wielder’s hand. The rules of épée dictate that the entire body is a valid target area, and that the first person to hit their opponent scores a point. Sabre is the weapon that favours speed the most. Possessing a U-shaped guard, it is the most recognizable amongst the rest as movies most commonly use sabre blades. Aggressive and swift, sabreuers aim to land the tip of their blades on the opponent’s electric jacket and mask. Foils are the lightest of the three weapons, but do not underestimate them on account of their weight! The target area for foil covers the torso, up to the neck, giving it the smallest target area of the weapons.

Fencing as a sport is unorthodox in Singapore, let alone as a CCA. With all the physical prowess and mental dexterity needed as mentioned above, it is no surprise that training would be rigorous. Do not let this faze you, though! After training hard alongside your fellow fencers, satisfaction is promised. After all, no pain, no gain! Conducted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, trainings comprise not only physical training, drills, and sparring, but we are also no strangers to games.

Aside from training, fencers can also look forward to competitions. Competitions are platforms for both experienced and inexperienced fencers to hone their skills and even meet new people.  Some of these competitions include Novices, Junior Championships, National School Games and Pesta Sukan. While many of our fencers have done the school proud over the years by winning medals, winning is not the most important aspect of participating in these competitions. Instead, it is the lessons learnt from mistakes made, and the camaraderie forged between you and the team, striving towards a common goal. 

Another exciting event to look forward to is our annual Raffles Invites that we plan and host! Open to participants across Singapore, we are given the chance to compete and make friends with fencers from all walks of life. Every fencer in the CCA becomes an integral part of the organisation and execution of this event. What’s in it for our own fencers? They get to participate for free! 

Contrary to popular belief, fencing is more than just an individual sport. Without the support of your coaches and teammates, especially amidst times of adversity, you would definitely feel desolate. Bonding is an extremely important part of our CCA, and we hope to be a pillar of support for each other in the tumultuous ocean that is JC life. Regular team dinners after trainings, signing up for competitions together, and enduring the at-times gruelling trainings all serve to strengthen the bonds between us. At the end of the day, what we value most isn’t the results we get in competitions, but the relationships and experiences that we gain along the way. There is nothing more gratifying than fencing with a team of people striving for greater heights.

What are you waiting for? Select your weapon and we will see you at trials! 

By Alvan Png (20A03A), Chairperson, Lam Weng Chung (20S03Q), Vice-Chairperson, Kong Pek Yan (20S06A), Secretary, and Teo Gi Sing (20S06T), Quartermaster

“Do not fear mistakes—there are none.”

Miles Davis

Honestly, Jazz is kind of weird. 

From rampant dissonances and blistering solos, to straight-up spicy harmonies—it’s easy to call all these things “mistakes”. But as jazz musicians, the contemporary palette of tools we have for expression and context-giving is so large that, in the words of Vincent Persichetti, “Any tone can proceed any tone […] and any group of tones can proceed any group of other tones”. 

People joke about it. A lot. But with such a wide array of tools at our disposal, there really are no wrong notes and no mistakes, as long as the performer has what Mr. Persichetti calls “skill and soul”. Thus, in Raffles Jazz, we seek to bring out that skill and soul, to showcase that freedom of self-expression—the ability to not fear mistakes, because there are none. And because of that, joining Raffles Jazz—while kind of weird—is never a mistake.

Flowery language aside, who are we really? We are a small group of individuals fascinated by the jazz genre and the possibilities it brings, passionate about the craft and intricacy behind the musical form. Beyond that, we’re also a one-of-a-kind, tight-knit CCA, who are always eager to learn more about, and get better at jazz through conversation and communication with one another.

Our CCA sessions are held every Wednesday from 2.30pm to 4.30 pm and Friday from 2.30pm to 5.30 pm. We meet to practice for any upcoming gigs and quality checks, or just to jam together and enjoy the process of music-making. However, in the lead-up to gigs or concerts, there are usually extra practice sessions added to ensure that we are ready for our performances.

Now, that sounds rather serious, but fear not! We don’t just play music together—we play together as well. Through our nervous backstage dancing sessions as we wait for our turn to perform during gigs, playing the Lick^TM on recorders during our annual post production party, and spamming sending innumerable unglams of our vice-chairs, we’ve managed to create a family out of a random bunch of individuals who just happen to all love jazz. And this chemistry that we’ve built is what we strive to show the audience whenever we perform.

Speaking of which, some gigs that we’ve done in 2019 include National Day, Teacher’s Day, as well as Batch Night! These are great opportunities where we get to express ourselves to a large audience, so if you love performing, they will be right up your alley.

Besides having regular practices, we also have sectionals and quality checks by our professional instructors who are always ready to provide us with invaluable guidance and advice. These help us better our technical and communicative skills, both as individuals and as a team.

We also have a tight-knit Raffles Jazz family made up of generations of friendly and dedicated seniors who always return to guide us in different ways. Raffles Jazz is not merely a space, it is a place, a home for passionate jazz musicians who are always ready to support each other at all times. Like how a real family navigates the unpredictable struggles of reality through the warmest support and encouragement, so too does the Raffles Jazz extended family tree help YOU to explore the unpredictable, weird, and wonderful world of jazz.

