On June 10， despite the day of their arrival in Japan for their concert tour， a total of seventy members of the internationally acclaimed Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra from Singapore visited the Min-On Culture Center and Music Museum， along with Madam Xu Jian Fen， director of the Orchestra and Mr. Lum Yan Sing， their music advisor. They were cheerfully welcomed by the staff of the Min-On Concert Association at the Melody Hall， and a commemorative photo was taken.

Hwa Chong Institution is one of the most prestigious independent schools in Singapore， offering the unique six-year integrated educational program from secondary (junior high school) to pre-university (junior college) level with their vision of being a world class learning institution for raising international leaders. The Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra， which consists of college-level students from Hwa Chong Institution， has been a prominent student-based traditional music group on the Chinese music scene since it was founded in 1974. The Orchestra has also consecutively clinched many of the highest awards.

Mr. Lum Yan Sing， currently their music advisor， previously conducted the Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra and contributed to its development. At the same time， he was the concertmaster of the worldly well-known People’s Association Chinese Orchestra， which was brought onstage in Japan by the Min-On Concert Association in 1988. Based on his friendship with Min-On that developed since then， Mr. Lum has spoken very highly about and introduced the Min-On Concert Association in Singapore. As a result of Mr. Lum’s actions， the principal of Hwa Chong Institution， Dr. Hon， had the Hwa Chong Chinese Orchestra visit the Min-On Culture Center this time during their concert tour in Japan.

After they heard an explanation of Min-On’s founding ideals and history from Min-On President Hiroyasu Kobayashi and enjoyed listening to a performance of the antique harpsichord and classic piano in the museum exhibit hall， a few representatives of the Orchestra performed a Chinese flute solo and an erhu， the “Chinese two-string fiddle” duet in reply. The Orchestra representatives then presented President Kobayashi with the commemorative gifts and plaque from Hwa Chong Institution on which the words， “In appreciation of the Min-On Concert Association for your warm hospitality，” were engraved. Afterward， they enjoyed touring the Music Museum， and many of them shared their wonderful impressions of viewing the Min-On’s classic piano and music box collections and other exhibitions.