Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra

Member Handbook

The RICO Story Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra was founded in 1987, under a c o m b i n e d i n i t i a t i v e b y t h e n -Headmaster Mr Eugene Wijeysingha and founding teacher Ms Shi Jun, to inject more vibrancy into the cultural scene in Raffles Institution due to Mr Eugene Wijeysingha’s vision that Raffles I n s t i t u t i o n w a s t o b e c o m e a n internationalized and globalized community. Through its numerous performances, RICO also actively promotes Chinese orchestral music, not only within the Institution, but also in t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y a n d internationally.

Over the years, Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra has matured under the tutelage of its conductors Mr Goh Yew Guan (1987-2002), the late Mr Yeo Puay Hian (2002-2007), Mr Lim Kiong Pin (2007-2009) and Mr Yang Ji Wei (2010-present), as well as its several section instructors, who have together allowed its members to hone their musical skills and develop their musicality. This has allowed RICO to collaborate with various organizations to put up various performances. Apart from this, RICO has also been invited to perform for the SYF @ VivoCity 2008, 2008 Bukit Batok East Chinese Cultural Festival, Renci Charity Show in 2006, the opening ceremony of Parkway Group

H e a l t h c a r e ’s 2 n d I n t e r n a t i o n a l Healthcare Facilities Exhibition & Conference the same year, as well as the Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s National Day Concert - Our People, Our Music - in 2004. RICO also collaborates with orchestra overseas, including Beijing’s Golden Sail Symphonic Band and Penang’s Chung Ling High School Chinese Orchestra. In the local scene, RICO also puts up public concerts at least once every two years. The orchestra regularly per forms for residents in the heartlands through performances at Bishan Park, Toa Payoh Library’s Amphitheater and the National Library, and actively supports charitable causes through performances at the Singapore River. The orchestra has also performed at Singapore General Hospital for its Music Therapy Program and conducted lessons for residents in Bishan.

Since its inception, RICO has also participated regularly in the biennial Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging, winning 6 Golds and 4 Silvers, including 5 consecutive Gold awards from 1991 to 1999. After a hiatus of 8 years, the orchestra was awarded the Gold award at the SYF Central Judging in 2007. At the following Central Judging, in spite of our members’

dedication and commitment, the Orchestra secured a Silver award.

In a bid to bring musical excellence to new levels, the Orchestra saw a period of change in 2010, with new teachers, instructors and facilities. The Orchestra will continue to strive towards greater heights with its new Music Director & Conductor, Mr Yang Ji Wei.

The RICO Philosophy

THE RICO VISIONTo b e a w o r l d - c l a s s o r c h e s t r a accomplished in the performing arts w h i c h p l a c e s v a l u e u p o n t h e contributions of individual members.

THE RICO MISSIONIn the coming year, the Executive Committee seeks to give every member a stake in the orchestra, enabling us to recognize budding talents, and foster a conducive CCA environment for self-discovery and for members to fully immerse themselves in the dynamic landscape of Chinese Orchestral music.

In the coming year, Raffles Institution Chinese Orchestra seeks to hold a commitment to and build an image of all-rounded excellence, and foster a member-centred CCA bonded by a stake and a common experience.

THE RICO EXPERIENCEThe RICO Experience encompasses the enrichment and holistic development of its members in terms of musical calibre, character development and leadership potential.

It is also a journey of opportunities; opportunities to form new relationships and improve members in all aspects and a journey that members will reminisce fondly about in the future.

THE RICO VALUESExcellence

CommitmentPassion

TeamworkDiscipline

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITYI n l ine with R ICO ’s bel ie f that community engagement is pivotal in character development and enrichment of its members, RICO aims to involve all stakeholders and the community in its growth as an orchestra, by establishing collaborations with international and local partners.

MOULDING THE FUTURE OF RICOIn accordance with RICO’s vision of attaining the highest standards of excellence, and pushing them to new l i m i t s , R I CO s t r i v e s t o e x t e n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r m u s i c a l a n d leadership development to each and every member. In addition, RICO recognizes the importance of fostering a common orchestral team spirit by providing platforms upon which members within the orchestra can share common experiences.

NURTURING THE RICO PERFORMERAs part of the RICO Experience, RICO envisions to nurture every member to become the RICO Performer. Through the various performing opportunities offered in the RICO journey, RICO hopes to nurture he who performs from the heart – with passion, commitment and pride. At the same time, he would then embody the hard work and effort put in by his fellow RICO Performer.

The RICO Masterplan

Attendance Procedures

ATTENDANCE TAKING

Attendance is taken twice every practice:• Once 15 minutes after the start• At the end

You will sign on an attendance list to indicate your attendance.