At this point, I bet some of you probably aren’t even reading this article anymore. Well, good news—you won’t have to read notes in jazz either! If you’re new to jazz, or maybe even to playing instruments found in a jazz band like ours (i.e. keyboards, guitars, drums, bass), it’s perfectly okay! While we do require some basic instrument competency, Raffles Jazz operates very differently from a classically-trained ensemble! Like we said, jazz is weird, and because of that it has its own notations, structures and technical mumbo-jumbo unique to it and nothing else. Many of us also started from square one musically; however, with dedication, an open mind to new sounds and ideas, and much help from seniors, instructors, and batchmates, anything is possible! It’s never too late to start listening and (hopefully) learning one’s way about the intricacies of jazz. We’re all here to grow, improve, and most importantly, make music together, so don’t be afraid to try something new!

Some songs we’d really like to recommend you listen to are: “Autumn Leaves”, “Blue Bossa”, “Sir Duke”, “Take the ‘A’ Train”, “Wave”, “Fly Me to the Moon”, “What a Wonderful World”, “Spain”, “Giant Steps”, “Isn’t She Lovely”, and “Cheek to Cheek”. Just remember that these are just a couple of recommendations in a sea of artful jazz standards, so feel free to explore the genre on your own too.

Perhaps you’re still hesitant. You’re thinking: How can I know if this strange club is really right for me? Would I be making a mistake by joining this club? Well, like we said earlier, there are no mistakes in jazz, but if you really, really have your doubts for some inexplicable reason, simply head down to our pre-audition workshops! Taking place in early 2020, we will be there to answer any burning questions you may have, and also to put on a small performance of jazz standards for you to enjoy! You can get a clearer glimpse of the genre and the types of songs we perform, to make a more insightful, informed decision… that decision being to join Raffles Jazz, of course.

As Barry B. Benson once said, “Ya like jazz?”. And here in Raffles Jazz, we really, really do. So if you’d like to join us in our eternal appreciation of jazz, we hope to see you at our pre-audition workshop and at our non-pre-audition-auditions. As they always say:

By Jerome Tay (20S06Q) and Wang Xuyang, Chairperson (20S06K) 

Choral singing isn’t easy. Hours of hard work are to be invested in every piece that Raffles Chorale performs. Magical moments, beautiful harmonies, and literal chills only happen after members of the 19-strong CCA come together and brave the rigour of practice. 

Raffles Chorale has sessions twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays, mostly held in the LT1 of the Y1–4 campus. Stumbling into the LT during one of our sessions rewards you with a world of musical pleasure and confused stares from the choralists as you frantically realise that, no, that was not the venue of your history lecture. With a broad range of music from soulful Germanic lamentations of ages long past, to pop songs of our decade and whole arrangements about food, Raffles Chorale has something for every aspiring singer out there.

The countless hours put into practice have yielded a strong sense of camaraderie amongst our Choralists: be it randomly breaking into song, or challenging each other to see who has the highest falsetto, our members can be who they truly are during training sessions. The bonds forged here are unique, with friends made through the appreciation of art (and memes—lots of memes). To the 19 of us, Chorale is an ever-present family through the hardships of the concert season and the frustration of rehearsing the same part of a song multiple times. Excellence has only come through blood and tears. No sweat, because we enjoy the luxury of a fully air-conditioned LT.

With prospective members hailing from different secondary schools and musical backgrounds, talent takes a backseat during the selection process as each individual is judged on their passion and receptivity to feedback and growth. 

Raffles Chorale has pretty impressive accolades as well, clinching the Distinction award at the biennial Singapore Youth Festival in 2019, as well as obtaining the Gold Award in the 12th International Choral Festival Orientale Concentus in 2018. Prospective members can look forward to an overseas exchange next year where we pit our voices against choirs from around the world. Kind of like a riff-off, but with people that can *actually* sing. You can even look forward to Vocal Delights, Chorale’s annual student-run a capella concert, where our members are given the liberty to explore new depths—such as arranging and acting—and perform popular songs to display our skills in multiple genres of music. We have also worked with Habitat for Humanity for the past few years to make Vocal Delights a charity concert—all proceeds from this concert go toward helping their cause of improving the lives of those in need. 

If there’s one thing that Raffles Chorale has taught us, it’s this: you don’t have to be the next Freddie Mercury or Whitney Houston to be able to make beautiful music. In Chorale, it is the continuous pursuit of the intrinsic reward and magic of music-making that motivates and drives us to perform and improve. With the burning passion that our Choralists carry, and under the baton of our conductor, Mr Toh Ban Sheng, music comes to life.

By Benjamin Liew (20A03A) and Ng Jing Ting (20A13A)
Photos courtesy of Celine Chung (20S06H) of Raffles Photographic Society

Last year’s instalment of Vocal Delights having proved no less than a resounding success, Raffles Chorale came through once again this year with their annual a cappella charity concert Volaré. Gracing the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) with their melodious voices on December 13, the 30-odd members displayed extraordinary musicianship and synergy as they shed the conservative image of a chorus and blew the audience away with their repertoire, which included top hits from pop singer Shawn Mendes, and Pentatonix. With all proceeds to Habitat for Humanity, their partner organisation for the fourth year running, the combined warmth of humanitarianism and wonderful music by Raffles Chorale truly brought to the audience the most wonderful time of the year.

