The Tanglin Philharmonia delivered a dazzling evening of music and theatre at the SOTA Concert Hall with its recent concert, A Night at the Musicals. Featuring some of the school’s most advanced orchestral musicians, the performance celebrated beloved songs and overtures from classic Broadway and West End productions, brought to life through vibrant orchestral playing and outstanding vocal performances. Rob Hall, Director of Music, shares more with us.

The concert opened in spirited fashion with the overture from The Pirates of Penzance by Arthur Sullivan, immediately setting a lively tone for the evening. From there, audiences were transported through the golden age of musical theatre. Student soloists shone throughout the first half: Stanley Y delivered a warm and expressive rendition of Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific, while Isabella F charmed the audience with a heartfelt performance of Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of Oz, a piece that featured prominently in Tanglin’s Centenary video. The orchestra also took centre stage with a colourful medley from The Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers.

Further highlights included Tanisha K’s moving interpretation of As Long As He Needs Me from Oliver!, and a sequence from My Fair Lady, with Jonathan Tay, Head of Singing, performing the classic On the Street Where You Live and Faith T sparkling in I Could Have Danced All Night. The first half concluded with a powerful duet of You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, sung by Jonathan and Stanley.

After the interval, the orchestra launched into the effervescent Candide Overture by Leonard Bernstein before returning to vocal favourites. Faith brought poise and beautiful lyricism to Think of Me from The Phantom of the Opera, while Jonathan delivered an emotional Bring Him Home from Les Misérables.

Energy soared during selections from West Side Story, with Evelyn Ang, Charmaine Tan, our two Singing Tutors, and the student singers giving a vibrant performance of America, followed by Charmaine Tan’s soulful interpretation of Summertime from Porgy and Bess. Evelyn Ang and Jonathan Tay later joined forces for a dramatic duet of Tonight.

The orchestra rounded off the evening with a lively medley from irreverent Mel Brooks musicals, The Producers, before launching into the electrifying Mambo from West Side Story. Complete with enthusiastic audience participation, the finale brought the concert to a raucous and joyful close - an unforgettable celebration of musical theatre performed with flair by the talented musicians and singers of the Tanglin community.

Bravo tutti!

Check out the photos here: