Music is for everyone, and Singapore-based music community-group Voices of Singapore (VOS) is definitely an advocate for this belief.
As a community that helps people grow and connect through the power of music, VOS aims to foster growth through musical education to help singers embrace their personal identities. Their platform has evolved from choral training for school choirs into a large family of choirs within a broader national network.
And this excludes no one. Under VOS, there’s a special programme aimed at providing a safe space and engaging musical experiences for children with special needs. That’s none other than the VOS' Starlight Programmes. Led by lead conductor Tham Pei Wen, this programme encompasses two unique and complementary initiatives: the Starlight Music-Making Programme (MMP) and Starlight Voices, each designed to enrich and engage young musicians.
Founded in 2021, Starlight MMP is an inclusive and interactive programme designed for children with special needs and their caregivers. It features a fun mix of songs, rhymes, activities, and explores music concepts like dynamics and rhythm. “The classes tap into the Kodály approach, which is singing based, and focuses on all developmental aspects of the child. The relaxed and fun atmosphere of the class allows children to explore music in their own ways, at their own pace and this makes the music easily accessible, even for those with special needs,” Tham shares.
On the other hand, Starlight Voices is an auditioned choir that has been around for 2 years. This programme gives children with special needs the opportunity to perform choral music at a higher level. “We believe that the joy of choral singing and performance should be accessible to all young ones,” she adds.
Thus far, the Starlight Voices choir has performed at the President's Star Charity in 2022, the Mediacorp National Day Concert 2023, and the Goh Chok Tong Enable Awards at the Istana in 2023. This amazing streak continues with this year’s National Day Parade (NDP), where 14 members of Starlight Voices with special needs are set to perform together with the larger VOS choir.
During Chapter Five of this year’s NDP, audiences can look forward to a medley of inspiring songs celebrating diversity, ending with a final song, titled Our Story, that’s composed by VOS artistic director, Dr. Darius Lim.
“This includes individuals who bring their own unique stories, challenges and talents to the stage. For example, one of our singers has cerebral palsy, and despite being wheelchair-bound, shows incredible resilience and passion. On the other hand, we also have Christie, who is featured in Chapter Five of the NDP profile series. She brings her own unique journey and contributions to the choir that we will all find out more during the actual NDP,” Tham shares.
One notable moment involves a Primary four student from Pathlight School who initially struggled to sing with others and required speech therapy.
The inclusive programme has impacted the lives of many children since its inception. This includes a student who overcame speech difficulties that will also be performing at this year’s NDP. “One notable moment involves a Primary four student from Pathlight School who initially struggled to sing with others and required speech therapy. He joined our Music-Making Programme and later auditioned for Starlight Voices in Primary five. The most memorable moment was when he sang a solo line at his first performance during the Voices of Singapore Festival last year. His parents and former teachers were incredibly proud and amazed at his progress. He has also started interacting more with other children and is thrilled to be singing with the larger VOS community at this year's NDP,” she shares.
But once students graduate, the question becomes: what happens next?
Tham's work with VOS' Starlight Programmes has undoubtedly impacted many lives. However, it has also been a two-way journey, as she shares that running these programmes has in turn broadened her perspective on inclusive education too. “Initially, my work was primarily with educational institutions like Grace Orchard School, Rainbow Center, and Pathlight, which emphasise the children’s cognitive, socio-emotional, physical, and moral development. But once students graduate, the question becomes: what happens next?” she questions.
In contrast, the Starlight Programmes offer support and lifelong community even after they graduate. The children can forge lasting friendships and continue to partake in activities they are passionate about. “One of the key insights from this journey is recognising the importance of creating safe, inclusive environments that extend beyond formal education,” she says.
And this is just the beginning, Tham shares that there is lots in store for the Starlight Programmes such as expanding their team of instructors with skills in working with people with special needs. “Additionally, we plan to look into providing job training opportunities for the beneficiaries that we serve, specifically in roles related to the arts and cultural industry. This would include roles such as ushering, light and sound engineering as well as logistics,” she says.
Ultimately, the goal of VOS’ Starlight Programmes is to maintain a welcoming space for the special needs community to actively participate and thrive. “As the Starlight Programme evolves, we will adapt to meet the needs of the diverse subcommunities we encounter along the way,” Tham concludes.
Look out for the 14 members of Starlight Voices that will be performing in the Chapter Five segment of the 2024 National Day Parade together with VOS' larger choir.