Livening up the stage with their comedic banter were emcees Jerome Tay (20S06Q) and Nicole Lim (20A01A), who introduced the first act of the night with a classic knock-knock joke. Opening the concert with “Some Nights” by pop band Fun was nine-member group Heaven’s Door. Arranged by Xan Ng (20S06P) and led by soloist Shannon Chow (20A01C), the piece’s mellow tunes showcased the group’s impeccable harmonising, kicking off the concert on a high note. The group then launched seamlessly into a well-anticipated Shawn Mendes medley, arranged by Ranitra Nair (20S03L), which featured several soloists belting out hits such as “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back” and “If I Can’t Have You” to much applause. Indeed, far from being merely a group name, Heaven’s Door quickly became a reflection of the group’s ability to transport audience members into a celestial plane through their performance. 

The next group of performers, Absolute Zero, brought to the stage their rendition of “追剧组曲”, a medley of Chinese songs. (“Because every song sounds sadder in Chinese,” quipped emcee Jerome.) It has often been said that music has the ability to transcend language boundaries, and, true to this saying, the members of Absolute Zero managed to convey the anguished emotions behind each song even to those among the audience who could not understand the lyrics. We sat enthralled by their stellar voices, marvelling at how the songs tugged effortlessly at our heartstrings. Proving their bilingualism, the members of Absolute Zero then segued into “Brother”, a Kodaline hit arranged by senior Reno Sam (J5). 

Switching things up for a moment next was the beatboxing challenge, presented by the emcees. With the spotlight turned upon Chorale’s two resident beatboxers, Sunny Wang (20S06K) and Darius Wan (20S03C), the energy levels of the audience were noticeably raised—shouts of “I love you!” and encouraging cheers rang out as the ‘contenders’ took their places. Any ambient noise immediately fell silent, however, as each chorale member proceeded to fill the PAC with their own thumping beatboxing solo, dropping jaws and leaving some audience members (the writers included) wondering where Chorale had hidden their secret drum set. Even more impressive was the later-gleaned information that Sunny had actually only started learning to beatbox in March 2019, a mere nine months before the concert. In the spirit of friendly competition, though, the contest was concluded as a tie. 

The third group, Cloud Nine, now took centre stage. Capitalising on the festive Christmas season, the group kicked off with a lovely rendition of “Santa Tell Me”. Cloud Nine were all-smiles as their voices melded brilliantly together with every note, with a number of members given the opportunity to put their unique voices on show for the audience. It wasn’t all Santa-themed, however, with the group then taking on a pop medley consisting of songs like “Paper Rings” by Taylor Swift and “I Don’t Care” by Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.

With their A-levels recently concluded, it was then time for the outgoing Chorale batch of 2019 to flex their singing muscles one last time. And flex they did, with incredibly stunning harmonies and solos which blended together brilliantly in two arrangements—“Animal” by Neon Trees arranged by Byron Lim (19S03E) and Sherwin Lam (19S06O), as well as “Death of a Bachelor” arranged by Sherwin Lam. The sheer class and confidence the seniors carried themselves with was evident from the get-go. “Death of a Bachelor” opened with the lead singer, Gabriel Song (19S05A) bathed in a gentle magenta spotlight as he strolled down the aisle, before he stunned the crowd with his breathtaking vocal control and falsettos in what was a well-known “difficult song to sing”. “Animal” then drastically changed the tone of the performance, as each Chorale senior sang with intensity and a sort of wildness that left the audience at the edge of their seats. It was indeed a fitting last performance for the seniors, with their experience and assuredness so very evident in the level of performance on show.

A brief intermission followed, where members of the audience and Chorale alike mingled with one another. Friends and family who had come to support performers hurried to the front of the PAC to grab a quick photo with their loved ones, audience members discussed what they had witnessed so far with enthusiasm, and of course, more than a few took the opportunity for a much-needed toilet break. And while all this went on, Christmas music gently played in the background, adding to the already upbeat and festive spirit that permeated the air. 

It was the next act, however, that proved to be the highlight of the evening. With its comic script and convincing actors sending the audience into an uproar, comedy skit ensemble Punch once again proved Raffles Chorale’s affinity with tradition, having been a recurrent act in previous instalments of Vocal Delight for the past two decades—and, as we were about to find out, for good reason, too!

This year’s skit featured five main characters who were all simultaneously insufferable and lovable in different ways, making them excellent fodder for comedy skits; we got adorably infantile Sunny (played not by Sunny himself but by Nicole), bimbotic Kaya (played by Shannon), nervy pacifist Colby (played by Xu Duofeng, 20S06D), 21st-century feminist Humphrette (played by Loh Pei Yee, 20S03I) and the last abhorrent nerd of a character whose name we couldn’t quite catch due to its lengthiness, but whose life revolved around hankering after an Oxbridge degree (played by Jonas Chia, 20S03A). Magically transported from detention into a genie’s lamp, our five characters have a chance encounter with founding fathers Sir Stamford Raffles and William Farquhar. Besides paying tribute to Singapore’s bicentennial year, the skit also made a jab at some less savoury news that hit the headlines in Singapore this year, including this one. Incorporating various songs such as “Fix You” and “I Want it That Way” at various junctures, the skit combined acting and a capella to great effect. 

