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Im truly indebted to dear Adrian Tan.I have heard so many good things about him as a Music Director, Composer, Visionary and what a wonderful human being he was.I wish i could have met him.Wish to share my feeling of extreme gratitude as if Adrian reached out to me from beyond.Its been my earnest childhood dream to belong to a Choir and sing. When i came to know of this Memoriam : a tribute to Adrian Tan Symphony Orchestra Choir and that i get to be part of this nobel gesture; it was as if a calling.My dream was fulfilled as if orchestrated by dear Adrian himself, so i make a new friend who led me to Joy Chorale and Charlie; thus this magic unfolded. Brought tears of joy to my eyes as things happened automatically in a spiritual manner.Dear Adrian im truly indebted and humbly thankful for being my angel guiding me.Your name and association with your memory has given me a lifetime cherishing moment.Thankyou for rekindling my lost passion for singing and hope to take thus journey further.🙏❤️ Payal

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Im truly indebted to dear Adrian Tan.I have heard so many good things about him as a Music Director, Composer, Visionary and what a wonderful human being he was.I wish i could have met him.Wish to share my feeling of extreme gratitude as if Adrian reached out to me from beyond.Its been my earnest childhood dream to belong to a Choir and sing. When i came to know of this Memoriam : a tribute to Adrian Tan Symphony Orchestra Choir and that i get to be part of this nobel gesture; it was as if a calling.My dream was fulfilled as if orchestrated by dear Adrian himself, so i make a new friend who led me to Joy Chorale and Charlie; thus this magic unfolded. Brought tears of joy to my eyes as things happened automatically in a spiritual manner.Dear Adrian im truly indebted and humbly thankful for being my angel guiding me.Your name and association with your memory has given me a lifetime cherishing moment.Thankyou for rekindling my lost passion for singing and hope to take thus journey further.🙏❤️ Payal

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First and only two persons in my life I asked for their signatures, Mr Lee ( a Mad China Man )and Mr Adrian Tan. I truly admire them a lot.
It was a very first time in my life to know how to be a chorister and I came to join just because Mr. Lee ( A Mad China Man) is a special person whom I admire a lot.
The second time was unexpectedly sadly to tribute to Mr. Adrian, to fulfill what he told us last time " I want to try many different kinds of choirs, please come back and join to us." It was an honor to me and made me hearty humbled and valued his words. It was sad the world to lost such a beautiful person, RIP Mr. Adrian and wishing you will be creating music and having a beautiful long life.

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Adrian conducting Raffles Symphonic Band at Bandemonium - Not Yet Christmas (December 2012)

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My batch-mates in RI Military Band described Adrian Tan as the no-nonsense senior who would ensure that they mastered their instruments and their music before the next rehearsal. I was not in the band myself, but I remember him being very cordial in those 2-3 times I bumped into him in school. My juniors who went to Raffles Symphonic Band (RJC) remember him fondly as their resident conductor. On behalf of the Raffles Winds family, rest in peace, Senior Adrian...

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My batch-mates in RI Military Band described Adrian Tan as the no-nonsense senior who would ensure that they mastered their instruments and their music before the next rehearsal. I was not in the band myself, but I remember him being very cordial in those 2-3 times I bumped into him in school. My juniors who went to Raffles Symphonic Band (RJC) remember him fondly as their resident conductor. On behalf of the Raffles Winds family, rest in peace, Senior Adrian...

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To a fellow musical partner-in-crime, Adrian

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To a fellow musical partner-in-crime, Adrian

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I wrote this eulogy sometime back, so am just gonna leave this here. Pictured above, with two of my greatest partners-in-musical-crime who aren't here with us any more - Adrian and Dr Soo Kian Hing (extreme left)

Bro, not you too.
(gee....he calls me 'abang", or "brother" all the time....)

