BACKSTAGE : PERFORMING ARTS
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Music > Review of The Genesis Project
Writer : Zhang Rui He
Event: The Genesis Project Day / date: Saturday 30 Aug 2008 Venue: Paya Lebar Methodist Church
The Genesis Project
As with all worthwhile things, this one started with a dream. The organisers behind The Genesis Project, Singapore's first Christian songwriters' festival, wanted to create a platform that would give young Christian songwriters the opportunity to showcase their work and network with other fellow music-lovers. After more than half a year of hard work, and supported by the Methodist Church's Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), the dream finally became a reality - one that featured over 40 singers and bands from various churches around Singapore. It was a big-hearted, generous affair, with most of the performers being students who clearly relished the chance to perform their music for the public. The highlight of the event was the Songwriters' Forum, during which established songwriters Geoffrey Saw, Clement Chow and Patrick Leong shared their insights on music, creativity and God. Talking about the impetus behind their art, the three musicians each had inspiring stories to tell about how their music has reached out to others, often in surprising or even miraculous ways. They also had useful advice for aspiring songwriters on how to improve their craft and be a good steward of their God-given musical talents.
This reviewer was impressed by the energy, idealism and ambition behind the project. It was heartening to see young people acting on their dreams to bring them to fruition. Hopefully, the next instalment of the festival will build on this practical idealism to clarify the vision behind the project. As a first-time effort, the focus of this year's event seemed to be on inclusiveness and giving young musicians a chance to perform. Inevitably, such an open approach resulted in a rather uneven mix in terms of the quality of the performances. A greater degree of selectivity on the part of the organisers the next time round might go a long way towards encouraging the musicians to hone their craft even further and reach for the highest standards of artistic excellence in their work for the Lord.
Check out http://www.genesisproject.bravehost.com/ for details
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