VALID REASONS

Valid reasons are required if:• You will be more than 15 minutes late

for practice• You will leave early from practice• You will be absent from practice

Valid reasons are classi#ed as such:• Excuse on medical grounds with

medical certi#cate (MC)• Excuse on medical grounds with

parent’s letter (PL)• Excuse due to overseas travel (OT)• Excuse on other grounds (EVR)

Valid reasons should be applied for in accordance with these procedures:• MC & PL

• Email Dr Lee, Sng Geng, Toh Han, Chong An and your Section Leader before 2359 hours the night before

• Pass your medical certi#cate / parent’s letter to your Section Leader at the next practice

• OT• Submit your Travel Declaration

F o r m , w i t h d o c u m e n t a r y evidence attached, to your Section Leader two weeks before departure

• EVR• Email Dr Lee, Sng Geng, Toh Han,

Chong An and your Section Leader before 2359 hours the night before

ATTENDANCE CREDIT

Attendance credit is awarded as such:• Full credit

• Present• Present (arrived late with or

without VR)• Present (left early with VR)

• Zero credit• Absent (with or without VR)• Present (arrived late and left

early)• Present (left early without VR)

ATTENDANCE RATE

Please note the impact of your Core CCA’s attendance rate on your CCA points:• <75% but ≥50%: forfeiture of CCA

points for current year• <50%: forfeiture of CCA points from

Year One to current year

Attendance Procedures

OrientationProgramme

14 FEB 2011 (MON)First Day Programme

16 FEB 2011 (WED)Theory Lesson 1: An Introduction to the CO

21 FEB 2011 (MON)Parents’ Conference

2 MAR 2011 (WED)Theory Lesson 2: Basics

11-12 MAR 2011 (FRI-SAT)Concert Exposure: Feminine Mystique

14-15 & 18 MAR 2011 (MON-TUES & FRI)March Holidays Programme

23 MAR 2011 (WED)Theory Lesson 3: Jianpu Theory

6 APR 2011 (WED)Theory Lesson 4: Miscellaneous

13 APR 2011 (WED)Inter-Section Exchange

19-21 APR 2011 (TUES-THUR)Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging

DR JEFFREY LEE Teacher-in-chargeO:

DR HOH CHUNG SHIH Teacher-in-chargeO:

MS NIU YI Teacher-in-chargeO:

MR YANG JI WEI Music Director & ConductorHP:

DR SAMUEL WONG Artistic DirectorHP:

MR PATRICK NGO Yangqin InstructorHP:

MS ZHANG LI Ruan & Liuqin InstructorHP:

MR MENG JIE Suona InstructorHP:

MR ZENG ZHI Dizi InstructorHP:

MS CHERYL ONG Percussion InstructorHP:

ImportantContactsTeachers

MR XU ZHONG Cello InstructorHP:

MS WANG LU YAO Double Bass InstructorHP:

MS ZHAO LI Huqin InstructorHP:

MR JOHNNY CHIA Guzheng InstructorHP:

MS AVILYN SIM Pipa InstructorHP:

ImportantContacts

Executive Committee

SNG GENG Chairman & ConcertmasterHP: H:

LIM TOH HAN Vice ChairmanHP: H:

ONG CHONG AN 2nd Vice ChairmanHP: H:

FOO LIN GENG TreasurerHP: H:

LIEW FU KIAN LibrarianHP: H:

LEONG CHANG JIE QuartermasterHP: H:

LOO TIEN PAN Welfare HeadHP: H:

TANG ZHENGNAN SIMON Deputy LibrarianHP: H:

YEO PING CHONG Deputy QuartermasterHP: H:

NICHOLAS QUEK WEI SHENG EXCO InternHP: H:

TAN WEI KANG EXCO InternHP: H:

CHUA ZHE XUAN EXCO InternHP: H:

KIM JI HWAN EXCO InternHP: H:

NEO WEI JIAN (BRYAN) EXCO InternHP: H:

SEAN ONG ZHI HAN EXCO InternHP: H:

LEONG CHANG JIE SL, CelloHP: H:

TANG ZHENGNAN SIMON SL, DiziHP: H:

DOUGLAS TAN CHANG YANG SL, Double BassHP: H:

LIM TOH HAN SL, Guzheng & PipaHP: H:

BENNY KOH PEI ZHI ASL, Guzheng & PipaHP: H:

SNG GENG SL, HuqinHP: H:

KOH YONG LIANG STEPHEN SL, PercussionHP: H:

CHUA ZHE XUAN ASL, PercussionHP: H:

KOH HUI KAI SL, Ruan & LiuqinHP: H:

ImportantContactsSection Leaders

TAN WEE LING SL, ShengHP: H:

JING GUOZHEN SL, SuonaHP: H:

ONG CHONG AN SL, YangqinHP: H:

RAFFLES INSTITUTIONOne Raffles Institution LaneSingapore 575954