Welcome to One!
Thank you for spending and sharing this afternoon with strIVngs.
Coming out of the pandemic last year, strIVngs had our first “rehearsal” in March 2022. With a size of 18 members, we had our first performance on 25th June.
The enthusiasm for learning, the drive and hunger of our members have been my constant source of inspiration, pushing me to continue with the programme and that’s how season 2 happened, and thus leading to this afternoon, the concert for season 3.
I am happy to announce that we have grown to 65 members strong!
This season, strIVngs also started another group, named Initiate, catered for newer learners. Initiate had just presented a private performance last month for their family and friends. This afternoon, the group will be presenting two pieces from that concert.
I hope you enjoy this afternoon’s programme by the group. Take a moment to enjoy what you hear, close your eyes if you need to, there’s no fixed rules to how you enjoy a performance! And don’t forget to clap!
Dwayne Leow Music Director
violin. viola. cello. double bass
4(IV) string instruments of the western classical music strings + IV = strIVngs (read: strings)
The brainchild of our music director Dwayne, strIVngs was established to break new boundaries; creating new learning and performing opportunities for adult learners and hobbyists.
The programme focuses on developing playing and interest, while making learning and playing a string instrument as an adult fun and accessible.
New Beginnings (25th June 2022) strIVngs inaugural concert
play with strIVngs (January 2023)
season 3 rehearsal @ SNYO orchestral studio
festival for strIVngs soundcheck (November
MARCH 2022 to JUNE 2023
Since March 2022, strIVngs has had 3 concerts, 2 play with strIVngs events and recently an ensemble masterclass with Mr Foo Say Ming from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
strIVngs hopes to continue to provide different platform and experiences for our members.
(November 2022)
festival for strIVngs, season 2 concert (27th November 2022)
play with strIVngs (6th August 2022)
season 2 first rehearsal @ SNYO Ensemble Studio
ensemble masterclass with Mr Foo (14th June 2023)
initiation, initiate’s inaugural concert, 3rd June 2023
Initiate by strIVngs is the latest addition to the strIVngs family, specifically designed to cater to the needs of individuals who are either beginning their journey with string instruments or rediscovering their passion for them.
The main objective of the program is to establish a safe and enjoyable space where musicians, regardless of their skill level, can come together and create music. Whether someone is picking up a string instrument for the first time or reigniting their musical aspirations after a break, Initiate warmly welcomes them.
By incorporating a combination of individual skill development and ensemble playing, participants in the program have the opportunity to evolve as musicians while reveling in the sheer delight of playing music in a group setting.
PROGRAMME
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba
George Frideric Handel arr. by Rob Bushnell
Air on the G string
Johann Sebastian Bach
Hungarian Dance No. 1
Johannes Brahms arr. by Carrie Lane Gruselle
Sweet New Moon
Yukiko Nishimura
Waltz No. 2
Dmitri Shostakovich arr. by Paul Lavender
Theme from Canon in D
Johann Pachelbel arr. by John Caponegro
Furusato
Teiichi Okano arr. by Yukiko Nishimura
Adagio (from Symphony No. 2, Op. 27)
Sergei Rachmaninoff arr. by Robert Longfield
Suite for Strings
1. A-Roving
2. I have a bonnet trimmed with blue
3. O waly waly
4. Dashing away
John Rutter
Strvings gave me an opportunity to realise my passion for music by bringing together a community of like-minded string players to learn and make music. Behind the music we play is friendship and camaraderie that make Strvings the unique and happy community it is. Come see for yourself! :) - Kenneth
StrIVngs has provided me with a different perspective on playing the violin. Being a member of a strings ensemble means being part of something bigger than yourself - that is bringing people together and making music. Indeed, playing an instrument is fun but more enjoyable when shared with others. We hope you'll enjoy our concert! - Hector
Having been forced to learn the violin from a young age of 3, had me conflicted for many years. The first 10 years, I LOATHED it.
The next 10, I wanted to strive. I was perpetually on the fence of hating it, feeling like a failure, and wanting to do better. Whenever I made the decision to give up, somehow something somewhere in the universe would always draw me back; deep down I know I still wanted to play.
This season is my first with StrIVngs, and I have learnt so much more in the past months than lessons I had in the past 2 decades. Personally it is the ultimate healing experience. -Ying Hui
Joining strIVngs was a whirlwind of surprises. While my goal was to enhance my playing abilities, I did experience some improvement, but it didn’t meet my initial expectations. I quickly realized that the challenge stemmed from my lack of consistent practice. I also discovered hidden talents, growing fatter with their epic pre-rehearsal suppers. And who knew violins had secret Discord societies? My String Practice Buddies kept me accountable, virtually jamming and ensuring I practiced. And let’s not forget Dwayne who went the extra mile to ensure we played better. Playing in strIVngs was a heartwarming adventure that left me a better player, a few pounds heavier, and with a symphony of new friends! - Caleb
In a modern social media twist, I came across a sponsored post on Instagram and took that to be my sign to FINALLY reconnect with music. It was also a chance for me to pick up the viola, to learn something new with this amazing group of adult learners. The challenge of learning to read a new clef has made playing with strIVngs all the more exciting. With every rehearsal I am loving the instrument, it's rich mellow tones, and the harmonies of it's part with the melody and bass lines more and more. - Juliette
Like many other members, I have learnt the violin but have no formal ensemble training. I am grateful that strIVngs has provided an opportunity for me to experience the joy of playing with other members. It is a safe platform where everyone with different backgrounds can come together to explore music. The music director is also very encouraging and willing to share new ideas. I look forward to weekly rehearsals and hope that you will enjoy tonights performance. -Jade
Goh
Very excited and delighted to be part of this happy family and to perform together! It has been a lovely and welcoming experience in StrIVngs, and I hope our audience will enjoy the performance as much as we did while preparing for it! -Wan
Theng
I hope you love Rutter's Suite for Strings as much as I do! It's one of our most challenging pieces, but the melodies are sweet and playful. There's a lot going on underneath the melodic lines too, with the different string sections interacting with and playing off each other. We might not play it perfectly, but we've given it our all and grown as musicians in the process - which to me is the ethos of Strivngs! -Erin
Being an adult learner who is still so new to the instrument, I was a little apprehensive about joining StrIVngs. I wasn't sure if I had what it takes to play in an ensemble. But true to the heart and vision of StrIVngs which echoed through every rehearsal, it was and is always a safe space to learn, explore, make mistakes and enjoy creating music together. There was never any judgement and everyone was always so encouraging! StrIVngs not only became a thing we did every week, it also became a community, a family!
