By Kintan Andanari
The Straits Times (Singapore)
When Siti Sakinah Zainal sits at the piano, fingers poised on its keys, she begins not by looking at the conductor’s purple baton, but by listening intently.
She focuses on the sound of his slow, measured breath, amplified through his microphone. On cue, she starts Georges Bizet’s Carmen Suite No.1, launching the rest of the 80-strong orchestra.
Born seeing only some light and shadows, she listens as the conductor’s breath is among the cues guiding her through the music as a blind pianist. She started playing the piano at six.
“A musician once asked how can I start (a song) if I cannot see. Excuse me! (Some) people think we (always) need help with music, but that’s wrong,” the 29-year-old administrative assistant says.
As a pianist in The Purple Symphony (TPS), Singapore’s largest inclusive orchestra, she performs alongside musicians with and without disabilities aged 11 to 79. Around half of its members have disabilities.
Started in 2015 by the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC), TPS blends Asian and Western instruments from five key musical sections: Strings (Plucked), Strings (Bow), Wind, Percussion and Choir.
More than 80 members of the orchestra’s over 120-strong ensemble thrilled audiences at its second full orchestra performance overseas in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 26.
The group rehearsed weekly since September to prepare for the concert at the 800-seat Dewan Filharmonik Petronas concert hall, in a performance presented by Temasek Foundation, Raja Zarith Sofiah of Johor Foundation and the Central Singapore CDC.
They were invited by the Queen of Malaysia Raja Zarith Sofiah, who hosted their first overseas concert in Johor Bahru in 2023.
“Fusion sound has become our signature and (reflects) inclusiveness,” said TPS’ artistic director and founding member Quek Ling Kiong, 58. He is also Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s (SCO) principal conductor.
“We (welcome) different instruments and talents,” Quek said.
Community in tune
Through TPS, Sakinah has grown close with percussionist Nurul Natasya, 27, and flutist Lawrence Gabriel Villar Angel, 21, who are also blind. They meet weekly outside rehearsals, bonding over their shared experiences and love of music, meals and walks islandwide.
Sakinah, a self-taught pianist, joined TPS in 2017. She was previously a solo pianist and prefers the orchestra’s fuller sound and fun, supportive community.
Angel, a music undergraduate at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and Nurul, a waitress at a dine-in-the-dark restaurant, often guide Sakinah in music theory.
Double bass player Joyce Goh, 17, is the trio’s close friend and among the volunteer musicians playing alongside musicians with disabilities. These volunteers form nearly half the ensemble.
Goh, a student, joined the orchestra in 2017 after watching rehearsals where her mother interpreted sign language for a deaf percussionist.
“Inclusivity doesn’t just mean talking about wanting to involve people of all abilities, but truly knowing them, showing real care, learning how we can help and how they can help us too,” Goh said. “(Playing here) made me more empathetic.”
Her two brothers also came on board: Jordan, 12, joined as a French horn player in 2024; Jonathan, 20, previously played the clarinet.
Weekly rehearsals at the Jalan Besar Community Centre unfold in a supportive setting, with volunteer musicians and musicians with disabilities seated alternately. Instructors move among them, playing notes or guiding with cues.
Families record sessions for home practice and keepsake, share snacks during breaks, and build a supportive parent community.
Thirty-six caregivers accompanied the orchestra to Kuala Lumpur.
Striking the first chord
Inspired by a video of a British para‑orchestra, Denise Phua, Mayor for the Central Singapore District, envisioned an ensemble of musicians of all abilities in Singapore.
That vision came to life in 2015, when the CDC started The Purple Symphony. The initiative unites more than 120 musicians of all abilities. Central Singapore CDC, one of five CDCs, serves areas spanning Jalan Kayu to Queenstown.
As the orchestra’s adviser, Phua – also the grassroots adviser for Jalan Besar GRC – saw its audience grow from 150 at its July 2015 debut to more than 1,500 for its November preview and main performance in Kuala Lumpur.
The dream is to become Singapore’s third national orchestra, said the Mayor, alongside the Singapore Symphonic Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
“We are delighted to once again partner a like-minded organization, Raja Zarith Sofiah of Johor Foundation, for TPS’ second overseas performance,” says Temasek Foundation executive director and chief executive officer Ng Boon Heong. The two organizations presented TPS’ first overseas concert in Johor Bahru in 2023.
“(TPS) shows us what true inclusion looks like, providing an opportunity for musicians with and without disabilities to showcase their talents and grow in confidence on an international stage,” Ng said.
“We hope this partnership will continue to inspire audiences beyond Singapore and encourage more inclusive opportunities across communities.”
Sound beyond limits
Among the caregivers is Michelle Hui, 58, who attends nearly every rehearsal to watch her daughter, Bronwyn Teo, 24.
Bronwyn Teo, who is on the autism spectrum, had no prior musical training and learnt the traditional Chinese flute dizi after joining TPS in 2016.
“She really persevered; I think that helps her in life too,” Hui said.
Patience is key in the pursuit of musical excellence, Quek said.
“We have to build confidence and support to show they’re talented. They’re talented not because they’re special, but (when) they’re talented and special on top of that, it’s the talent that shines,” he adds.
Musicians with vision loss, he says, memorize the music so precisely that they know their own and others’ parts. Nurul used to braille her scores, but now commits them to memory.
To prepare for a performance, Sakinah listens to rehearsal recordings and practices alongside the musical instrument digital interface, the songs’ digital rendition for precise practice, daily before and after work.
Angel, whose parents discovered his perfect pitch at four, wants to be viewed simply as a good musician, and not a blind musician who can play.
“Without The Purple Symphony, I won’t really have an orchestra opportunity. Let’s face it, (many) other orchestras (may) not accept us yet,” he said.
As their music fills the hall, the trio’s talent and grit challenge the boundaries. Their music, they say, stands alongside, and even surpasses, many who can see.
Partners in sync
Quek Ling Kiong was initially hesitant when Mayor Phua invited him to lead an inclusive orchestra in 2015.
Then a resident conductor (now principal conductor) of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, his experience with musicians with disabilities had been limited to a small percussion group.
But he responded to the mayor’s call, believing in the transformative power of music that steadied him through his restless teenage years.
Over time, Quek and his team of 11 instructors devised creative cues to help musicians perform with confidence.
For those with visual disability, a deep breath or the strike of a triangle after a long pause signals entry, “done artistically,” the 58‑year‑old said. Vocalists are encouraged to imagine vivid scenes as they sing.
He uses exacting instructions, sometimes written on a whiteboard, as many with autism thrive on structure. His team also simulates stage conditions to prepare performers.
He recalls working with a deaf musician who used a hearing aid that can amplify and isolate specific sounds during performances.
Quek has seen growth beyond music. Many who initially avoided his gaze now greet him warmly, even exchanging phone numbers. “They want to interact,” he said.
He hopes more musicians will join the ensemble and more community performances will follow, allowing The Purple Symphony to give back and share the beauty of music.
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