SYMPHONIA
Date, venue and timing of regular meetings/trainings per week
"Symphonia is so much more than just a music-making club — it provides a well-rounded experience that will develop you both as a musician and as an individual. Being in Symphonia, I have learnt to step out of my comfort zone and attained essential skills that would come in handy when I enter the workforce. Meeting fellow musicians with a passion for music has also added so much colour to my university life!" (Bae Moon Kyung, President, SOA, Year 2)
Since our humble beginnings as a small ensemble in 2003, SMU Symphonia has progressed steadily over the last 17 years to become a full-fledge wind and strings symphony.
-
Dates: Every Wednesday and Friday
-
Time: 7:30pm to 9:00pm
-
Venue: SMU Arts & Culture Centre (ACC)
Since our humble beginnings as a small ensemble in 2003, SMU Symphonia has progressed steadily over the last 17 years to become a full-fledge wind and strings symphony.
SMU Symphonia embraces any performance opportunity entrusted to us and we can be seen participating actively in university-wide event such as SMU Patron’s Day, SMU Open House, SMU Arts Festival, and our annual trademark production – Symphonia Festiva.
Going beyond the Singapore seas, SMU Symphonia has travelled to countries like Australia in 2007 & 2009, and Vienna in 2013 to compete in various international band competitions. In 2018, the club journeyed to Japan to attend the 20th Conference of the Asia Pacific Band Directors’ Associations where we performed alongside bands from Korea, Australia, and many more.
SMU Symphonia’s continual pursuit of excellence in music is not confined to only concerts and competitions; the club believes in sharing the joy of making music to emulate the values of music, friends, and fun through community performances such as the Commonwealth Science Conference 2017 at Istana, and collaborations with sister universities in Singapore such as the SMU X SUTD Alma Mater Concert in 2021.
“Being in SMU Symphonia has allowed me to grow as an individual, by using music as a medium for self-expression. On top of that, being in the club also helped me hone my time-management and prioritisation skills, which enables me to juggle school work and other commitments more effectively.” (Teo Jun Peng, Assistant Marketing Director (AY20/21), SIS, Year 3)
Q1: Who conducts regular training for the club?
A1: Our resident conductor is Mr Adrian Chiang, and he takes charge of our weekly combined practices. You may view Mr Chiang’s profile here: https://www.adrian-chiang.com/
Additionally, we often engage tutors for the different sections in preparation for productions!
Q2: Is SMU Symphonia suitable for people with no background in the instrument/music?
A2: Yes, students with no background in this area but with great interest are welcomed to join too! However, there is a steep learning curve in this process. Not to fret, our section leaders and members would be there to assist you, but we will require your commitment as well!
​
Q3: Is SMU Symphonia an Orchestra?
A3: SMU Symphonia is a wind and strings club. Though we do have orchestral performances, we also place great emphasis on developing both sides separately so that all sections and members have an opportunity to perform!
​
Q4: How many performances do we have in a year and will everyone be involved in performances?
A4: We have 1 major club production every year, usually in March. SMU Symphonia also takes part in various uni-wide events spread across the year. Some of such events are Patron’s Day, Vivace and SMU Arts Festival. We would definitely encourage all our members to get involved in our performances if possible, to get the full experience!
Q5: What is the commitment level as a SMU Symphonia member?
A5: Other than our regular training sessions on Wed & Fri night, additional sectionals and Saturday sessions may be held nearer to concert days. However, do rest assured that major performances should end before busy academic periods!
FAQ
TO FIND OUT MORE: