Symphonic Band - Lunchtime concert highlights Podcast Insights

Formerly known as the Nanyang Technological Institute Symphonic Band (1985-1990), the musical group was renamed the Nanyang Technological Symphonic Band (NTUSB) after the inauguration of the University in June 1990. The NTUSB has performed for the university’s student body on numerous occasions such as Union Day, Ultra-marathon – in Aid of University Endowment Fund, Cultural Activities Club’s Cultural Week and the National Institute Arts Festival. The band has also been invited to perform at several places, like the World Trade Centre Amphitheatre, the Istana, Suntec City and Ngee Ann City, to name a few.Under the baton of her previous resident conductor, Mr. Luk Hoi Yui, the band has actively performed in the local wind band music scene and overseas. The band staged its first public concert – Premiere Concertante – on 17 September 1993. Since then, NTUSB had staged 6 successful public concerts, popularly known as the “Sojourn” Series concert. The band has performed a diversified repertoire of music ranging from classics to jazz to movie themes to musicals. Among the pieces ventured were the 1812 Overture, Rhapsody in Blue and Miss Saigon. The NTUSB and her alumni jointly organized “Band Fiesta” – a charity band concert to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation. In June 1994, the band was invited to Tsinghua University in Beijing, China for a performance cum music exchange tour. The following year saw NTUSB participating in Janitsjarfestivalen Hamar – International Music Festival for Winds bands in Norway. The band was awarded the Second Prize (with honours) in the festival. The band was then awarded the Second Prize (silver award) in the 7th International Music Festival in Sydney in June 1996. The NTUSB clinched First Prize (2nd Division, Harmony Band Category) at the 13th World Music Contest (WMC) in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. In 2001, the NTUSB won the First Prize (1st Division, Harmony Band category) in 14th WMC in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, with the choice piece – Fantasy Variation on a theme by Niccolo Paganini. In July 2005, the band once again participated in the 15th WMC in Kerkrade, the Netherlands. The band achieved Second Prize in the 1st Harmony Division. In 2005, Mr Takehiro Oura joined NTUSB in her musical journey as the new resident conductor and has brought a fresh change to the band. She successfully held her first concert with Mr Oura in 2006 with raving reviews of our new musical standards.