Overall, Punch put up a performance that was stunning in every way except one: its runtime was too short. Even as we sat in the familiar PAC, it was hard to remember that it was a school production with a non-professional cast. We were pleasantly surprised at the professionalism of the acting, as well as the comedic quality of the script that succeeded at eliciting shrieks of laughter from the audience at every turn.

Props to the members of Punch.

Finally, Raffles Chorale came together as a choir for the finale performance, where they presented two songs, “Lullaby of Birdland” and “Nyon Nyon”. After the exhilarating performance by Punch, the soothing tones of the lullaby lulled the audience back into dreamy appreciation. Throughout the night, various soloists had had the opportunity to showcase their individual voices, but there is just something a little more heart-warming seeing a huge group of people coming together and singing as one. As the finale came to a close, the emcees took the stage again to thank the various individuals and groups of people who had made the concert possible. Tokens of appreciation were presented to the teachers-in-charge in a heartfelt show of gratitude by the members of Raffles Chorale.

Of course, what concert is complete without an encore? A split second after the teachers-in-charge had made their way off stage, the cries for an encore began, prompting Chorale to take the stage one final time with “White Christmas”, arranged and conducted by Sherwin. 

As the audience filed out of the PAC into the drizzling night, many were buzzing with excitement in the aftermath of a music-filled evening. On his feelings regarding how well his batch’s collective effort had paid off in the lead-up to the concert, Chorale chairperson Sunny had this to say: “Words can’t describe how strong my emotions are right now.” When pressed further, he shook his head, relieved. “We’ve all come so far from where we started preparing and I’m so proud of everyone. I’m sure that they have done their friends, and more importantly themselves, proud.”

From the heartwarming buzz that was emanating from around the vicinity of the PAC, and the numerous bunches of flowers that exchanged hands that evening, we could safely say that Raffles Chorale’s performance had struck a deep chord within each and every audience member present that night. With this year’s instalment of Vocal Delights over, we look forward eagerly to Vocal Delights 2020 to see what else Chorale has in store for us.

The live concert recording of Volaré 2019 can be found here.

By Tasha Ting (20S06F), Vice-captain and Max Koh (20S06U), Vice-captain

You stand at the plate. 3 balls, 2 strikes, 2 down, bases loaded. The winning run at third base. “Play ball.” Your grip on the bat firms, and you eye the ball with a renewed sense of hunger. Here’s the wind-up, and the pitch. 

Closer.

Closer.

1, 2, now.

There has always been an indescribable beauty in the dynamics of a game of softball—the unspoken chemistry, the unfathomable satisfaction of hitting that 12 inch red-threaded yellow ball over the fence, the nerve-wracking yet exciting feeling of jogging on the spot restlessly, waiting for the opponent to bat the ball to you, always ready for that dive, always ready to tag the runner out. There is also the love and unity within the team that seems so tangible, the comforting familiarity you feel while getting ready for softball trainings, and the yearning for the school day to end just so you can dash to the Y1-4 canteen to get changed for training. All these explains the immense love our players have for the sport. 

Despite its name, softball is far from a soft sport—for starters, the ball isn’t even soft. It’s a game which requires both your brains and brawns. It might seem daunting to even think of playing this sport at first, but what we can guarantee you is that the trepidation and apprehension you might have while entering the sport will definitely pay off in more ways than one when you leave the sport.

What does it mean to work as a team? “Your personal victory ends wherever the team’s victory ends.” Our head coach, Coach Farhan, is a firm believer in teamwork. Teamwork isn’t taking your respective places on the field just so that you have enough players to enter the tournament; teamwork isn’t about filling up all 9 places in the batting line-up; teamwork isn’t about training hard to be the MVP so you feel a sense of self-glorification. Teamwork is about the love, the bond, the camaraderie both on and off the field. We are not only teammates on the field, but also a band of brothers and sisters who do anything and everything together—from shouting into cones at Junction 8, to shouting “WHO WILL CATCH? CANNOOOOTTT PEEPEEPOOPOOMAN WILL CATCH. CORRECTTTT” (an inside joke that you will most definitely be exposed to once you join our CCA), and on a more serious note, just being there for one another through thick and thin.

Every year, both the boys and the girls team participate in the National Inter-School Games for ‘A’ Division Softball in the first half of the year.  In 2019, both our boys and girls achieved commendable results. The boys clinched overall first runners-up while our girls clinched overall second runners-up. In addition, the girls team took part in the annual tournament organised by Singapore Recreational Club and did us proud by coming in second-runners up as well. Regardless of the outcome, we give every game our best shot so that every training session pays off. 

