The Hwa Chong Institution Band was formed on the 2nd of February 1967, consisting of 20 members. Though there were few instruments available, the band was extremely dedicated members. It is due to the dedicated participation and the fine leadership of our first band captain, Wu Pengdi that we managed to attain a participation certificate in the outdoor competition. Although it was only a certificate, it was the beginning of a long and eventful journey, which brought the band to its current state.
In the year of 1968, our band shot up in rank and was listed as one of the elite bands in Singapore, and in the following year, we were awarded the privilege to be televised over Television Singapura. As a result, our band count shot up to 120 members the following year. The band took part in the annual indoor and outdoor competitions from 1977 to 1985, achieving a string of gold medals. In 1977, our tenacity rose to a peak, and we attained the highly prestigiou Mace of Honour, and were chosen to represent Singapore in the Pesta Pulau Pinang in Penang.
For the past 41 years, the band has come under many conductors such as Mr. Wu Qi Ming, Mr. Richard Png, and Mr Yeo Poong Poh. The hard work they have put in has brought the band thus far. Our former conductor, Mr David Anthony Glosz, took The Hwa Chong Institution Band under his wing in 1997. It was due to his utmost effort that we managed to achievee a gold in the 1999 Indoor Band Competition. Through his guidance, teachings and motivation, our band improved tremendously. In April 2000, 60 members of the band went on a trip overseas on a journey of learning and exposure. We travelled to various cities in USA, attending band workshops and visiting bands in different high schools. Finally, we flew to Hawaii, where we attended the Pacific Basin Music Festival, a 1 week course of learning and fun which ended in a performance / competition, where we attained a gold award.
In 2005, we managed to clinch Gold in the SYF. The band played two pieces, “The Seventh Night of July” which tells of the love affair between a young man and a lady, who are separated by the Milky Way and only allowed to meet on the seventh night of July. The duet between the alto saxophone and euphonium is intended to depict the man and woman in the legend. The other piece we played was “Singapore Rhapsody” which is a combination of various traditional Singaporean folk song such as Rasa Sayang Eh, Di Tanjung Katong and Geylang Sipaku Geylang.
In 2009, we managed to clinch a Gold with Honors in SYF with the band performing “Machu Picchu”.
