OUR HISTORY
IFC was formed by John Edwards in 1974 as a choir for parents of students attending United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA). John was the Head of Music at UWCSEA from 1974-1983. His nascent choir of 1974 continues to flourish and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024!At its inception, IFC numbered 32 choristers, consisting of parents and staff members of the college. Growing from our roots with UWCSEA, the chorus today numbers 60 and is formed from the local and expatriate community, with over eighteen nationalities among its members. The IFC makes a significant effort to promote individual and ensemble musicianship by engaging its members with music education and training. Over the years, the IFC has thrived under a succession of accomplished directors. Tom Anderson, our current director, is the seventeenth.
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Our history of fine conductors, singers, and musicians, coupled with our huge repertoire of music, are the foundation of our continuing musical and artistic mission, from large-scale orchestral works to intimate a capella gems from different music genres, cultures, and epochs. The IFC’s inaugural concert featured music by Brahms and Haydn, with Hiawatha’s Wedding Song by Coleridge Taylor as the centerpiece. The chorus also has a reputation for premiering and championing works. Most notable among these are the Asian premiere of the African Sanctus, complete with choreography, performed under the direction of the composer himself, David Fanshawe, and in 2001, we had the honour of bringing you the world premiere of New Zealand composer David Hamilton's Christmas Processional, which was written specially for the IFC. Our most recent premier was at our Winter 2023 concert featuring an arrangement for “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear”, specially written for IFC by American composer Joel Raney.
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Over the years IFC has performed its concerts at a variety of venues and events. Venues include Victoria Concert Hall, Chijmes, NAFA, SoTA, to name but a few, and we have even sung on bumboats along the Singapore River! We have participated in many events within Singapore and overseas, in 2013 as part of the choir performing live at the Singapore movie concert of The Lord of the Rings and most recently as part of the Voices of Singapore Festival in Chijmes. In 2025 we are planning a trip to Italy in collaboration with an Australian Choir.
Performances
 TapestryPortrait_wQR |  Winter 2023 - Now That's Christmas |  Spring 2023 - Around the world in 90 Measures |  Spring 2022 - Look at the World |
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 Winter 2022 - Christmas Unmasked |  Winter 2021 - Christmas Broadcast |  Spring 2021 - Expression of the Soul |  Winter 2019 - 45th Anniversary Concert |
 Spring 2019 - Now is the Month of Maying |  Winter 2018 - Haydn The Creation |  Spring 2018 - Simple Gifts |  Winter 2017 - The Glorious Journey |
 Spring 2017 - Songs from Singapore and Beyond |  Winter 2006 - Candles of Advent |  Spring 2006 - Mozart Requiem |  Winter 2005 - A Holiday to Remember |
 Spring 2005 - The English Connection |  Winter 2004 - Christmas around the World |  Winter 2002 - Christmas by Candlelight |  Spring 2002 - Sacred Choral Masterworks |
 Winter 2001 - Christmas by Candlelight |  Winter 2000 - Christmas by Candlelight |  Spring 2000 - Music in May |  Winter 1999 - Christmas by Candlelight |
 Spring 1999 - An Evening in April |  Winter 1998 - Christmas by Candlelight |  Spring 1998 - A Celebration of Gilbert and Sullivan |  Winter 1997 - Festive Music through the Ages |
 Winter 1996 - Bruckner and Mendelssohn |  Winter 1995 - Haydn Creation |  Spring 1995 - Bernstein and Finzi |  Spring 1994 - An Evening of Gilbert and Sullivan |
 Winter 1993 - Bach and Charpentier |  Spring 1993 - Haydn and Beyond |  Winter 1992 - Music for Celebration |  Spring 1992 - Songs of Life and Love |
 Winter 1991 - An Evening of Baroque Music |  Spring 1991 - Mozart The Legacy |  Spring 1989 - Johannes Passion |  Spring 1988 - Bruckner Mass in E Minor |
 Spring 1988 - Celebration Concert |  Faure Requiem |  Winter (n.d.) - A Family Concert of Christmas Music |
PREVIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
As a community Chorus with a varied repertoire and a warm, gregarious stage presence, the IFC has performed to audiences around Singapore in both standalone performances and collaborative projects.
Previous Projects​
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Voices of Singapore Festival, Chijmes Hall, September 2022
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Celebration of Dreams, Esplanade Concert Hall, August 2017
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Voices of Singapore Festival, Chijmes Hall, March 2017
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Voices of Singapore Festival, Chijmes Hall, March 2016
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Christmas by the River - Singapore River One, December 2015
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Christmas by the River - Singapore River One, December 2014
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The Fellowship of the Ring, Star Performing Arts Centre, June 2013
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Getting Vocal with Brass, Esplanade Concourse, April 2013
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Latin American Christmas Music, Esplanade Concourse, December 2012
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Recent Venues
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Esplanade Concert Hall
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Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (NUS)
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School of the Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall
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Star Performing Arts Centre
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Chijmes
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Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA
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Alliance Francaise
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Dunman High School
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Singapore Bible College
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Conductors
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Tom Anderson (2021 to present)
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Marcus Li (2020)
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Chong Wai Lun (Winter 2015 - 2019)
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Masako Johnson (Winter 2014 & Spring 2015)
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Albert Tay (2009 - Spring 2014)
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Yudi Lukito (Winter 2008)
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Ng Eng Kee (2002 - Spring 2008)
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Eng Meng-Chia (2000 - 2002)
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Eleri Roberts (1998 - 1999)
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Simon Hunt (Winter 1996 - 1997)
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Robert Casteels (Spring 1996)
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Peter Stead (1992 - 1995)
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Stuart Mackintosh (1987 - 1991)
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Nick Richardson (1984 - 1986)
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John Edwards (founding director) (1974 - 1983)
Collaborations & Guest Artists
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Singapore American School Singers
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Dan Hartig Jazz Quartet (2023)
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Canadian International School DP Music students
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Christus Cantorus Children's Choir (2022)
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Orchestra of the Music Makers
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Taipei Philharmonic Chorus
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Terrance Fitzgerald, double bassist
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Gerald Lim, pianist
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My Symphonic Hall
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Mary Ann Tear, Valerie Choo, Mattheus Ting (drama)
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Katryna Tan, harpist
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Metropolitan Festival Orchestra
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Young Voices of Vocal Associates
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B5 Brass
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Daniel Goon, percussionist
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​Beverly Hiong, cellist
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Chong Ten Yeen, organist
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Christoven Tan, violist
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Churchlands Senior High School, Perth, Western Australia
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Goh Zhaohan, violinist, violist
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La Salle Baroque Players
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Li Shanghui, violinist
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Margaret Co Chen, organist
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Metro Philharmonic Youth Choir
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Neo Ming Wei, pianist
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Ng Wei Ping, violinist
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Raffles Junior College
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Rayner Teo, contrabassist
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Shane Thio, pianist
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Singapore Polytechnic Symphonic Band
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St. David’s Society Choir
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The International Festival Orchestra
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The Singapore Wind Symphony
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UWCSEA Senior Music Ensembles