Commitment and dedication is a big part of what we do, and we train thrice a week, every Tuesday (4-7pm), Wednesday (2.30-5.30pm) and Friday (4-7pm). 

The horrible aches in your quads after doing split squats, the blisters and calluses from batting and the enormous blue blacks—these are just glimpses of our depth of work. But this pain is incomparable to the joy that comes with the celebration of our best athletic moments and the culmination of our labour in a solid, good game. And the best part is: you will never walk alone. 

Reading this and can’t wait to be part of this big family? You are welcome to come down for our trials! Fret not, no prior experience and knowledge is required, but don’t forget your sunblock! 

By Liu Kaizhong (20S03C), Quartermaster and Fiona Xiao (20A01A), Quartermistress

What does it mean to be in Raffles Players? The first thing which comes to your mind is probably just acting and putting on a show on stage. Indeed, the word “Players” suggests that we simply adopt different personas to entertain our audience. On the contrary, while you may not always have the chance to act, you get to be involved in the process of transforming mere words on the script to something grand. Dry descriptions of a scene on a script manifests in the form of majestic sets, coupled with the surreal atmosphere created by lights and sounds. Actors make their appearances and characters in the script are brought to life as the dialogues in the script evolve into passionate exchanges of emotions complemented by their glamorous costumes. During each transformation you thought that nothing could get more ambitious than this, and again you were surprised until you ceased thinking and just resigned to the interminable wonders washing over you as you marvel at your final production.

The sky is definitely the limit in the scale of performances we put up. However, the journey to becoming a proficient practitioner of the theatrical arts will not be easy. While our official CCA sessions are usually held on Wednesdays from 3pm to 6pm, extra hours are spent on other days during the intensive but rewarding production season to build sets, work on publicity materials, go through rehearsals, and design costumes.

Main events

Dramafest

A biennial event, Dramafest is an exciting opportunity for houses to compete against each other by putting up a fifteen-minute play. Dramafeste 2019’s theme was non(SENSE)—each house was in charge of putting up a play based on one of the 5 senses. 

Non-players can get acquainted with the theatrical art form by participating and volunteering to act, write scripts, build sets and props as well as many other duties. It is truly an enriching experience that gives you a sense of working on a production as you explore and learn new skills, while bonding with your teammates in the same house!

College Production

The most significant milestone in a Player’s career, College Production is where batch after batch of Y6s strive to leave their legacy through their last performance as a part of the CCA. Possibly also the biggest and most challenging production in a Player’s career, it is a full-scale performance held in the school’s Performing Arts Centre (PAC) and is largely unrestricted in terms of production value or plot direction. Both batches come together and work hard to create a unique and tremendous display of creativity and wit, and the result is—if we say so ourselves—often remarkable.

If you had come down to watch 2019’s College Production, The 39 Steps, you would know exactly what we are talking about. It’s not just the lights and sounds or the breathtaking set that we’re referring to, but the spectacular acting, stage-managing, and directing that stood testament to the amount of hard work and effort put into this production. The life-sized promescium archway and the 15-feet-tall spectator’s gallery were simply brought to life by our actors’ humourous and captivating performance. Of course, there were numerous trials and errors that we had had to go through, but learning from our mistakes had only helped us to grow as actors and as crew, helping us to make the show even better for our audience.

J1 Production

The J1 Production is an avenue for the junior batch to hone their theatrical craft, by trying out as different roles in various committees. It is also an opportunity for the batch to bond over the immense effort invested into making a play. This year’s J1 batch put up an adaptation of Homesick by Alfian Sa’at. The complex drama within the Koh family that occurs as a result of the characters’ distinct, conflicting personalities leaves the audience to ponder the question, “What does home really mean to us?” Indeed, the poignant and evocative theme of belonging is fleshed out in our production. We are not just performing; we are expressing a deep, meaningful and universal human experience through our play.

Training

With all that we have going on in a year, training sessions are essential in our development as actors and directors. Conducted every Wednesday (and the occasional Friday) afternoon from 3–6pm, professionals from the industry take away from their busy schedules to teach and mentor a class or workshop. From comedy and clowning, to animal studies, and even special effects makeup, CCA sessions help us to gain insight into the different aspects of the industry and serve to hone our skills in many of these areas. During those sessions, we are introduced to the complexities of acting which incorporates theories of Stanislavski’s system to encourage a more emotionally expressive performance. Furthermore, we get to explore genres like the timeless commedia dell’arte, an Italian form of improvised comedy popular in Europe from the 16th to 18^th century. These sessions are said to encapsulate the essence and joy of Players, with its vibrant and energetic atmosphere and our members’ eagerness to learn almost palpable in the air, they not only provide an escape from the stress and buzz of normal school life, but are essentially a time of honest enjoyment for our members. 

Should I join Players?

Although we have many people in CCA who have a background in drama, we welcome anyone who displays the keenness to learn more about theatre and the willingness to exit his or her comfort zone. Unequivocally, there may be slips in our mock performances and improvisations during our training sessions; however, what is most important is that we are open to criticism from our mentors and that we do not shy away from trying again just because of a minor flop. It is precisely this perseverance through tedious performances which we also value. Passion for theatre is also essential as something to motivate us to put in our best effort and committing ourselves to staging a brilliant production. 