- Millicent
My 1st season experience with StrIVngs: a fulfilling experience! – StrIVngs provides a safe platform and environment for adult music learners – late starters like me – to learn, grow, build confidence, improve my technique and experience playing in an ensemble. And I definitely did not expect to learn to play so many pieces in 16 weeks! This intense but fun challenge has re-ignited my passion for music.
StrIVgns community - enthusiastic players, passionate, likeminded, sharing a common passion and purpose – encouraging and energizing one another to enjoy making music together! hank you for supporting us by being here today! We hope you enjoy the concert as much as we enjoy playing as an ensemble for you. -
Danny Toh
Thank you to all my fellow players for co-creating such a fun environment to grow musically. It’s been a steep and fulfilling learning curve, reconnecting with and advancing my music education through strIVngs. I haven’t yet gotten to know many outside my section personally, but it’s been great to be present when the other sections play. We may never really know the ripple effects of our sound waves, but trust there is an impact! Heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Dwayne for creating, maintaining and holding a space where what I once believed impossible, became a reality. It’s been moving to witness the steadfast stewarding of this space where the player’s learning journey comes first, and the focus is not overly centred on a particular outcome. Anyone at any level can come to practice, make mistakes and grow together, and that this approach never wavered even when the going got tough. Looking forward to when I get goosebumps from the music. See you next season! -
Genevieve Ong
Ensemble playing brings the joy back into practicing! It's an experience I wish I had more of when I was younger. I always look forward to Wednesday evenings where we gather to bring whatever we have to the table, and each session is such great motivation to want to bring the best playing we can, so that we all keep sounding better together with each rehearsal. There has been so much individual and ensemble growth over the past few months and I'm so proud of us! I hope that everyone who listens to our music appreciates the way this patchwork of people from different backgrounds and playing levels have come together to make some beautiful art – a tapestry of music, if you will, formed by the collective effort of every member of StrIVngs. - Emily
Goodness it’s been a year with StrIVngs, how time flies when you’re always having fun! Let’s just say it didn’t feel like I’ve spent a year here because it still feels like yesterday that I’ve picked up the cello and learning it from scratch. That’s like the dogma of education, isn’t it? To learn, unlearn and relearn. Anyway, please enjoy this season’s repertoire. It’s not only thrilling for us instrumentalists, listening to the recordings of our rehearsals puts us on the edge of our seats, I’m sure it would be the same to the audience too. The challenge this time is very different from previous seasons, especially having to put different aspects of sound (level of playing, number of players and difficulty) into perspective. Hope that you’ll feel the joy and energy from our playing (especially Waltz No 2!) and also the effort in putting this concert together! 16 weeks is a lot of work, not just for instrumentalists! HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY STRIVNGS!
<3 P.S. Writing my thanks here to my ex-desk partner and my current desk partner, Mieko and Renee, respectively, for being really great desk partners and for their depth in their learning as cellists! Stay cool y’all! - Thaddeus
Ong
Really glad that my friend presented such an opportunity to me so I could perform with others on stage again. Met so many people, connect and spread the love for music! - Soo Ming
StrIVngs is a very unique group, which allows a safe and comfortable space for adult learners to explore playing in a group, without the fear of being scrutinized and judged. It is also a group that encourages us to push boundaries by trying things that did not seem possible, all while feeling well supported, guided and encouraged. I think a fine balance has been achieved. :) - Melissa
StrIVngs is an absolutely unique programme for adult music learners to delve into ensemble playing in a safe environment. I have learned so much from the repertoire and pieces that I have longed to play but didn’t get a chance to until now. Every Wednesday is a highlight of the week for me to catch up with the strIVngs community and find new joys in playing my instrument! - Mieko
Never too late to learn anything and find joy in learning! - Amirul
I started playing violin 4 years ago as a complete beginner with no experience in string instruments. Before StrVings my only audience was my teacher and my husband. I was sent the ad for the Play Date, (thanks Caleb!) I decided to give it a go…I almost backed out at the last minute… then I decided to be brave! Arriving at the venue everyone was so friendly,welcoming. helpful and happy. I loved the session and immediately signed up for the season. It has been a joy to come to rehearsals every week and I am grateful for the patient players near me who put up with my wrong notes and rhythms. I have been inspired by everyone in the group to practice and improve. The very best part is to be in the centre of the sound, feeling like I’m inside a speaker, listening to all the notes swirl around and realise how much effort goes into making the music sound effortless. Thanks especially to Dwayne for the energy, support, teaching and unflagging enthusiasm. -
Paulene
StrIVngs had been enjoyable from the start to the end, and it was a dream come true for me to be part of a string ensemble with other passionate musicians! Everyone from diverse backgrounds and experiences had contributed to StrIVngs in unimaginable ways, each individual like a colour to a painting. -
Ryan
