The Tanglin Centenary Building was officially opened in January 2023. Standing tall at 11 storeys, it’s an inspirational learning space that is home to a diverse range of exceptional educational facilities, including Tanglin’s new Music School. As the central hub for the entire school’s music programme, the department spans over two storeys and is the venue for weekly ensemble rehearsals, formal and informal performances, as well as individual and group lessons for students from across the Infant, Junior, and Senior schools.
This world-class facility includes two exquisitely designed performance rooms, both of which can accommodate up to 100 people. Their design is such that they are adaptable for large-scale instrumental or choral rehearsals, as well as providing a more intimate recital space for solo or chamber music performances. Although slightly different in terms of size and purpose, both spaces have been acoustically engineered to enhance the experience of both performers and audiences alike. Both rooms are home to new Fazioli Grand Pianos.
“Music can change the world because it can change people.”
With the facilities in place, coupled with ongoing investment to ensure that the department is given resources that are as good as, if not better than many Music Departments in universities internationally, the next stage of development for Tanglin is the introduction of Centenary Music Scholarships, launched to coincide with the start of the school’s centenary celebrations starting in August 2024. The programme will give students entering Senior School the opportunity to achieve their potential through a combination of financial support and an enhanced musical studies provision.
At Tanglin, we believe in the importance of a holistic education and t new music scholarship is an example of students demonstrating excellence outside of the classroom. We firmly believe that music can have a life-changing impact on young lives, and we want to provide a stimulating, vibrant and nurturing environment where students can develop their musical passion further. The Scholarship will require the student to demonstrate outstanding musical proficiency, a genuine passion for music, the desire to improve and develop their talents, and the commitment to perform regularly. In addition, they will be expected to inspire younger students to persevere with their musical journeys. To achieve these musical goals, the student must have several key attributes that will also complement their academic studies at Tanglin.
Many of the skills and qualities that are required in life are learned through the study of music at school.
As such, the new scholarship programme reflects Tanglin’s high expectations of its students and recognises the talent, effort, and character required to achieve musical excellence. The mentoring system will ensure that the scholars are supported by a dedicated member of staff, who will assist students develop many of these skills as they progress through Senior School.
“Your talent determines what you can do. Your motivation determines how much you are willing to do. Your attitude determines how well you do it.”
We expect our chosen scholars to lead by example and encourage others to enjoy and develop their own passion for music. Whether they are performing as a soloist or in an ensemble, attending concerts, or inspiring others to learn a new instrument, the Tanglin Music Scholar is expected to be a role model and ambassador of music to help create a lively musical community. They will be called upon regularly to demonstrate the excellent calibre of music at Tanglin, both with the community itself and on external visits and tours.
Like all experiences at Tanglin, the Scholarship is an opportunity for students to learn and grow. They will explore a diverse musical curriculum, which includes assisting with, leading or directing Junior ensembles as well as active participation in masterclasses, ensembles, and solo performances.
We are working hard to form connections and partnerships with several individuals and organisations across Singapore and beyond. We aim to create an annual programme of visiting artists to inspire our young musicians on their journeys. These musicians will work one-on-one with the scholars, sharing their personal experiences and expertise in such a way as to provide inspiration and motivation for our students to aspire to careers in the music industry.
In the past 18 months, we have been able to arrange visits by Igor Yuzefovich (Concertmaster of the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Orchestra); Paul Phoenix (former King’s Singer); Edward Wickham (Director of St Catherine’s College, Cambridge); Briana Corrigan (former lead singer of Beautiful South); and the Desford Colliery Band, all of whom have created lifelong memories for, and given valuable advice to our musicians. How wonderful would it be if these visiting professional musicians could tell stories of the amazing times they had as students at Tanglin? As a school and as a department, we are absolutely committed to supporting students beyond the music classroom, helping them pursue further education, or careers in music.
There are myriad ways in which the success of the programme will be measured – both in the short and longer-term impact on the scholars themselves and the wider Tanglin community. Quite quickly we should be able to identify if the profile of the scholars has been raised across the schools – are they performing regularly in concerts, assemblies, open mornings etc? Do other students know who the music scholars are, and assuming so, how, and why? How are the scholars themselves reacting to the programme?
The first few cohorts will have plenty of scope for shaping the long-term design of the programme and adapting it to suit their individual needs and requirements, and their feedback will be invaluable moving forward. We are already considering introducing an ‘Aspiring Musicians Scheme’ targeted at potential scholars of the future, and there is plenty of scope for further developments as the programme progresses and we learn more about its successes and areas for improvement.
Our Scholars, as already mentioned, will be the role models and the ambassadors for Music at Tanglin; they will be setting the standards to which other musicians will aspire. We therefore expect to see a general increase in both the uptake of instrumental lessons and the quality of instrumental performances in Tanglin. Others will want to be part of the Scholars Programme and will therefore work hard to achieve their aspirations, thus creating a higher benchmark for future generations.
In the longer term, we hope to have a greater number of musicians who are not only studying music at GCSE/A Level/IB but are also going on to pursue their musical studies at Music Colleges, conservatoires or via Oxbridge Choral and possibly Organ scholarships. This could be through performance channels, composition, or the more traditional academic routes. For students more focused on the Rock and Pop industry, this could well involve further study in the fields of Music Technology or other similar pathways. The possibilities are endless.
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