If you feel enthusiastic about theatre and want to challenge yourself to embark on an arduous journey to becoming a proficient practitioner of the theatrical arts, do sign up for auditions! Auditions will take place some time in February—it will include segments such as monologue reading, interviews, group improvisation, and more. Don’t fret about the difficulty of those activities because we will help to ease you into them by making your audition fun and enjoyable.

By Ian Michael Yam (20A01A) and Wong Chia Ying (20S03C), Secretaries of the Students’ Council

“Council comprises 3 departments – Welfare, Communications Department (Commz’D) and CCA Department (CCAD) and 5 House Directorates, led by the Presidents and Secretaries. Council also plans 6 functions (National Day, Teachers’ Day, Graduation Night, Open House, Orientation and Council Camp). Councillors can also initiate timely initiatives known as Project Xs to meet the current needs of the school. Councillors are expected to lead by example and uphold the highest standards of conduct…”

Yet, beyond this standard response on Councils’ formal structures, what’s more important is that Council is a team of 63 people. And this is important because people form the core of what we do.

As a Councillor, you serve not just your friends and batchmates, but our entire school community. And trust us, this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Should you decide to step forward, you must be prepared to work with many different kinds of people, each with their own strengths, weaknesses and ideas, and respond to a seemingly endless stream of demands coming at you from different directions.

That’s not all. You’ll have to contend with being perennially sleep-deprived and meeting a slew of pressing deadlines. You’ll have to take Ls for the team along the way, and accept that all the slogging you do behind the scenes has no guarantee of bearing fruit. All this while juggling other commitments you may have.

So then, why Council?

Because even if what you do as a Councillor may not succeed at first try, it is never a wasted effort. It is unlikely that you’ll ever be able to taste personal glory, but really, the greatest reward you can ever get is knowing that you didn’t just think of ideas; you made them happen. All this to make Raffles a better place.

This is what rallies us Councillors to strive on. The ability to “make things happen” and “enact real change” is so much more than just a motivational force. It’s an opportunity, a responsibility and most of all, a calling.

Council is also so much more than just troubleshooting and making one-off changes here and there. On the one hand, traditions have been passed down from one Council batch to the next (39 so far, by the way). And on the other hand, each batch is tasked to chart out a direction of its own. In the bigger scheme of things, Council can and has taken steps to influence not just events but our school culture itself.

Seems daunting?

Don’t worry, it’s the same for us too. But seriously though, if you wanted to know what “rising to the challenge of leadership” is all about, this is it.

However, beyond the hard graft, Council is also about the little things. It could be you covering for your mates, lending an additional helping hand to make something work or going the extra mile to do something that may not necessarily lie within your so-called “job scope”. It’s also about the friendships that will last beyond your term as a Councillor.

To sum things up, being a Councillor will never be a bed of roses. More often than not, you’ll have to bear hard knocks. Nevertheless, you’ll see the litany of deadlines through, and just like the 39 batches of Councillors that have preceded you, you will survive (and emerge a much stronger person).

We hope that this short preview has given you a snapshot of what it means to be a Councillor. Hopefully what we said meant something to you, and now, it’s about what you will make of it.

All the best!

Do join us for our annual Council Sharing which will take place shortly after Orientation 2020! Details will be released soon :D

For more detailed information on what we do & FAQs, visit our Open House display and look out for our publicity releases!

By Ng Ziqin (20S03H), Chairperson, and Sarah Lok (20A03A), Vice-Chairperson (Editorial) 

Six weeks and 67 CCAs later, it’s finally our turn!

A curious and somewhat charming breed of student, the student journalist can often be found in the thick of the action at any school event, chatting effortlessly to students or staff whom we might only have seen in passing outside a lecture theatre, attempting to collect an insider perspective or a pithy quote.

After all, whether it’s a fashion show, the annual Kiwi Cup, or a self-organised TED talk—we’ve got you covered. 

To us, documenting the events that make up our school experience is of paramount importance. If a tree falls and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound? If the table tennis team continued their fifteen-year winning streak but no one heard about it, did it really happen? 

Therefore, Raffles Press strives to be the heartbeat of the student body, and that means we don’t just capture events. We tell stories. Stories about the biodiversity pond, the people in our school community who often go unseen,  and even a teacher who has taken part in an Ironman triathlon. 

We provide information—accurate and reliable—about the things you know you want the answers to: “How do I choose my subject combination?”; “When should I buy my school uniform?”; “Which CCA is right for me?”. 

But the information we provide isn’t all academic. Sometimes it’s purely recreational, like what a day in the life of the school cat is like. We offer reviews and analyses on popular movie and book releases, and occasionally, do crazy things like trying eight different types of bubble tea on the same day. 

We even answer the questions which you never thought to ask: “What happens to unsold fruit in the canteen?”; “How do I become a relief teacher after ‘A’s?”; “What do people type in the Raffles Press search bar?” 

