Afterthoughts on the SYF season

Hey guys,

Thought I should do a summary of the SYF season (or at least what I heard).

Generally, the overall level of choral singing has improved! Kudos to all performers and conductors for their hard work. There were much less 'cringe'-worthy moments, and there were definitely performances which made you feel like you were in the concert hall, rather than 'judging' or 'critiquing'. This was especially so for the JC category.

In addition, I'll just like to point out that the sound upstairs is VERY different from what you perceive in the stalls. I had the benefit of actually listening to choirs on both levels (not during the competition). As such, it may explain why there were some 'shocks' when the results came out.

The JC/ IP schools generally gave decent performances, what some of them lacked in musicality, they made up for it with technical difficulty or vice versa. However, none of the schools (including the G/GwH schools) managed to conquer all 3 pieces. There were a few which were close (I won't mention who), but still fell short of doing so. Pitching has generally improved though the intricate bits (e.g. end of phrases, sustained notes) still need some work. It was in this category where you could tell that every school had their niche tone/ genre of pieces which they were most comfortable performing, which made it interesting and enjoyable to listen to.

The Sec schools (imo), have improved the most. Schools, which did not have an established brand-name, have stepped up and produced choirs which may be comparable to that of choirs in international competitions. Tone is more cohesive than before, though many of the schools would benefit from voice training (yeah I know it's difficult and not cheap, but that's the ideal situation). However, conductors tend to re-use past repertoire, or the practice which my friends call recycling, and I generally didn't like. One example was Ti Hor Hor. I remember hearing that piece so many times within that short span of time in which I was there listening.

Lastly, I thank you all readers for your time, comments and all during the SYF season. Finally, to all performers and choristers, thank you for your hard work. I hope you have produced music which have touched you in one way or another, and continue to do so for many years to come.