Concert: AKA A Cappella VII

Date/Time: 22, 23, 30 Sep 2012 (time varies, see below)

Venue: NUS University Cultural Centre

Ticket Price*:

• Opening Night (22 Sep, 7.30 pm): Cat 1: S$50; Cat 2: S$40; Cat 3: S$30
• O-Kai Showcase (23 Sep, 2.00 pm): Cat 1: $30; Cat 2: $25
• Maytree Showcase (23 Sep, 7.30 pm): Cat 1: $30; Cat 2: $25
• Suade Showcase (30 Sep, 7.30 pm): Cat 1: $30; Cat 2: $25

Note:

• 15% discount for Students with valid pass.  
• 15% discount for NSF with valid pass.  
• 15% discount for Senior Citizens aged 55 and above.
• 10% discount for OCBC Cardholders.  
• 10% discount for any AKA A Cappella VII shows for purchases above $250 in a single receipt. Not applicable with other promotions.

* prices exclude booking fee

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Proudly supported by the National Arts Council (NAC), the AKA A CAPPELLA (AKA) series is the largest and longest running a cappella extravaganza in Singapore, and has been showcasing the best a cappella groups in the local and international scene since its inception in 1996.

The biennial concert was last held in 2010 in Victoria Theatre Singapore and was hosted by Jake Moulton, vocal percussionist of top US a cappella group, The Housejacks from San Francisco.
The AKA A CAPPELLA series of concerts it is now in its 7th edition, and will be held in September this year at the NUS University Cultural Centre.

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List of Performers:

• Opening Night (22 Sep 12): Maytree (Korea) | O-Kai Singers (Taiwan) | Vocaluptuous | Key Elements | MICappella | Juz-B
• O-Kai Showcase (23 Sep 12, 2 pm): O-Kai Singers (Taiwan) | After Six
• Maytree Showcase (23 Sep 12, 7.30 pm): Maytree (Korea) | NUS Resonance
• Suade Showcase (30 Sep 12, 7.30 pm): Suade (Australia) | SMU Voix

You can get your tickets via Gatecrash here:

• Opening Night
• O-Kai Showcase
• Maytree Showcase
• Suade Showcase

There will also be workshops held in conjunction with the Festival. For more information, visit the organiser's website here.

Concert: TPCC Presents: Zen Renaissance Featuring Ueno Koshuzan

Date/Time: 8 Sep 12, Sat, 7.30 pm

Venue: School of the Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall

Ticket Price: Standard - S$30; Concession - S$20

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The Philharmonic Chamber Choir (TPCC) returns to SOTA Concert Hall with another exciting collaboration – this time, with Japanese shakuhachi master, Ueno Koshuzan. The soulful shakuhachi is a Japanese end-blown flute. In medieval Japan, Zen Buddhist monks used the shakuhachi as a spiritual tool; their songs were considered meditation.

In the Western world, the Renaissance was a cultural movement that had a profound effect in European intellectual life, encompassing literature, philosophy, art, politics, science, religion and music. Here, increasingly freed from medieval constraints in range, rhythm, harmony, form and notation, music became a vehicle for personal expression. Both the secular and sacred music collided and influenced one another.

Along the delicate lines of the secular and the sacred, TPCC will be singing a range of Renaissance and Renaissance-inspired compositions. Ueno Koshuzan will weave the gossamer magic of the shakuhachi through the concert.

A unique and not-to-be-missed musical experience – come to the concert, close your eyes, open your ears and be mesmerised by the music from worlds apart, and yet universally intimate.

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You can get your tickets here.

Concert:: The Poetic Journey with Stephen Cleobury

Date/Time: 23 Jul 11, 7.30 pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Ticket Price: Standard - S$45, S$35, S$25; Concession - S$28, S$20

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A rare opportunity to see choral music luminary, Stephen Cleobury, conducting Singapore’s most outstanding chamber choir in a programme of rarely performed and heard choral works that will engage, inspire and uplift you.

As Director of Music at King’s College, Cambridge and Conductor Laureate of the BBC Singers, Stephen Cleobury is associated with two of Britain’s most famous choirs. In his illustrious career, he has also worked with leading symphony orchestras and period instrument ensembles. As the first choir in Singapore to be directed by Cleobury in a full concert, The Philharmonic Chamber Choir is honoured to present an evening of German chorales, and settings of English poetry by 20th century British composers.