While we remain primarily a school press, the stories we cover sometimes transcend the physical boundaries of 1 Raffles Institution Lane. Our adventures have taken us around Singapore to Kranji, Bukit Brown, and cat cafes. This year, we started two new columns: one dedicated to exploring and uncovering the untold stories of RI’s surrounding neighbourhood, and another dedicated to ranking the latest fads. 

Sometimes, what we’re trying to cover may not even be something tangible. That’s why we’re constantly looking for fresh means to bring our stories to readers in the best way that we can, trying out new forms of multimedia, and keeping a finger on the pulse of the journalism zeitgeist. As video journalism and interactive visuals become ubiquitous in the newsroom of the future, Raffles Press is also beginning to branch out into photo essays, videography, and accompanying infographics.

Writing is often perceived as a solo activity. Typing away on a keyboard as words appear on your screen might sound like a lonely journey. But that’s not what Raffles Press is about. Here, it’s common for student journalists to team up to write articles or reviews together in pairs, trios, or even foursomes. Press is very much a community of writers who understand one another’s struggles, and are always there to provide support to one another, be it technical or emotional. We meet up every Tuesday from 4.30pm to 6.30pm to hone our skills through self-led training sessions, pitch article ideas to one another, and brainstorm new ideas together. Sometimes, we invite guest speakers to share their insights on journalism: this year, we’ve had talks by a photojournalist, a multimedia journalist, and an environmental correspondent. 

Our bonding excursions (affectionately dubbed ‘prexcursions’) and our annual Press Camp are also excellent opportunities for Press members to get to know one another better while braving mosquitoes, the heat, and (domesticated, not wild) animals.

Furthermore, Raffles Press is interested in connecting writers not just within RI, but also across schools. We organise an annual inter-JC press conference, Pressing Ahead, in April each year to connect like-minded student journalists and give them the opportunity to learn from and network with one another. 

As a CCA, we are constantly thinking of new ways to create positive change. In 2019, we embarked on a collaboration with Times Reads to promote reading culture in JC students, and published a series of teacher features—coupled with a special print edition—to recognise and celebrate the teachers’ lives outside of school with the RI community. 

If you are curious and tenacious, have an eye for stories, and a flair for telling them: we want you. And of course, being comfortable with talking to strangers is absolutely necessary—though this is definitely a skill that can be cultivated over time.

Think you fit the bill? We look forward to seeing you at Press trials this year!

By Sarah Lok (20A03A) and Valerie Tan (20A01E)

Here’s a challenge: try naming some cookie stores in Singapore.

Chances are, you probably have Famous Amos in your list. But maybe it’s the only name on your list. Perhaps you’d have come up with Subway or KOOKS Creamery as well, but neither of them are full-fledged cookie stores.

This is, to us cookie lovers, a pity: are other cookie stores really that unremarkable?

We decided to check out three of them to find out—none of them around Marymount, we’ll admit, but all at least just a stone’s throw away in the Orchard area.

Cookie Mixx ($7.90 per 100g)

We had a bit of trouble finding this store, small and almost unnoticeable in the sea of food outlets and people in ION Orchard’s basement. Nevertheless, one factor immediately drew our attention when we spotted it: a man standing in front of the kiosk handing out free samples, chatting to another customer with a cheery smile.

As it turns out, Cookie Mixx is a local family-owned business that started not too long ago in July 2018. Riding on the global health foods trend, their main selling point is their healthier cookies with superfood toppings, reduced sugar, and supposedly premium ingredients. We instantly felt a sense of warmth while watching the man converse with the other customers: the passion on his face was clearly evident.

It took some time for our cookie order to arrive, but a little eavesdropping on the man’s discussion with another customer gleaned some information for us: all cookies are freshly baked from day to night, accounting for the slightly longer waiting time as opposed to other cookie stores; indeed, the scent of freshly-baked cookies wafted through the air, whetting our appetites effortlessly. When we finally received our cookies about five minutes later, they were warm and packed neatly in a handy resealable bag.

Instead of our teeth sinking into a small, dense cookie like we’d expected, we were instead greeted with a resounding crunch when we bit into a piece—a surprise right from the beginning! The cookies’ slightly chewy chocolate chunks served as a strong contrast in texture, and was a breath of fresh air compared to the usual chocolate chips found in most other cookies. Furthermore, these cookies were also especially crumbly—crumbs easily dusted our fingers as we took them out of the bag—though not to the extent of falling apart in your hands, or getting especially messy to eat. Perhaps what stood out most about these cookies was how breathtakingly light they were: they felt almost weightless sitting in our mouths, and definitely tasted guilt-free, perfectly in line with the brand’s key selling point of health-consciousness. (In fact, writing this review, we still remember the taste of those cookies we’d had more than a week ago, and desperately wish we’d gotten more to enjoy.)

Though the price point may seem a little steep, the quality of the cookies was well worth the cost—they were certainly delicious without being too sinful, and paying a little more to support a local business doesn’t seem like a bad tradeoff in our eyes. The next time we return, we would definitely give their cookie customisation a try: with so many interesting toppings, it was certainly tempting!

Overall, if you’re looking for guilt-free treats, or are feeling adventurous enough to create new flavour combinations for yourself, this place is definitely worth a shot. 