Let me tell you what I was doing last night. I had been procrastinating on revamping some PowerPoint slides for a short lesson on Singapore Music for my P6s (because the previous resource needed an update) and since I hadn't quite finished with a band arrangement yet, I just switched gears and started looking at the PowerPoint slide. I had earlier decided to feature 🤬 Lee's iconic "Fried Rice Paradise", and since I still can't get my hands on my own arrangement of it in which BHSO accompanied 🤬 et al, there was still that SWS (Singapore Wind Symphony) one from SAMC II (Singapore! A Musical Celebration) back in 2013 on YouTube that I could show my kids in class.

So yeah, that was 2013 and I was rewatching it and reliving all the good times we had back then, and then I got a call from you. A call from you at 11.30pm, what would that mean, what was this next devious scheme you had plotted that you couldn't wait to share with me so late into the night?

Turns out it wasn't you, and I had to spend a good next few minutes trying to process whatever information that was to come next.

For as long as I've known you, most probably since NIESB (National Institute of Education Symphonic Band) days in the mid90s, you were always drumming things up. I've lost track of how many projects and events and rehearsals and concerts we would end up doing together, of how crazy things seemed even back then when hardly anyone else were doing, yet. Oh the carefree days from Paradigm Orchestra / Paradigm Wind Ensemble, of Pirates and Penzance and Piece of Mind, somehow the Poulenc Sextet for Winds got thrown in because you got six of us (me, Frankie, Kai Tze on clarinet!, Aw Yong Tian, Xiushan, Albert Lin) to sit down together to run it.

And then I started arranging stuff. For band, for orchestra.

And you saw that I could.

And egged me you did.

Because you saw further than anyone else did. How much "Singapore Music" we all got to do eventually, because you foresaw that we all really needed it. And somehow you moved mountains to make sure it happened.

Even when you took over BHSO you always said it was not about you, but the road ahead. You understood the fine balance between directing a community group against the unforgiving backdrop of the classical music scene, and we ended up doing most probably the same things like any other orchestra...but not quite in the same way. Because with you around, there would always be something different and fresh.

I guess we could all go on about how this person has somehow infiltrated and affected the lives of so many other people (theatre, literature and the military, mind you), but I'm just going to leave it at that, for the legacy you have left behind is for all to see, on Facebook and on YouTube, of every single performance, of every single work that you commissioned us to write or arrange, that you bravely and committedly took up and commanded with your trademark finesse from the podium.

No I won't join you yet, someone's gotta stay behind to hold the fort, so that you'll have all the time you need to plan your next devious scheme that would have me somehow involved in. And of course, you'll have the company and expertise from your fellow partner-in-crime who's already waiting to eagerly receive you the moment you arrive. RIGHT DR SOO? *smirk*

- Rasull

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Dear Adrian, I stumbled on an advertisement for singers in 2019 and joined The Joy Chorale.
I thank you for your passion during all the practices, and I thank you for giving people like me who loves choir but do not have a place to sing, to practice and perform. It is made even more special when we are singing with BHSO! I saw how you were like many “octopus” making every instrument, every voice shine during their time, and created that harmony! All these work, you have always kept your smiling face.

Thank you so much and thank you for setting up The Joy Chorale! ❤️ Madeline

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We sometimes ate dinner after Sunday rehearsal near Serangoon CC.

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In 2016 Adrian saw a theory from a chinese philosophy tv show, that having a great rest on the winter solstice will renew the body’s energy for the next full year. To test it out, he convinced me to go with him to Bandung, Indonesia to do absolutely nothing in the middle of nowhere.

It’s the same for music, cooking or his other projects. Adrian is someone who will take action on wild ideas, and we eventually learn to trust him and go along for better or worse. What an amazing person.

