Resonance has built up an extensive performance portfolio since its establishment in 2011. If you wish to engage Resonance at your public or private event, feel free to drop us an email at hesheng.resonance@gmail.com. We are always looking to challenge ourselves with exciting performance opportunities! (Feel free to click on the red links to see more photos of our performances on our Facebook page.)
International Performances
《有朋自远方来》- Joint Concert With 台湾艺术大学 and 台北和乐集
In December 2016, Resonance flew to Taipei on the invitation of our friends from 台北艺术大学. The sheng students there had formed an ensemble named “笙活圈Sheng Life“, and they had decided to put together their very own concert. Soon, with the enthusiasm and ingenuity of the students, it evolved into a three-way exchange between three sheng ensembles! First, there was Sheng Life itself, showcasing a beautiful repertoire which included self-composed songs, jazz bossa nova, and even an unprecedented 中音笙 solo performance of the well-known piece, 《云南回忆》. Second, there was the 台北和乐集, a professional sheng ensemble led by the formidable 黃朧逸老师, showcasing classical sheng works. Finally, there was Resonance (that’s us!), and we put up our uniquely Singaporean repertoire, showcasing “Let’s Snap” (composed by Singaporean composer Chow Jun Yi), and “Resonating City” (composed by our in-house composer, Yuan Peiying). Both pieces were inspired by Singaporean and Nanyang elements.
Resonance was invited by the Sheng Society of Hong Kong to be part of its inaugural event, “Shengscape”, during which the ensemble put up two successful performances! As part of the event, Dr Samuel Wong also gave an intriguing talk about the development of Chinese music in Singapore to share the Singaporean story abroad.
Special thanks to Singapore International Foundation as this trip could not have been possible without their sponsorship.
ASEAN Traditional Music Festival in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam (Aug 2015)
In August 2015, Resonance was invited by the National Arts Council Singapore to represent Singapore at the ASEAN Traditional Music Festival in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. The Festival lasted eight days and saw Resonance performing at four different events – the opening and closing ceremonies of the Festival, as well as two 45-minute performances at Lam Son Theatre and Sam Son Beach.
Hua Hin, Thailand & Bangkok, Thailand: Music For A Thousand Smiles (Dec 2014)
In Dec 2014, Resonance held its debut international tour in Hua Hin and Bangkok in Thailand. The programme featured a performance at the Vic Hua Hin, a performance at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and a workshop on the sheng at the Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University Auditorium for music students.
Local Concerts
琴笙和鸣: Harmonies of Zheng and Sheng (Nov 2015)
To celebrate the launch of the Singapore Sheng Association and Singapore Qinzheng Association, the two Associations put up a joint concert graced by National Arts Council CEO, Ms Kathy Lai. The concert repertoire had solo and ensemble pieces, as well as collaborative pieces between the guzheng and the sheng. It was a highly successful, sold-out concert.
Botanic Gardens Shaw Foundation Theatre: Soundscapes – A Remix of Popular Classics (Jan 2014)
Resonance’s second concert was held at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore’s very first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ensemble presented familiar tunes such as Pirates of the Caribbean, In the Hall of the Mountain King as well as Disney Medley – but with a twist! The ensemble demonstrated that the sheng, although a traditional Chinese instrument, can blend very well with electronic sound effects and wow-ed the crowd with its refreshing take on these well-known tunes. This event was supported by the National Arts Council and NParks. You may check out clips from our performance at http://www.youtube.com/OfficialHesheng.
The Republic Cultural Centre: Re:Play (Dec 2012)
Resonance’s inaugural local concert was performed to a sold-out audience! We performed Chinese traditional classics such as The Joyous Grasslands （欢乐的草原）and Good News Reaches The Border （北京喜讯传遍赛）, as well as Western classics like Hungarian Dance, Turkish March and even a jazz piece titled “Black and Blue”. The concert also featured a solo performance of The Festival at Tianshan （天山的节日）, performed by Ling Xiao Jin – first runner-up at the 2014 National Chinese Music Competition Sheng Open Category. We demonstrated to our audience that the sheng need not be restricted to the traditional Chinese genre, but is flexible enough to accommodate the classical, pop, jazz, and even film music genres.
Public Gigs
Esplanade Outdoor Theatre: Bamboo Voices (September 2015)
In conjunction with Esplanade’s annual Moonfest (a festival to celebrate the Chinese Mooncake Festival or 中秋节), Resonance and the Dicapella Dizi Ensemble put up a joint concert at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. This was a breakthrough in the traditional Chinese music scene as it was the first such a collaboration between two instrumental ensembles.
Central Public Library: RE:SOUND (July 2015)
Resonance was invited by the National Library Board to perform at its music series RE:SOUND. The hour long performance included bite-sized introductions to the sheng along with an interactive music showcase.
Dhoby Gaut Green: Artists’ Night Out 2015 (May 2015)
“Artists’ Night Out” was an event organised jointly by NParks and the Singapore Night Festival. The event featured performances, acts and interactive static installations, as well as a bazaar for creative works. Resonance was invited to perform alongside other artists such as the published poets of the Singapore National Poetry Festival, Rahul Advani and The Voodoo Sound.