[Repertoire]

Johann Sebastian Bach
Lobet den Herrn, alle Heiden,
BWV230

Johannes Brahms
Warum ist das Licht gegeben dem Mühseligen

Benjamin Britten
Hymn to St Cecilia

James MacMillan
Christus Vincit

Nicholas Maw
One Foot in Eden Still, I Stand

Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
Richte mich, Gott

Max Reger
O Tod, wie bitter bist Du

Heinrich Schütz
Jauchzet dem Herren alle Welt
(Der 100. Psalm), SWV36

Michael Tippett
Dance, Clarion Air

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Three Shakespeare Songs

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Book your tickets from here today

SYF Actual Results

SAJ: G
Dunman High: S
RI: GwH
YJC: S
NYJC: G
HCI: GwH
MJC: G
SRJC: B
TJC: S
PJC: B
NJC: G
TPJC: S
RVHS: G
AJC: GwH
CJC: GwH
ACJC: GwH
NUSH: B
VJC: GwH

SYF Pt 3

PJ: Pre: HB Actual: B

Had split notes and generally airy tone; rushing for certain bits of cantate

NJ: Pre: HG/ GwH Actual: G

Although they had pitch problems and a tendency to go flat (esp for the set piece), there were some magical moments for the second piece. The last piece also showcased their technical abilities - control and subtlety in phrasing.

TPJ: Pre: HS Actual: S

Pitch problems for set piece; was best IMHO for the third piece - basses and tenors had many nice moments - esp with the intervals, however the piece was repetitive and was not technically challenging. [edited]

RVHS: Pre: S Actual: G

Had many pitch problems (split notes) and had a tendency to go sharp

AJ: Pre: HG/ GwH Actual: GwH

General tendency to go sharp though the overall performance was alright

CJ: Pre: HS Actual: GwH

Pitching issues - had voices (esp tenors) sticking out for set piece; second piece was generally well done; some phrasing felt disjointed in the third piece

ACJ: Pre: GwH Actual: GwH

Had best interpretation (imho) for set piece; split notes in sops for first two pieces; felt their forte for the first two pieces could have been more (considering their size); tenors could have had a more grounded tone than what was heard

NUS: Pre: CoP/ LB Actual: B

Had many pitch issues for first piece; recovered a little for 2nd and 3rd piece; moments where it was pretty good

VJ: Pre: GwH Actual: GwH

Were generally good pitch-wise; liked the tone of the basses, but didn't feel that intensity that makes u feel like u're listening to magic

SYF Pt 2

NYJC: Pre: HG Actual: G

Some obvious errors in pitching, but overall a strong showing

HCI: Pre: GwH Actual: GwH

Interesting pieces; crucifixus was imho a little too heavy/ tenative - but that's a personal pref; had stable and good overall performance

MJ: Pre: HG Actual: G

Good overall performance, but it lacked a certain intensity despite there being increase and decrease in dynamics

SRJ: Pre: B Actual: B

Earnest performance, but had many pitch errors (split notes etc) and pieces were not of a high technical difficulty

TJ: Pre: LS Actual: S

Tenors generally needed to have a rounder, thicker voice; had some pitch errors throughout

SYF Pt 1

SAJC: Pre: LG (edited) Actual: G

Tendency to go flat, male voices tend to be nasal, entrances could be less sudden

Dunman High: Pre: LS Actual: S

Chamber choir with tendency to go flat; has a muffle sound; lack of balance between male and female voices

RI: Pre: HG Actual: GwH

Cheated with diction in Crucifixus and phrasing a bit heavy; went a little out of tune for set piece

YJ: Pre: LS Actual: S

Problems mainly with diction; generally airy tune; stayed more in tune than dunman

Event: Auditions for ONE - Round Two

Due to overwhelming response, ONE will be conducting a second round of auditions before practices begin in September. Details are as follows-

Date: 22 August 2009

Time: Timeslots provided on first-come-first-served basis, starting from 10.30am.

To book an audition, contact audition.one@gmail.com.

NDP 2009!

Thought I should drop a mention on the blog about NDP! Went to watch the preview yesterday and I must say, it's probably the most artistically cohesive and entertaining NDP in recent years!

But how does this relate to the blog? Well, an a cappella group, namely Vocaluptuous will be performing during the parade!

--- Spoiler Alert! ---

They actually sang part of the National Anthem a cappella, and it sounded really good!



Well, that's all, enjoy NDP folks!

Concert: Vienna Boys' Choir

Date/Time: 7-8 Nov 09, 7.30 pm

Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

Ticket Price: Standard - S$98, S$78, S$58, S$48, S$38

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The world’s favourite children’s choir, capturing the hearts of audiences around the world for generations, is set for two special concerts at the Esplanade.

The Vienna Boys’ Choir’s 400-year-old tradition is celebrated annually with an Asian tour to capital cities. The choir updates its repertoire regularly, and today’s programmes include everything from medieval motets to Beatles and Celine Dion, from folk songs to film scores.

In recent years, they have performed with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Recent guest conductors include Sir Neville Marriner, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Muti

Due to their tremendous popularity, the Vienna Boys’ Choir’s concerts in Singapore have been fully sold out since 2005. Early booking is advised.

Website: www.wsk.at

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