[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f5f2f0″ custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font_size=”2.3em” animation_style=”fade” title_font_size_tablet=”1.75em” title_font_size_phone=”1.5em” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”1em” animation_style=”fade” text_font_size_tablet=”1em” text_font_size_phone=”1em” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
The Composers Society of Singapore (CSS) is a society of Singapore composers and the national representative for Singapore to the Asian Composers League (ACL).\u00a0 CSS exists to promote interest in Singapore\u2019s new music scene by being a meeting point for, building awareness of and creating opportunities for professionally-trained composers. Since its founding in 2007, CSS has become a key platform in developing local composers in Singapore and overseas.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|||on|||||” text_text_color=”#262626″ text_font_size=”1em” text_line_height=”1em” background_color=”rgba(186,179,175,0.5)” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”1.5em|1.5em|1.5em|1.5em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”0em||0em||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”0em||0em||true|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” animation_style=”fade” text_font_size_tablet=”1em” text_font_size_phone=”1em” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Composers Society of Singapore<\/p>\n \u65b0 \u52a0 \u5761 \u4f5c \u66f2 \u793e<\/span><\/p>\n Persatuan Komposer Singapura<\/span><\/p>\n \u0b9a\u0bbf\u0b99\u0bcd\u0b95\u0baa\u0bcd\u0baa\u0bc2\u0bb0\u0bcd \u0b87\u0b9a\u0bc8\u0baf\u0bae\u0bc8\u0baa\u0bcd\u0baa\u0bbe\u0bb3\u0bb0\u0bcd\u0b95\u0bb3\u0bcd \u0b9a\u0b99\u0bcd\u0b95\u0bae\u0bcd<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|||on|||||” text_text_color=”#262626″ text_font_size=”1em” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding_tablet=”0em||0em||true|false” custom_padding_phone=”0em||0em||true|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” animation_style=”fade” text_font_size_tablet=”1em” text_font_size_phone=”1em” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#bab3af” divider_style=”dotted” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f5f2f0″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Mission & Vision” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font_size=”2.3em” animation_style=”fade” title_font_size_tablet=”1.75em” title_font_size_phone=”1.5em” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#bab3af” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Uphold Singapore composers interests” image=”https:\/\/cssingapore.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/composers-interests-v5-01.png” image_icon_width=”50%” image_icon_width_tablet=”50%” image_icon_width_phone=”40%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#aa0303″ header_font_size=”1.3em” body_text_align=”center” body_text_color=”#aa0303″ body_font_size=”1em” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” custom_padding=”2em|3em|2em|3em|true|true” animation_style=”fade” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1.1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”1em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Founded to uphold the interests of Singapore\u2019s young and professional new music composers<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#bab3af” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Foster creation & promotion” image=”https:\/\/cssingapore.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/foster-creation.png” image_icon_width=”50%” image_icon_width_tablet=”50%” image_icon_width_phone=”40%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#aa0303″ header_font_size=”1.3em” body_text_align=”center” body_text_color=”#aa0303″ body_font_size=”1em” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”2em|3em|2em|3em|true|true” animation_style=”fade” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1.1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”1em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_color_all=”#aa0303″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n We aim to cultivate the local scene through the promotion and creation of new music locally and globally<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|10px|10px|10px|10px” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#bab3af” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Represent Singapore internationally” image=”https:\/\/cssingapore.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/represent-singapore-internationally-v3-01.png” image_icon_width=”50%” image_icon_width_tablet=”50%” image_icon_width_phone=”40%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#aa0303″ header_font_size=”1.3em” body_text_align=”center” body_text_color=”#aa0303″ body_font_size=”1em” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”2em|3em|2em|3em|true|true” animation_style=”fade” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1.1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”1em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n National representative for Singapore to the Asian Composers League (ACL) and beyond<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#bab3af” divider_style=”dotted” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”fade” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=”Historical Context” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h2″ title_font_size=”2.3em” animation_style=”fade” title_font_size_tablet=”1.75em” title_font_size_phone=”1.5em” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”1em” animation_style=”fade” text_font_size_tablet=”1em” text_font_size_phone=”1em” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n As a nation only six decades old, Singapore and its fledgling arts scene are still relatively young. Its history and present are all within living memory, and its contemporary music scene is only four generations old.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Composers such as the late Leong Yoon Pin and his disciple Phoon Yew Tien, as well as violinist Kam Kee Yong and physicist Bernard Tan Tiong Gie, make up the founding generation of Singapore\u2019s contemporary music scene. Active from the 1960s and ’70s onward, these individuals made important contributions to composition and, often serving as both composers and educators, helped establish the fundaments of musical education in our young republic, thus planting the seeds for future growth.<\/span><\/p>\n Beginning in the 1990s, a new class of composers emerged, comprising of individuals such as founding CSS president, Ho Chee Kong, and subsequent presidents, Joyce Koh Beetuan and Hoh Chung Shih, as well as other prominent composers like Zechariah Goh and Tan Chan Boon, all of whom studied abroad and introduced elements of electronic music, microtonality, non-standard notation, and spectralism into their works. Since settling back in Singapore, all have pursued distinct compositional paths, helping to introduce modern techniques and assimilate international trends, while also taking academic and organisational positions, contributing enormously to the musical life heard and enjoyed today.<\/span><\/p>\n The generation that ensued, largely taught first at home by members of the middle generation and subsequently fine-tuned by studies abroad, spans composers now in their mid-20s to early 40. Fluent in numerous directions, these composers make up the diverse burgeoning contemporary music scene of Singapore today.\u00a0 A fourth generation of young composers, born in the 21st century, is already in the offing.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n The Composers Society of Singapore, established in 2007, is a society of Singapore composers encompassing all four generations. It exists to uphold the interests of\u00a0 Singapore composers, foster creation of new music, and promote interest in Singapore\u2019s new music scene both locally and abroad through a broad range of projects.<\/span><\/p>\n We archive and pay tribute to the works and lives of Singapore\u2019s composers, past and present, through projects like Composing Monumentality, which chronicles the major accomplishments of pioneer composers, and our Musings Section, which archives essays and writings by our members, interview transcripts with composers, and more. Our YouTube channel also hosts recordings of Singapore new music through initiatives like our monthly Score Follower Video series, and recorded interviews through projects like our Composer of the Month series.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to archiving the works and lives of Singapore composers, we seek to create platforms for composers to present their music locally and abroad, through organization of festivals, concerts, and other events, as well as linking members with available opportunities. Our past events include the Singapore Composers Festival, the Asian Composers League Festival, and concerts held in collaboration with overseas collectives. We have collaborated with organizations such as the National Gallery of Singapore on their Resonates series, and the Asian Civilizations Museum, to provide members with opportunities to present their works.<\/span><\/p>\n Finally, we aim to provide opportunities for professional development, and to grow our next generation of young composers. Through projects like CSS Presents, we organize compositional workshops where members may share their professional expertise with members of the public, while initiatives like the Young Composers Forum benefit aspiring young composers.<\/span><\/p>\nOur Past<\/b><\/h4>\n
Our Society<\/b><\/h4>\n