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Behind the scene: calefare Adrian as a police

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Clarinet section with Taipei City Philharmonic

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This was the last exchange programme Adrian had arranged with BHSO. His vision and mission in bringing music from the community, to the community, can be seen through his efforts in having exchange programmes with overseas’ orchestras. Through these exchanges, orchestra members had the opportunity to learn from other orchestras overseas. Adrian has always been the one who pushes the boundaries to make the impossible, possible, with a mindset of, “the sky is the limit”.
You are truly a treasure, and is greatly missed by BHSO and the lives of others you’ve touched.
- Jessica Wong

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The (rare) silly side of Adrian hehe

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I’ve known Adrian since 2013 and he has always been so so supportive in my musical growth through the years. I’ll always remember when he texted me saying he thought of me and asked if I wanted to play Spring with BHSO, and then encouraged me to try playing the concert without him conducting (13 year old me was freaking out haha).

I’m forever grateful for all the opportunities Adrian has given me to play with BHSO, and even more honoured that I’ve had many chances to work with him. Thank you for your passion, guidance and love ❤️

- Wu Shuang

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Thank you for all the opportunities, generosity and support you so freely gave since the beginning of my time in Singapore.  You were instrumental in me being able to rediscover and enjoy music again, and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
You are missed.
Tim

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"... Adrian had been instrumental in driving BHSO to new heights since taking over the baton in 2012, expanding its repertoire and pushing performance standards to ensure the musicians did right by the music and their audiences. He also had an abiding aspiration to create a space for local music professionals to further hone and develop their skills whilst making music accessible to everyone in the community. He did this through creative concert programmes that championed works by home-grown composers, showcased local performers, and often crossed the genre divide by collaborating with esteemed jazz and pop artists."

- Seah Kian Peng, Adviser to Marine Parade GRC GROs (Braddell Heights), MP for Marine Parade GRC

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Adrian is always hard at work during our BHSO rehearsals, either reading his conductor scores or helping out any section from the orchestra during breaks. Here in this photo is an unseen side of Adrian having fun (he is taking some kittens under the wooden plank with his phone 😁) which was taken during our BHSO Kagoshima trip in 2017 :) I also witnessed his lighthearted personality in this trip!

What an incredible person you are, Adrian. Thank you for everything that you had done for BHSO. We miss you!

~ Min

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You will be missed forever, dear friend <3

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Covid did not stop us from celebrating each others birthday. (2 pax visitor period) ....Adrian's last birthday June 2021.... he said this blue-cheesecake is the best he had ever tried. We had a fantastic evening together. :)

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2010 - Adrian was a Conducting Masters student at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music

A magnet, he brought the Singaporeans who were studying there at that time together. Always making us feel at home. :) Those were the best time together.

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"Life is very unfair. Adrian Tan was taken away from us when he was only 44 and had so much to give. Let us continue his legacy."

- Tommy Koh, Founding Chairman, National Arts Council

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The only once in a year chilling session without instruments.. Dear Adrian, you are really a person with vision and passion, thank you so much for all you have done for BHSO, we missed you...

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The man with many ideas... that evening we were dreaming about opening a music school together when we all return.

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Yet here i am, on another musical adventure because of you. Thank you Adrian.

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Bondi Beach, Sydney.

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Karaoke Session After BHSO Nodame Concert :)

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When Adrian visited Melbourne (where I was doing my studies) in 2015 

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Adrian wasn’t the easiest person to work with - and I sure remember my fair share of tears working under him in marcom back in the day.. but he’s a visionary and he had such a bright intelligent mind and a knack for weaving beautiful narratives to bring across the range of varied experiences that allowed us musicians to appreciate the music we play differently and his amazing ideas and  initiatives that set BHSO out to be so different from other orchestras - with Sing! Messiah, Beethoven 9th, conducting masterclasses  etc
I really appreciated my time in BHSO under his charge and feel that Adrian was really instrumental in pushing the orchestra to progress and improve in our musicianship. So many of us have been with BHSO for years, and this feels like a warm comforting space we come home to, and I hope that we can continue Adrian’s legacy and have this home to return to :)
- Eta

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Adrian and Apo Dessert time!
Customary to take a picture with beautiful food before we destroy it!

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Adrian Tan Masterchef!

