For the musicians of Raffles Winds, reaching their Silver Jubilee and 18th edition of CODA is a deeply poignant milestone.
Founded in 2001 to provide an artistic home for Raffles Band alumni and friends, the ensemble has evolved into a lifelong anchor.
“Reaching this Silver Jubilee feels like standing at the top of a long staircase and reminiscing at each step,” shares council member Amir.
“I started playing just after graduating from RJC, and after 18 CODAs, Raffles Winds feels like home. What strikes me most is how far we’ve grown; not just musically, but as a community.
We’ve welcomed members across generations, from students to working professionals and forged great friends in and outside of the bandroom. Under different conductors, we have been exposed to different genres of music (even operas!) and challenged with new repertoires based on different concert themes over the years.
Each edition of CODA has left their special memory but it’s really the friendships forged from concert planning to dinners and suppers post-practs, birthday and wedding celebrations that I truly treasure. Raffles Winds isn’t just where I just play music. It’s where I’ve grown up and found my home when it comes to merry music-making,” he highlighted.
This rich history directly inspired the anniversary concert’s celebratory repertoire, curated organically across the ensemble’s timeline.
“The pieces chosen for this concert shaped us as students,” explains conductor Quek Yu Chern.
“The pieces were largely chosen by members who defined different eras of the ensemble’s 25 year history. Pieces like English Folk Song Suite and The Seventh Night of July resonated with many members as these are pieces they’ve grown up with and carry personally. Other works like Orient Express, Amber Dream and Euphoria were chosen as members have played these pieces while they were still students in Raffles, that shaped who they are as musicians today.
This setlist was designed from the bottom-up, with what we want the audience to remember us by.”
Balancing profound symphonic works with lighthearted energy reflects the versatile spirit of the ensemble.
“Raffles Winds has two sides, an ensemble that embraces challenges through pieces with technical and emotional depth, and the other side where we let loose and have fun,” conductor George Yeo explains.
“At the heart of it, the spirit of Raffles Winds is to be inclusive. We often have members joining us years after graduating from Raffles and we want them to feel the joy of playing with passionate musicians again. The diversity of this program reflects on that spirit, there’s something here for every member, and every kind of audience member too.”
Returning to the Victoria Concert Hall provides the perfect backdrop for such a legacy.
“There’s something really special about performing at Victoria Concert Hall because it’s a space that feels both familiar and grand at the same time,” council member Joyce Lim reflects.
“It holds so many memories for generations of Raffles Winds members, so returning to the same stage creates a really meaningful sense of continuity. At the same time, the Hall has evolved and been beautifully restored over the years, while retaining its historic character. For a landmark anniversary, it feels fitting to celebrate where so many of our own musical memories have been made, and to hopefully add another chapter to that history.”
Within the rehearsal space, music bridges the gaps between different walks of life and graduating cohorts decades apart.
“Music has always been unique in that it is powerful enough to bring everyone together regardless of who we are individually,” shares Priyadarshini from the CODA Committee.
“There exists in all of us a mutual understanding that we are here simply because we love making music. Our shared roots soften the space across generations; interacting with batches across decades that initially felt daunting suddenly seemed so easy. This gave our rehearsals a special charm as unfamiliar and new faces quickly transformed into familiar and friendly ones.
Making music with people from such diverse cultures and walks of life is such a privilege and honour. It is truly heartwarming to realise the immense scale of our Raffles Winds family, with generations of alumni rallying by our side. There is a poignant solace in knowing that if the demands of life ever pull us away from band, these bonds will endure the trial of time. We rest assured knowing that we can always turn to a friendly face for guidance, be it in life or otherwise.
Perhaps this is the truest magic of our great family – that long after our final notes fade, we continue to remain part of a harmony that can never be diminished by time.”
Looking ahead to the next quarter-century, the band remains dedicated to artistic growth and community outreach.
“First and foremost, we aim to stay sustainable as a music group, and continue to offer present and future generations of alumni a safe and encouraging environment to return to and continue developing their lifelong passion for band,” says council member Belinda Zhang.
“Every single CODA is an incredibly precious occasion; going forward, we aim to present many more exciting and creative concert themes, spotlight budding musicians from our alumni community, and allow more members to experience the joys of building our community and running our very own events. We also aim to strengthen our long-running partnerships with various charitable organisations and continue giving back to our community.
Finally, we would love to work towards putting together more off-season gigs, such as by collaborating with our alma mater or with other groups in our amazing local wind band scene!”
Saturday, 22 August 2026
Victoria Concert Hall, 4pm