Harmony
in difference
Get to know the individuals bringing harmony to Singapore’s biggest inclusive orchestra.
Click on the photos to read more.
Through The Purple Symphony, Ms Siti Sakinah Zainal (left), 29, Mr Lawrence Gabriel Villar Angel (centre), 21, and Ms Nurul Natasya (right), 27, forged a bond built on shared experiences with blindness and love for music, walks and banter.
Siblings Joyce Goh, 17 and Jordan Goh (right), 12, play alongside musicians with disabilities in The Purple Symphony.
The younger Goh says he was inspired to join the orchestra after being impressed by one of last year’s performances.
Central Singapore District Mayor Denise Phua beside percussionist Nurul Natasya, 27, one of the orchestra’s over 80 musicians who performed in Kuala Lumpur on Nov 26.
“Singapore’s known for its economic prowess, so when our orchestra plays abroad, it really shows the heart of our nation; its softer side,” Central Singapore District’s Mayor says.
Musician Bronwyn Teo (centre), 24, who is on the autism spectrum, expanded her repertoire this year by adding the Chinese mouth organ zhongyin sheng (portrayed), after a decade of playing the traditional Chinese flute dizi.
Flutist Lawrence Gabriel Villar Angel (centre), 21, grew up with parents who played the flute, piano, and sang in church.
The first-year undergraduate student at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ Music department hopes to be a performer and music educator.
PHOTOS: Caroline Chia