To mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Singapore and Korea, Ding Yi Music Company and Siong Leng Musical Association were specially invited to perform in Gwangju on 4 October 2025, as part of the Beyond Borders: Asia’s New Wave programme at the Asia Culture Center (ACC).

This collaborative concert, New Singapura: Echoes of Diversity, showcased the layered beauty of Singapore’s performing arts, where tradition and modernity meet in harmony. More than simply an artistic exchange, this performance also serves as a cultural milestone symbolising the enduring friendship between Singapore and Korea.

Highlights of the concert included works composed by Singapore composers and performed by Singapore musicians, including:

• A reimagination of Astor Pazzioli’s Oblivion Tango featuring Chinese instruments and cello by Wong Wai Kit
• Feeling Sayang, composed by young Singaporean composer Edmund Song, based on Singaporean folk melodies and featuring an evocative conversation between the erhu and the Korean haegeum.
• Trotting Horse (走马), by Singaporean composer Wang Chenwei, based on a Nanyin classic jointly performed by Ding Yi and Siong Leng Musical Association, highlighting the vitality of tradition in a contemporary context.

Resident Conductor of Ding Yi Music Company, Wong De Li, Dedric, said: “Ding Yi is honoured to represent Singapore in commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Singapore and South Korea. Through showcasing our young and talented soloists, as well as collaborating with Korean composers and musicians, we hope to offer audiences in South Korea a meaningful experience of cultural exchange, share the beauty of Singaporean artistry, and strengthen the enduring musical friendship between our two nations.”