Yu Shuang, En Qi, Jaidan
Majors, Riverside Secondary School Concert Band
The moment we received the results for SYF 2025, we felt an overwhelming sense of relief. All the time, effort, and energy we had poured into nurturing the band had not been in vain. Sitting on the SYF stage that day marked more than just the beginning of our performance—it was the moment we told the story of our journey. Every note we played carried with it the memories of months of hard work, challenges, and growth. It was a performance filled with heart, and one that symbolized our shared experiences as the Riverside Concert Band.
The band majors, Yu Shuang, Enqi, and Jaidan, all had a dream: to bring the band to greater heights and to make our seniors, teachers, and school proud. That vision pushed us forward through every obstacle. We are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support we received from our friends, families, and teachers, and we’re proud that we could repay their belief in us with a Distinction.
But the journey to SYF wasn’t an easy one. As band majors, we were tasked with leading over eighty members, building a coordinated system, and stepping into the large shoes left by our seniors. There were many days when we were exhausted, but we had to put on a strong front for the band—and for each other. We spent countless hours not only planning for musical improvement but also thinking about how to guide the band’s character and commitment. At the same time, we were trying to grow into better leaders ourselves. Throughout this experience, we discovered strengths we never knew we had. Being band majors has shaped who we are today. It taught us lessons in leadership, perseverance, and empathy—lessons we’ll carry with us long after this journey ends. And if we’ve managed to inspire even just one band member, then it was all worth it. After all, a single droplet can create a ripple. We hope the band we’ve nurtured continues to grow as a family and that future batches will carry on what we’ve started.
One defining moment in this journey was our first performance of Kaze no Mai, our choice piece during the school’s Teachers’ Day concert. At that time, we were still learning how to connect emotionally with the music—we were simply playing the notes on the page. Enqi, our Band Major for Music, was in charge of shaping the band’s overall musicality and sound. It was a big challenge, especially stepping out of her comfort zone as an introvert, to lead musically and speak up with confidence. After that performance, we introduced weekly musical homework for all members and took turns checking in with the different section leaders to ensure everyone was doing their part and meeting the standards we had set. It wasn’t easy managing this on top of our already packed schedules, but we supported one another and kept going. Slowly, we saw the band transform. Confidence grew, musicality deepened, and by the time SYF arrived, we could feel the difference. Seeing how far we had come was truly heartwarming, and as the Band Majors, we were incredibly proud of the band.
SYF 2025 stands out as the highlight of our four-year journey with the Riverside Secondary School Concert Band. It was a season of growth, unforgettable memories, and deep passion. Together with the EXCO, we worked hard to create as many opportunities as possible for the band to improve. We introduced extra practice sessions each week, in addition to our regular three-hour rehearsals, giving members the chance to refine their parts and strengthen their sections.
In the beginning, the band struggled. Even getting the notes and rhythms right was a challenge. Some practices were tough, and our conductor had to be firm with us to bring out our full potential. However, as the weeks went by, we saw the effort every member put in—sacrificing their time, practicing during breaks and at home, all in pursuit of progress. By the time we reached SYF, that dedication shone through. The music came alive, and the band played with a level of confidence and unity that made all the hardships worth it.
As we prepare to graduate from the band, there’s so much we’ll miss—the music we created together, the instruments we dedicated ourselves to, and most of all, the people. The memories we made with our conductors, teachers, and bandmates will stay with us for a long time. Their support was an integral part of our journey, and we’re thankful to have shared this chapter with them.
We would especially like to thank Mr. Teo, the band’s main conductor, for being one of—if not the most—important people in this journey. He nurtured the band by making the most out of every practice, bringing fun to rehearsals, and teaching us valuable skills. We would also like to thank our teachers-in-charge for their unwavering support, and of course, the entire band for making Riverside Secondary School, Certificate of Distinction possible!