The Orchestra presently comprises 150 members across five musical sections. They are mostly young professionals and students from all walks of life. Many have garnered prizes in Chinese traditional music competitions in Singapore and overseas. From the nurturing grounds of the Orchestra, several have gone on to become influential figures in the Singapore Chinese traditional music scene and have contributed greatly to the development of Chinese traditional music in Singapore.
The Orchestra conductor is Mr Tay Teow Kiat. Mr Tay has been the conductor of the Orchestra since the very beginning and was instrumental in leading the Orchestra to its stature today. He was the sole recipient of the 1993 Singapore Cultural Award and has sat on the judging panels of numerous music competitions in China. He is also the musical advisor, guest conductor, artistic director and honorary Chairperson of many orchestras in China. Mr Tay led the Orchestra to Beijing and Tianjin in 1996, Zhengzhou in 2002, and Changchun and Beijing in 2007. The performance tours were highly successful and well received. In 1998, he was nominated as the first ever chairman of the Singapore Chinese Music Association.
The Orchestra employs Mr Li Chongwang, Mr Wang Chengquan and Mr Lin Weihua as its resident composers. In addition, it has also collaborated with numerous Chinese music luminaries such as Messrs Hu Tianquan, Lu Chunling, Liu Dehai, Li Minxiong, Zhao Songting, Min Huifen, Zhu Fengbo, Zheng Xulan, Li Guangzu, Chen Anhua, Wang Zhongshan, Liu Changfu, Jiao Jinhai, etc.
In the last 33 years, with the support of the public and the National Arts Council, the Orchestra has contributed significantly to the development and popularity of Chinese traditional music in Singapore. It will continue to present the many facets of Chinese traditional music to music lovers in Singapore and to raise the level of such music in the country.
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