EXCO Team 24/25
Anika (President), Cayden (Vice President), Rayyan (Vice President, Paco (Student Conductor), Sze Xuan (Peer Support Leader), Jayden (Assistant Student Conductor & Peer Support Leader)
Jurong Symphonic Band
With Band SYF finally behind us, the JSB Exco team has finally had the chance to sit down and reflect on everything that we’ve gone through leading up to it.
This journey has taught us countless lessons, but if there are two major takeaways, it’s perseverance and resilience.
We still vividly remember the countless scoldings the band endured. Some members were even afraid to attend CCA, worried about what might happen if their playing didn’t meet expectations. Truth be told, we Exco members felt the same way at times. We feared every session. There were many moments when we felt like giving up—when we’d lost all hope in the band. We kept asking ourselves: Is any of this really worth it? How can we motivate our juniors when we ourselves are struggling to keep up?
We can recall that in the hardest and most stressful moments, we made it a point to keep the band’s spirits up. Whether it was short motivational talks, personalized messages, or encouragement posts in the group chat, we did whatever we could to remind everyone that they weren’t alone. Over time, we grew closer to many of our juniors, as they slowly opened up to us about their worries and fears leading up to SYF. Being there for them, listening to their struggles, and offering guidance made our bond as a band even stronger—and helped us to learn what leadership truly means.
Deep down, we all held onto the hope of achieving our first Distinction, but it felt so far out of reach. With academic stress piling up on top of everything, there were days we dreaded band. But we pushed through, swallowed our emotions, and gave our best to lead the band.
Then came the turning point—when our instructors finally addressed the tension in the room. For the first time, everyone was given space to voice their feelings. That honest conversation changed everything. The instructors reminded us why we do this in the first place: for the joy of creating music.
From that moment, the energy in the band began to shift. We were more focused, more united, and more willing to give our all. We went from barely scraping through our pieces to playing them confidently. As SYF approached, we saw consistent effort, discipline, and progress. And finally, when the day came, we stepped onto the stage with full confidence and poured our hearts into every note.
It wasn’t perfect—but it was very powerful. And when the results were announced… we did it. JSB had achieved its first-ever Distinction. At that moment, all the tears, hardships, and sleepless nights—it was all worth it.
We were reminded of Ms Teoh’s words, “One thing at a time,” and the slogan on our band tee, “Music begins with you.” All of these things have always been there—but it was the first time we truly understood them, the meaning of creating music.
And it wasn’t just the band that pushed us forward—our school was right behind us too. Our teachers constantly checked in on our well-being, reminded us to believe in ourselves, and gave us the space we needed to grow. The school leaders gave us words of encouragement that lifted our spirits and celebrated every small milestone with us. Knowing that we had our school’s support made us feel seen, appreciated, and proud to represent JSS. It wasn’t just a band effort—it was a school-wide journey, and for that, we’re deeply thankful.
As the Sec 4s prepare to step down for our upcoming O/N Levels, we want to dedicate this message to our JSB family.
To Mr Erik – Thank you for everything you’ve done for us. From organizing school exchanges, inviting instructors, and even creating mini competitions to help us grow—you went above and beyond when you could’ve just walked away. But you stayed and believed in us. We are ever so grateful for you.
To Mr Sanche – Thank you for instilling discipline in the band. It truly helped the band to be where it is today. It was tough, but it shaped us not just as musicians, but as individuals. You taught us to speak up and to voice out our thoughts—lessons that will stay with us forever.
To Mr Richard – Thank you for helping us improve musically, and for using humor to calm our nerves during tense times. It made a big difference, as everyone was able to think more rationally. Thanks also for helping the percussion team achieve such greatness.
To Mr Edmund – Though you were with us only briefly, your presence made a huge impact. Your attention to detail and your pre-SYF speech changed our perspective and made us appreciate our journey even more.
To our teachers-in-charge – Ms Teoh, Ms J, and Ms Siti – Thank you for your unwavering support, care, and guidance. We wouldn’t have made it without you.
And finally, to our juniors – jia you!! Keep pushing, keep believing, and never stop giving your best. We’re always just one call away. Even if you guys can be a bit much sometimes (haha), we love and care for all of you deeply, and we’ll miss you a lot!
Never forget what Mr Erik always says:
“Our band is only as strong as its weakest player.”
So stay strong, stay together, and most importantly—never stop making music.