Ben’s Cookies ($2.95 per piece)

Our next destination was Ben’s Cookies, specifically the outlet in Wisma Atria. Its bright red exterior—reminiscent of that of red telephone boxes—not only screamed England, but also made it easy to spot amidst numerous other stores and the sea of shoppers scrambling to buy last-minute Christmas gifts.

The store’s design was not the only stark contrast we’d noticed when we inadvertently began our comparisons: unlike Cookie Mixx, “indulgence” would be the perfect word to describe their chocolate chip cookies. 

Nowhere else, probably, have we ever found cookies so humongous. They’re even more value-for-money when it comes to their more unique flavours such as peanut butter and milk chocolate, as all their original-size cookies are equally priced. 

Their chocolate chip cookie was all but an explosion of flavours: not only did the soft cookie dough melt in our mouths upon first bite, but the huge melted bits of gooey chocolate running throughout the entire cookie also delivered smooth accompanying bursts of unexcessive sweetness. And we’d ask for nothing more—it was a thoroughly enjoyable eat from start to finish. 

Given the cookie’s relative softness, we were slightly afraid it would break apart as we continued eating it on our way to our third cookie store, but it managed to stay in one piece. One, however, certainly has to be a little more careful while eating it—the chocolate did stick to its paper packaging at times, and had to be pried off gently.

This chocolate chip cookie is definitely not one for casual snacking: we were feeling a little overwhelmed after finishing our first cookie. As it left a rich aftertaste, we think that eating more than two would be certain to make one’s Marginal Cost exceed their Marginal Utility (as every good Economics student would say).

Overall, these cookies—quite literally—hit that sweet spot. They’re neither ridiculously sweet nor overly tasteless; they’re neither too dense nor extremely crumbly. We’d definitely return, and we’re sure that readers who enjoy sweet treats (often or once in a while) will love it as much as we did.

Nasty Cookie ($4.20 per classic piece, $4.90 per premium piece)

This is probably the most well-known brand among the three that we’ve reviewed, notable for its iconic baby blue brand colour, unusual origin story (it was set up by a professional bodybuilder!), and, well, Instagrammability. Having seen multiple shots of this homegrown brand’s self-proclaimed “Singapore’s most outrageous cookie”, we were definitely curious. Did this cookie store truly live up to its hype?

Tucked along a row of equally bright, Instagram-friendly shops in Funan, any passer-by would instantly notice its array of, well, nasty-looking cookies. This store, like Ben’s Cookies, is the antithesis of Cookie Mixx: an abundance of indulgent toppings—ranging from Oreo to Biscoff—was amalgamated within each biscuit. And if those aren’t enough to possibly make your morning workout go to waste, customers can then choose from a range of three additional  cookie fillings: Nutella, marshmallow, or dulce de leche (a sweet Latin American substance similar in flavour to caramel).

With that said, the experience of ordering our cookie was certainly unlike any other. Having picked our chocolate chip cookie, we now watched our marshmallow filling get injected into it with a syringe right in front of our very eyes, before being heated up and delivered to us in a box that resembled McDonald’s burger boxes—but prettier. Another thing that impressed us even before we tasted the cookie was the store’s receipts, which were baby blue in colour rather than the usual plain white sported by other stores. 

After taking a few pictures in front of the iconic wall decorations, we opened up our box to consume the cookie. It was soft and sweet, similar to what we’d had at Ben’s Cookies. This, together with the melted chocolate chunks, made for a delicious cookie on first bite.

However, the marshmallow filling we’d selected unfortunately did not manage to live up to our expectations; we thought it would’ve made a noticeable difference, but its taste seemed to have been overwhelmed by the rest of the cookie. While it’s possible that there was simply too little marshmallow filling to begin with—as it was injected only in the centre of the cookie—this was perhaps a mistake on our part too. After all, it may have blended too well with the equally gooey chocolate in the cookie, and we might have been better off trying another filling like the dulce de leche; the marshmallow filling may have stood out more with other cookie bases that had less syrupy ingredients such as O’Smarties (a cookie filled with Smarties chocolate).

The price point may be a little steep for the average student; we found it to be a bit of a strain on our wallets for just one regular-size cookie. However, some might find it well worth the cash because of the sheer amount of toppings within each cookie, as well as the unique concept of injecting fillings into the cookie and the overall aesthetic of the brand. While our first experience with its chocolate chip cookie may have been a slight let-down, we wouldn’t mind coming back for their other more unique cookie bases like Lets Pretzel, as well as their seasonal flavours.

Final Rankings

The name of “Healthiest Cookies” definitely goes to Cookie Mixx, while Ben’s Cookies snags the title of “Most Value-for-Money”. And if you’re looking for something special to spice up your Instagram feed, a trip to Nasty Cookie goes without saying.

All in all, cookies in Singapore aren’t just limited to Famous Amos or Subway cookies—these are just three of the several other cookie stores scattered around the island. So if you’re feeling up for a sweet treat, or lamenting about how that’s the way the cookie crumbles, then a short run to one (or three) of these stores would be sure to lift your spirits.