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Top
Honors for Soka Music Band
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SSA's
Soka Wind Ensemble
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The Soka Wind
Ensemble (SWE) of the Singapore Soka Association (SSA)
participated in the recent 14th World Music Contest in the
Netherlands and took top honors in its division of the Harmony
Band category.
The 54-member group entered the contest on the recommendation
of Dutch conductor and composer Dr. Hardy Mertens, who was
impressed by the SWE after hearing it perform. The ensemble
presented three pieces at its performance on July 14, two of
which were specially composed by Dr. Mertens. One piece,
entitled "The Heavenly Flute Player and the Dragon
King," was a uniquely Asian composition that featured
special Chinese percussion by SSA's Golden Lion Dance Troupe
members.
The World Music Contest is an international music festival
held once every four years in Kerkrade, the Netherlands, for
amateur musicians from all over the world. This year's contest
and featured 270 bands and 17,000 participants, including
orchestra bands, ensembles, marching bands and show bands.
SSA youth members were also active participants in Singapore's
Foundation Day celebrations on August 9, an annual event in
which they have been core performers for several years.
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