The Composers Society of Singapore is the national representative to the Asian Composers League (ACL). The ACL was founded in 1973 with the purpose of promoting the art music activities in Asian countries, as well as fostering mutual exchange between these countries. Today, the ACL is the most vibrant and influential contemporary music organization in the Asia-Pacific region.
ACL Conferences and Festivals are hosted annually and biennially by member countries under the auspices of the ACL. It is an important venue for promising Asian-Pacific composers with different cultural backgrounds to present their works, exchange ideas, and build solidarity. Concerts at ACL Conferences and Festivals are also unique in that they encourage performances of traditional music of the Asia-Pacific region, and encourage performances of contemporary music which uses both Western and Asian-Pacific instruments and influences.
The 31st ACL Festival was hosted in Singapore in 2013 by CSS at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. The three-day festival ‘Multiculturalism in Asian Contemporary Music’ took place between 20 – 23 September 2013. In subsequent years, CSS composers have continued to represent Singaporean music in later iterations of the festival, taking place in places all over the Asia-Pacific region.