Gardens By The Bay: SPH Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept 2014)
For the second time for two years running, Resonance performed at the SPH Mid-Autumn Festival. Some of the other highlights at this Festival included Giant Lantern Set Pieces, Interactive Games, Tea Art, Chongqing and Zhanjiang Song and Drama and a Charity Fun Walk.
Toa Payoh HDB Hub: President’s Challenge @ PA (July 2014)
The President’s Challenge @ PA event, which was held in conjunction with the Service-Learning Festival, featured service-learning projects by students all over Singapore.
Esplanade Waterfront Theatre: Resonating Currents (Jan 2014)
Leading up to Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts and the Lunar New Year, the charm of traditional Chinese music and rhythms are brought to the fore. Resonance took to the Waterfront Theatre stage to showcase its talents, and wow-ed the crowd with its interesting mix of electronic music fused with traditional Chinese tones.
Gardens By The Bay: SPH Mid-Autumn Festival (Sept 2013)
This Mid-Autumn Festival event was organized by the Singapore Press Holdings in conjunction with the National Arts Council. The 10-day Festival featured performances by Resonance and other artists, as well as exhibitions, bazaars and games!
Esplanade Concourse: Sounds of the Sheng (An Esplanade Huayi Programme) (Feb 2013)
The Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts is one of the few cultural festivals organized by Esplanade, and is a significant part of Singapore’s Chinese New Year festivities. It showcases works of outstanding Chinese artists of all genres, by providing them with a platform on which they present their works to international audiences in Singapore. Resonance performed at the Concourse, bringing to audiences familiar tunes such as Dance of the Yao People and Joyous Grasslands.
Jurong Point Shopping Centre: Chinese New Year Performance (Feb 2013)
Resonance was invited to perform at the atrium of the Jurong Point Shopping Centre to liven up the Chinese New Year festivities! The ensemble performed a light-hearted repertoire.
Esplanade Concourse: Cool Classics (Mar 2012)
Just a mere three months after our conceptualization, Resonance was presented with a splendid opportunity to showcase the melodies of the sheng at the Esplanade Concourse. The ensemble presented “Cool Classics”: a recital consisting of several popular pieces, including renowned Western classics such as Mozart’s Turkish March (Rondo Alla Turca) and Brahms’s Hungarian Dance No. 5, Chinese orchestral masterpieces such as 瑶族舞曲 ”Dance of The Yao People” and 北京喜讯到边寨 “Good News Reaches the Border Villages” , and of course, works specially composed for the sheng, such as 欢乐的草原 “The Joyous Grasslands”.
Singapore Conference Hall: Singapore National Chinese Orchestra Marathon (Feb 2012)
In conjunction with the 15th Anniversary of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO), the Marathon was held from 3 to 25 February 2012. For 23 days, 32 Chinese orchestras held concerts across the island, playing at various locations, reaching out to an audience of over 20,000 individuals. The event culminated in the finale concert, “A Music Showcase”, held at the SCO Concert Hall. Resonance performed at the pre-concert reception at the finale concert for guests and audience members.
Private Events
NEA Ecofriends Award Ceremony (September 2016)
Resonance was invited to play at the NEA Ecofriends Award ceremony, an event where individuals are recognized for their contributions to the environment. We specially commissioned our in-house arranger, Peiying, to arrange a mash-up of “手牵手” (NEA Clean & Green Singapore 2015 Theme Song) and “Singapore Town”.
Mid-Autumn @ Bishan Active (Singapore 2016)
Resonance was invited to perform at the Mid-Autumn festivities at Bishan Active Park in September 2016, where the guest of honour was Senior Minister of State, Mrs Josephine Teo.
Victoria Concert Hall: Singapore Youth Award Prize Ceremony (July 2015)
When Resonance’s Music Director, Yang Ji Wei, was one of six awardees of the prestigious Singapore Youth Award, the ensemble was invited to perform at the reception for the Prize Ceremony. We also had the opportunity to meet DPM Teo Chee Hean and converse with him about the arts scene in Singapore!
Shangri-La Hotel: FutureChina Global Forum (July 2014)
The FutureChina Global Forum was a forum on China’s evolving economy, the various drivers of change and the socioeconomic interactions on a global sphere. Resonance was honoured to perform for Guest-of-Honour PM Lee Hsien Long and local as well as foreign business leaders and members of academia at this event.
Singapore Conference Hall: Singapore Chinese Music Federation (SCMF) Opening Ceremony (March 2014)
The SCMF aims to unite groups, ensembles and Chinese orchestras across Singapore, and to promote Chinese music extensively in Singapore. It also aims to establish and strengthen Chinese cultural ties within and beyond Singapore. Our Music Director, Ji Wei, is the Treasurer of the SCMF.
Resonance was invited to perform at this event held at the Thomson Community Centre, where Resonance is based. The Guest-of-Honour was the Grassroot Advisor, Mr Hri Kumar Nair, Member of Parliament for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
合笙: Resonance 