By RJGE EXCO ‘25
What do you look for in your dream CCA?
Is it a friendly and bonded CCA culture? A place where you can develop your musical skills or pick up music? Or one with a chance to perform at music festivals and concerts?
If your answer to all these questions is yes, then Raffles Guitar Ensemble is just the place for you!
Guitar Ensemble welcomes those without musical backgrounds, giving everyone an equal opportunity to develop creatively. Beginners will be provided a (aptly named) Beginner Course to kick-start their guitar journey. Moreover, our skilled instructors will guide you every step of the way. As long as you’re willing to put in the practice, we are happy to have you with us!
Every other year, RJGE participates in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) Arts Presentation. For SYF, we usually play two pieces chosen by our instructors for a 10-minute showcase of the batch’s skill and hard work. Despite many members not having guitar experience, we have performed well at SYF, obtaining a Distinction in 2021 and 2023.
In the years without SYF, we host our very own concerts! We plan these concerts from scratch—everything, from the concert’s theme to the smallest details, was decided by us. You might’ve heard about our concert this year, titled “Sunset Reverie” (read more about it here!). We played a diverse range of songs — from the classical “Allegro” by Vivaldi to an upbeat arrangement of the pop song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley — showcasing the full extent of our abilities.
So when are our sessions held and what do they entail? They are held every Monday from 4.30-6.30pm and Wednesday from 8.30-10.30am in the Music Elective Programme room (which has air-con!).
We come together to practise our repertoire during CCA sessions, whether it be combined ensemble pieces or mini-group arrangements. In mini-groups, members can choose their group mates and play whichever songs suit their interests and abilities (including original arrangements!). With this opportunity, you have full control over what pieces you play, improving yourself musically while having fun with your group mates.
For those of you with music backgrounds, and have a burning desire to grow creatively in your CCA, fret not! You’ll have the chance to arrange a piece of your choice for the entire Guitar Ensemble. This is an amazing opportunity to learn how to arrange for an Ensemble and develop greater musicality.
During practice, we typically split into our respective sections. Each section plays a different guitar; the fun-sized Alto Guitar, the default Prime Guitar, and our anything-but-BASSic bass guitars. But at the end of the day, size doesn’t matter! You’ll have fun no matter which guitar you end up playing. When we converge for full ensemble practices, the different sections, each with its unique tone and playing styles, come together to harmonise with one another and create a sweet, layered melody.
But practice is not all that there is to our CCA sessions—bonding is also an integral part of CCA. Every year, before the March holidays, we have our March CCA Camp, where we spend a fun-filled afternoon playing games and bonding with each other. For 2024’s March Camp, the ‘24 EXCO planned an exciting treasure hunt that had us all running around the campus (one of the only times we’re doing physical activities, we promise!).
So what can you expect at our CCA trials? There will be an interview where we learn more about you and why you want to join the CCA (you know, the standard stuff). You will also be given a chance to try playing a guitar and for those who don’t have a music background, not to worry, your musical ability won’t be assessed! We hope to see you at the CCA trials!
We hope you too can join us on this immensely gratifying journey in RJGE, where we make the most of the fleeting time here in JC to grow and become the best of ourselves. Let our passion take flight!