GIFTS
Composed by Tan Kah Yong
Combined Orchestras
Composed for SITCO’s inaugural concert in 2023, “GIFTS” is an uplifting and celebratory work inspired by the orchestra’s five guiding values — Growth, Innovation, Focus, Transformation and Service. These values form the acronym “GIFTS”, reflecting SITCO’s belief in sharing the gift of Chinese music with the wider community. Through its lively rhythms, bright melodic lines and energetic character, the piece captures a spirit of optimism, progress and togetherness.
The work also reflects the journey of a SITizen — one of continuous learning, adapting and growing while remaining grounded in the people and community around them. In this sense, GIFTS celebrates both personal development and collective identity, echoing SITCO’s mission to nurture innovators, foster strong bonds and promote an appreciation of Chinese music.
Opening Singapore In Tune, GIFTS brings SIT Chinese Orchestra, String Ensemble and Symphonique together on one stage, setting the tone for a concert centred on shared stories, memories and the meaning of home.
Not Alone
By Benjamin Kheng and Evan Low, arranged for strings by ALIVE Music SG
String Ensemble
The 2024 NDP Theme Song ‘Not Alone’ celebrates Singapore’s history and its people. ‘Not Alone’ pays homage to past NDP songs by incorporating familiar lyrics, evoking nostalgia and rekindling Singaporeans’ connection to patriotic sentiments. The song progresses into an uplifting melody in the second half, aiming to foster a sense of belonging.
The Cutest Pair
By Regina Song, arranged for strings by Kristine Sum
String Ensemble
The Cutest Pair captures the bittersweet feeling of having an unrequited crush. This song celebrates youthful adventure with its upbeat melody and catchy rhythms, bringing to life the excitement and innocence that comes with liking someone.
Garden City Medley
Arranged by Kristine Sum
String Ensemble
Arranged in-house, ‘Garden City Medley’ takes us down memory lane as we revisit beloved classics familiar to Singaporeans. Featuring songs such as Rasa Sayang, Semoga Bahagia, Di Tanjong Katong, Tomorrow’s Here Today, Love at First Light and Dayung Sampan, ‘Garden City Medley’ paints a musical portrait of Singapore, evoking stories for happiness, resilience and nostalgia for simpler days. The melody is passed between players throughout the medley, representing the spirit of collaboration among Singaporeans creating a better Singapore together.
Like a Swallow
Composed by Tan Kah Beng, arranged by Tan Kah Yong
Chinese Orchestra
Written by Singaporean composer-lyricist Chen Jiaming and popularised by Olivia Ong as the theme song of The Little Nyonya, Like a Swallow is a nostalgic ballad filled with tenderness and quiet resilience. Its image of a swallow journeying through wind and rain reflects perseverance, memory and the courage to move forward. For Singapore In Tune, the familiar melody recalls a beloved piece of local television history and the stories that continue to connect generations of Singaporeans.
Singai Naadu
Composed by Shabir Sulthan, arranged by Wang Chenwei
Chinese Orchestra
Composed by Singaporean singer-songwriter Shabir Tabare Alam, Singai Naadu — meaning “Land of the Lion” — is a heartfelt celebration of Singapore as a shared home. First presented in connection with National Day in 2012, the song embraces the country’s cultural diversity through a message of unity, belonging and mutual appreciation. Its blend of musical traditions reflects the many communities that shape Singapore, making it a fitting celebration of the home we continue to build together.
Of Orchid and Crimson Sunbirds
Composed by Dax Wilson Liang
Symphonique
Composed by Dax Wilson Liang, Of Orchids and Crimson Sunbirds is a prominent Singaporean work inspired by the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid and Crimson Sunbird. Blending Western symphonic textures with local heritage, the piece incorporates Di Tanjong Katong to celebrate Singapore’s shared roots, growth, and future.
Where I Belong
Composed by Tanya Chua, arranged by Benjamin Yeo
Symphonique
Where I Belong, composed by Tanya Chua and arranged by Benjamin Yeo, explores our connection to home and the roots that shape who we are. Through its uplifting melody, the piece celebrates Singapore as a place where our memories, experiences, and sense of belonging take root.
Xinyao Medley 2
Arranged by Ong Jiin Joo
Symphonique
Xinyao Medley 2, arranged by Ong Jiin Joo, brings together familiar xinyao melodies that have become part of Singapore’s musical heritage. Filled with youthful spirit and nostalgia, the medley takes us back to the songs and memories that have shaped generations, reminding us of the roots that connect us to home.
Little Note
Composed by Jim Lim, Lyrics by Xiao Han, Rearranged by Sim Boon Yew
Combined Orchestras
In the film Little Note, the male lead Zhi Ren lives a simple and frugal life with his mother in the rural countryside. The mother and son expressed their love and support for each other in a simple way by exchanging little notes. These words of encouragement and love spurred their every step forward in life, helping them cast aside their fear and despair in times of uncertainty. Interweaving poetic cinematography, intricate and touching scenes and a heartfelt original score, Little Note will meander its way into your heart like a clear, pristine stream.
Sisters’ Islands
Composed by Wang Chenwei
Combined Orchestras
Song of the Sisters’ Islands is a 5-minute piece adapted from Wang Chenwei’s 13-minute programmatic composition The Sisters’ Islands. Inspired by the Malay legend of the islands south of Singapore, the original work recounts the struggle of the twin sisters Minah and Linah against pirates, their drowning, and their transformation into the Sisters’ Islands.
This shorter piece was commissioned by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Ministry of Education in 2014 for the 2015 Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Chinese Orchestras. The combined orchestra version for this concert was commissioned by the Singapore Institute of Technology in 2026. The word “song” in the English title reflects both the work’s lyrical melodies and the character 诵 (sòng) in its Chinese title, 《姐妹岛诵》.
A gong strike opens the piece, introducing the tropical coast of Singapore. The broad “sea” theme is introduced above wave-like patterns in the pentatonic pelog scale, evoking gamelan. The graceful “sisters” theme portrays the young Malay sisters Minah and Linah in an asli dance. A lively zapin dance follows, depicting festivities in the village. Finally, the “sea” and “sisters” themes sound together in counterpoint, building to a climax as the drowned sisters transform into the Sisters’ Islands.
The original work, composed when Wang was 17, won the Singapore Composer Award at the 2006 Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition. It has been widely performed and recorded in various arrangements, most notably at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's inaugural National Day concert in 2018. It received the Top Local Classical Music Award in 2023 from the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) and is featured in Singapore's primary school music textbooks.