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Never one dull moment with the one any only Adrian who generously share his love for music, food and life . All the “ba-long-long” 悠哉闲哉 do nothing times together, I miss it so much! ❤️

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Dear BHSO orchestra members.

I visited your rehearsal on 9 Sep, Friday night. From >30 years ago with very few players and just two concerts a year, this very unique orchestra has consistently given 4-5 concerts each year in the 23 years that I helmed it. It has continued to grow from strength to strength under Adrian and Yew Shan with support especially from NAC and Braddell Heights CC.  When Adrian took over the music directorship baton from me in 2012, there was much expectation on him to follow the model and objectives I had established for BHSO and to bring it to even greater heights. I clearly see that this has been achieved under Adrian's directorship. And under Yew Shan's leadership, the strings sound especially good. I see many new faces and I'm also very happy to see  familiar faces who have been lending their support for many years. It is my sincere wish for BHSO to  continue to stretch their uniqueness,  work together and enjoy making good music. I'm looking forward to enjoying this concert and many more ahead.

From
Mr. Yan Yin Wing
BHSO Conductor Emeritus

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Adrian Tan is a man who always guides BHSO members in the making of music for performance. As best as possible, he created and gave opportunities to all members, such as myself, to have a chance to perform a solo part. With the guidance of Adrian, our chamber group had the opportunity to perform Vivaldi's Spring, 1st movement, on 13th Mar 2020, Friday, at the Armenian Church.

~ Tien Hun

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I also don't want to give the impression that the arts are dispensable - that at a moment's notice, we can just shut it all down with no consequence. Art is a necessity of life and cannot just be a slogan during good times.

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I also don't want to give the impression that the arts are dispensable - that at a moment's notice, we can just shut it all down with no consequence. Art is a necessity of life and cannot just be a slogan during good times.

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-Adrian Tan, on the importance of sustaining musical work throughout the COVID pandemic

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Memories of Adrian - A Dinner in Taiwan and Magic Tricks in Kagoshima!

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Memories of Adrian - A Dinner in Taiwan and Magic Tricks in Kagoshima!

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A repost of my memories of my BHSO music director and conductor Adrian Tan . Looking back, it was Adrian whom we saw every week during rehearsal since 2012.

Over the years, I've grown to respect his amazing energy, his ideas for the orchestra, as well as his wide knowledge of music and lots of other things.

He was with us on our Kagoshima trip, representing the orchestra in the Kagoshima-Singapore Arts and Cultural Exchange Programme 2017. During the trip, he even performed some magic tricks, showing us a much more lighter side of himself. And in 2019, he brought a team to perform in Taiwan too, and we had so much fun!

In April 2020-2021, he wanted to make a meaningful project during the circuit breaker, and so somehow roped me in with some writer friends, starting a blog called apART.sg which sought to highlight local arts for people to consume and be brought together despite being apart. (The blog has since ended it's run and domain bought over by another entity)

Thereafter, when the orchestra was no longer able to rehearse in full strength, he motivated us to create video recordings which you can watch at Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO).

A visionary and a person whom I admire. We remember you fondly, Adrian!

~ Samantha

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A Tribute to Adrian Tan - 11 Sep 2022 Concert Poster

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A Tribute to Adrian Tan - 11 Sep 2022 Concert Poster

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We're glad to share our upcoming concert on 11 September 2022. It holds great significance to us and is our tribute to our late-Music Director Adrian Tan.

#BHSOinmemoriam

Please save the date and we look forward to see you once again (after so long)! Tickets available via SISTIC: https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/tribute0922

Find out more at https://bhso.org/season2022/

Braddell Heights Constituency #OurTampinesHub | #PAssionArts #LetArtUnite Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra is a recipient of PAssionArts’ Peak-of-Excellence (POE) Initiative. Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra is an interest group under the care of Braddell Heights CCMC.

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A theme photo in our concert visual, this is one of Adrian's favourite photo.