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Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra

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Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra (BBCO) is an orchestra of the Bukit Batok Community Club. Since its formation in 1994, BBCO has hosted musicians and music-lovers of all walks of life, and has had the privilege to grow under the baton of Mr. Lee Heng Quee, Mr. Tan Loke Chuah, Mr. Chew Keng How and Mr. Tong Wei Jie.

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​​In the past 14 years, BBCO has contributed to Singapore's vibrant arts scene through staging numerous large-scale productions at venues such as the Singapore Conference Hall (SCH):

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• 2011: BBCO with Phang Thean Siong

• 2012: The Budding of Spring

• 2014: A Chance on Love

• 2015: Mi

• 2017: Heartstrings

• 2019: Starry Night

• 2022: Four Seasons

• 2023: Affinity, as part of the Singapore Chinese Music Festival (SCMF)

• 2024: East Meets West with SUTD
   

​BBCO has also been a regular face at various Bukit Batok community events all-year-round, such as Family Day, Lunar New Year, National Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Christmas.

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​​​Today, BBCO is still a place of gathering for passionate musicians, with an aspiration to showcase the beauty of Chinese orchestral music to the Bukit Batok community and beyond. BBCO ensures its music is accessible and engaging for the community, by partnering select grassroots organisations to curate and deliver innovative and exciting productions for the public through the BBCO Jukebox series. 

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​BBCO is a self-sustaining, ground-up orchestra that aims to develop local talents in instrumental performing, arranging, composing, and conducting. Its current conductors include home-grown music enthusiasts Dr. Tan Da Yang, Mr. Tan Toh Nguan, and Mr. Leonard Siar Hao Ken.

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Dr. Tan Da Yang, conductor

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Da Yang is currently the conductor at Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra and has been active with the orchestra since 2013. Da Yang has led Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra in numerous performances within the community and external concerts, including conducting a combined western and chineseorchestra in an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral ties between Singapore and South Korea.

In 2014, Da Yang was selected as one of the three participants in the Conducting Masterclass on Chinese Music Conducting organised by Singapore’s National Arts Council, Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay, Singapore Chinese Music Federation and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and was taught by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Yan Huichang. During the masterclass, Da Yang was further exposed to the art of conducting from Maestro Yan. In 2015, Da Yang was again selected to join the conducting workshop organised by Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Under the tutelage of Maestro Tsung Yeh, Da Yang was given the opportunity to conduct the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Da Yang subsequently participated in multiple conducting masterclasses, such as conducting masterclasses organised by Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra and Woodlands Young Conductors Workshop. Most recently, Da Yang participated in the conducting seminar with Prof. Peter Stark organised by Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) and the 2023 edition of Woodlands Young Conductors Workshop, under the tutelage of Dr. Robert J. Ambrose, Mr. Muhamad Yusri and Mr. Kai Hong Yeung.

Da Yang also regularly conducts in Hwa Chong Institution (College Section) Chinese Orchestra in their concerts as part of the continued engagement with his alma mater. Da Yang has also sought tutelage from Prof. Wei Yan Ming and the late Mr. Chew Keng How on the art of orchestral conducting and music directing. A physicist by training, Da Yang is currently interested in the exploratory studies of acoustics for Asian instruments such as erhu and dizi, as well as social phenomenon and systems from the complexity science perspective. Da Yang is also currently a faculty member at NUS College, National University of Singapore.

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Tan Toh Nguan, conductor

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Toh Nguan’s interest in Chinese Orchestra began in 2005. Back in his secondary school days, he received guidance from Mr. Liu Chongzeng, Mr. Chua Keng Yong, Ms. Kong Yanyan, Mr. Cheng Chung Hsien and Mr. Tian Xiao while he was picking up the Gaohu, Erhu and Zhonghu in Swiss Cottage Secondary School Chinese Orchestra and National Junior College Chinese Orchestra. In 2007, he also participated in the CO Music Camp organized by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and was appointed as the Erhu II Principal Player of the orchestra.
 

From 2007, he started to learn conducting from Mr. Lee Heng Quee who was then the conductor for Swiss Cottage Chinese Orchestra. He was also appointed the Chairperson and Student Conductor of the school’s orchestra. During his two years as a student in National Junior College (NJC), he was the Vice-President and Student Conductor of the college’s Chinese Orchestra (NJCO). In NJCO, he received guidance from Mr. Dedric Wong, the orchestra’s conductor, and successfully conducted and performed with the orchestra at many of the college’s events.
 

In August 2010, he joined Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra (BBCO) and was appointed as the orchestra’s Executive Director. Within a year, he led the BBCO’s Executive Committee in successfully organizing two major productions. From January 2015, he had been appointed as BBCO’s Associate Conductor, and continued receiving guidance and tutelage on orchestral conducting from Mr. Chew Keng How, BBCO’s Music Director between 2010 and 2020. He has since conducted the orchestra in many performances held at various locations in Singapore.
 

Toh Nguan has been appointed the orchestra’s Conductor since September 2023 and he currently works full time in the public healthcare sector. During his time off from work, he is an active musician in Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra and also guest performs with several other Chinese Orchestras. Recently, he has also joined the Woodlands Young Conductors Workshop 2023 as an observer.

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Sim Xin Yu, erhu

Sim Xin Yu is a dedicated erhu musician and the recently appointed concertmaster of the Bukit Batok Chinese Orchestra (BBCO). Currently a first-year Pharmacy student at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Xin Yu continues to actively pursue his passion for Chinese orchestral music alongside his studies.

Xin Yu began learning the erhu at the age of eight, joining his primary school's Chinese orchestra and participating actively throughout his years in primary, secondary and junior college. At age eleven, he enrolled in the Chinese Music Programme at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), where he began learning under the guidance of Mr Wang Fang Liang. Under Mr Wang's tutelage, Xin Yu has continued to refine his skills and deepen his musicianship.

During his schooling years, Xin Yu took on leadership responsibilities as sectional leader and zhonghu principal player in his school's Chinese orchestra. His talent earned him a place in the prestigious Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) in 2019. After a brief hiatus to focus on his studies and complete national service, he rejoined SNYCO in 2024, reflecting his unwavering commitment to Chinese orchestral music.

His artistry has been recognised through multiple competition appearances. Xin Yu has been a multi-year finalist in the Singapore Chinese Music Competition, and was awarded the Gold Prize at the 5th "Rhapsody in Harmony" Erhu Competition.

Over the years, Xin Yu has participated in various orchestras and ensembles, and is currently a member of the NUS Chinese Orchestra, SNYCO, BBCO, as well as the Singapore Erhu Society.

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