The Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra (ACSO) marked its 10th anniversary on August 1 with a concert exclusively featuring works by Singaporean composers, reflecting its evolving mission to highlight Asian music. The event took place at the Victorian Concert Hall and was helmed by music directors Dedric Wong and Adrian Chang.
ACSO’s inaugural concert in August 2016 featured Chinese compositions such as the Butterfly Lovers and Yellow River concertos. A decade later, the orchestra turned its focus entirely to Singapore-centric pieces, celebrating the everyday people who have shaped the nation’s identity.
The program opened with Wang Chenwei’s Samsui Women, a lively work song that incorporated the Cantonese melody Ping Hu Qiu Yue (Autumn Moon Over A Calm Lake) and seamlessly blended it with the traditional tune Rasa Sayang. This piece set an energetic tone for the concert, driven by dynamic percussion.
Terrence Wong’s Fortitude featured a standout performance by 19-year-old saxophonist Dante Tan, who demonstrated technical prowess on soprano and alto saxophones. The composition paid homage to Singapore’s Pioneer and Merdeka generations, symbolizing their perseverance and hard work.
Everyday Guardians: Three Portraits Of Service by Syafiqah ‘Adha Sallehin honoured civil servants through music. The accordion, played by Zulkifli Mohamed Amin, represented the steadfastness of nurses in The Nurse – Steady Hands. This was contrasted by the veena performance of Madhavan Kalaichelvan in The Firefighter – Into The Flames, illustrating bravery and resolve. The final movement, The Teacher – Light In The Classroom, featured Joyce Poh on dizi flute, delivering a serene modal melody evocative of folk traditions.
Germane Goh’s Pillars Of Strength: Tribute To Migrant Domestic Workers brought lyrical warmth to the program with brass instruments and a French horn solo by Alan Kartik. Goh accompanied on piano, providing a soothing and supportive foundation for the solemn tribute.
Jazz musician Jeremy Monteiro’s orchestral arrangement of his Fortitude, distinct from Wong’s composition of the same name, consisted of chorales honouring Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. The piece highlighted Lee’s exceptional leadership and enduring legacy.
The concert premiered Between Heaven And Earth by Darius Lim, founder-director of the Voices of Singapore megachoir. Lim’s Romantic piano work led into a performance by the VOS Ladies Choir, singing in English with themes of aspiration and philosophical reflection, drawing inspiration from Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia.
Concluding the program was Ralph Emmanuel Lim’s Singapura Tapestries, a fantasy weaving together local songs Bunga Sayang by Dick Lee and Singai Naadu (Singapore My Country) by Shabir Sulthan, sung in Tamil. This medley underscored the multicultural fabric of Singapore.
The concert ended on a unifying note with an encore featuring the audience singing along to One United People, the 2003 National Day Parade song composed by Joshua Wan and popularised by Steffanie Sun. The event underscored the orchestra’s message that shared music is a reflection of Singapore’s enduring racial harmony and national unity.