Syl: Mrs Kana and the Choir

The school choir was a leading light amongst the ECAs and I wish there was some recording somewhere of the majestic Hallelujah Chorus which Syl talks about in her post below, which also highlights how every girl was given a chance and taught accordingly.




Much has been said about the culture of music and the arts in my alma mater – St Anthony’s Convent. What has to be emphasized is that the sisters and teachers then nurtured our passions regardless of our qualifications.

I joined the school choir because I love to sing – I have no formal training in music and cannot read a note to save my life. I remember trembling at the audition as a Secondary One pupil. I was particularly nervous because I had failed at the audition for my church choir!! At the end of it, I was welcomed with a wide smile and open arms. “Darling, you’re in!!” said the Choir Mistress, Mrs Christine Kanagarajah.
But she also issued a warning that all who joined the choir had to turn up for all practices otherwise we’d be booted out. In reality, she needn’t have issued such a warning, the practices and extra hours that we put in were filled with so much fun.
We learnt more than just to sing songs, she taught us how to be ladies – to put on make-up, to walk in long skirts and heels (though not as high as the ‘ankle-twisting’ ones of today). I remember vividly how she would cringe if anyone of us lifted our skirts beyond our knees to climb up the steps of the choir podium. She put flowers in our hair at each and every performance.

We sang at national school competitions, community events, at Youth Day and National Day parades and of course, in school. We even sang with a Japanese Quartet “The Dark Ducks” at the DBS Theatre. What a thrill to have been part of a paid programme to entertain members of the public!

Firmly etched in my mind is our performance at our school Centenary Concert.
Mrs Kana, as we fondly call her, had decided to throw us all the challenge of singing Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus. After months of practice, blood, sweat (much of which were Mrs Kana’s – remember she had a bunch of us who could not read music notes) and tears, that evening arrived. As we trooped backstage, some cried; we didn’t dream we’d be singing the Hallelujah Chorus to a huge audience. After reassuring hugs and prayers from the sisters, we went on stage.
It was electrifying!
My ears rang, the hair on my arms and back stood on ends as we hit word after word, note after note! It was a thanksgiving – for the school which provided us the opportunities, for the teachers who stood by us, for the sisters who prayed for us and who always cheerfully supported us. We are blessed to this day!