ACF Clubs


SMU Chinese Orchestra
ABOUT US
SMU Chinese Orchestra (SMUCO) was established in August 2009 and is currently under the baton of Mr. Quek Ling Kiong, Resident Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. SMUCO is made up of music enthusiasts whose mission is to promote the appreciation of Chinese Music to the community at large and at the same time embrace the values of care and compassion. SMUCO prides itself on being a youthful, vibrant and unique Orchestra which has cultivated a refined taste in various music genres and art forms.
KEY EVENTS
- University-wide events
SMU Annual Arts Festival to external gigs with various external parties such as Esplanade. This year, SMUCO has the honour of being invited to participate in the Arts Festival once again. - Community projects
SMUCO has been actively giving back to society by volunteering and even performing with The Purple Symphony (TPS), an orchestra for the special needs. - Annual production
SMUCO makes an effort to showcase each member’s hard work and talent every year. Missed performing on stage with friends? Join the club now!
Reach us at smuco@sa.smu.edu.sg!
GALLERY






DID YOU KNOW?
- We have a very diverse range of members joining us for performances. It ranges from our very own SMU students to SMU alumnus and even NTU and NUS Chinese Orchestra members. So do look forward to sharing the stage with them!
- Our conductor is none other than Mr Quek Ling Kiong and yes! He’s also Singapore Chinese Orchestra's resident conductor.
OUR TRAINING
Day | Fridays | Saturdays |
Time | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | 1:30pm to 4:30pm |
Venue: SOE Level 7 |
*Trainings are only applicable during production period.
OUR PEOPLE IN ACTION
DO I NEED TO AUDITION TO GET INTO THE CLUB?
No, we welcome all students who are passionate about music. However, the relevant musical background would be required. Feel free to reach out to us via email to clarify!
"SMUCO has not only been an enriching CCA journey for me so far- it has also been a fulfilling and meaningful learning experience. Because of our unique ensemble structure, we play pieces out of the ordinary- honing our skills as musicians, while also enjoying a tightly-knit musical community"
Gu Jiawen, School of Business, Year 2
"My student life became more exciting because of SMUCO as it gave me that something to look forward to every week. From staging one-of-the-kind concerts to forging lasting friendships with the special-needs musicians in The Purple Symphony, SMUCO is an eye-opener experience in many ways which cannot be found elsewhere"
Ng Shu Qi, School of Accountancy, Year 4
FAQ
We host an annual concert where we get the autonomy to plan and perform our favourite songs. We also collaborate with The Purple Symphony (TPS), an orchestra for special needs. You can obtain CSP hours from this! Additionally, we are also involved in SMU's annual Arts Festival where we come up with all sorts of interesting programs – ranging from a joint performance with SMU Symphonia to putting up a professional documentary series featuring our music and care for the society. Lastly, we do perform at external gigs and engagements as well.
We cover a mixture of genres including both traditional and contemporary repertoires. You name it, we have it!
No, you do not have to! SMUCO has instruments readily available for loan!
We only have training sessions prior to performances and hence there would be ample time for you to focus on your studies and also other hobbies! Moreover, many of us feel that training sessions are actually a stress reliever for us as we get to take a break from studying.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept people without any background in Chinese Orchestra or Chinese music as there would only be training during production periods. Nevertheless, we do accept percussionists with musical backgrounds. Should you be keen to join us, feel free to approach us via email and we will try to work something out together with you!