I Was Here, I Am Here: A Runme Shaw CFA Studios Block Party

“Does demolition end a memory? And conversely, does preservation of a building or place preserve a memory?” (Hornstein, 2011)

Come 2 August 2024, Runme Shaw CFA Studios, or fondly known as CFA Studios, will take its last bow as home to many campus arts groups. Since 1985, numerous undergraduate students have passed through these corridors, studios and practice rooms to learn, grow and become passionate about the various art forms presented.

Join us as we reminisce backbreaking rehearsals, celebrate friendships forged, and treasure the cultivated presence of arts on campus. Saying farewell to Runme Shaw CFA Studios allows us to reimagine what arts on campus can be while staying true to its essence.

1. Programme Schedule

Free and Easy Events, 4pm to 10pm

From Then to Now

Pick up your photos taken by our roving photographers here!

(Practice Room 1)

Echoes of Yesteryears

Experience the (un)synchronized ticking of metronomes.

(Practice Room 2)

Harmonica, My Friend by NUS Harmonica

Learn more about the Harmonica through exciting harmonica-inspired games!

(Practice Room 3)

Archives

Browse through old photos, books and records and take a deep dive into the history of CFA Studios.

(Practice Room 4)

Ink & Impressions

Create your own linoblock prints here and bring home a piece of history.

(Practice Room 5)

Shared Memories

Watch screenings of interviews and past rehearsal videos of the people of CFA.

(Practice Theatre)

The Oasis of Giving by Chua Zi Tao

Immerse in our multisensory room and take home a symbolic plant gift.

(Instrument Store)

Lelong Lelong

Take these pre-loved items and give them a second home!

(Drama Store)

Staging ____ by NUS Stage

Step into NUS Stage’s rehearsal space and connect with their stories and experiences.

(Activity Room)

I Was Here, I Am Here by Thaddeus Ong

Draw, scribble, doodle – leave a piece of your thoughts in this interactive mural art!

(Open Air Carpark)

Scheduled Events, Various Timings

dear cfa, by n:ow featuring chong shen hao, Koh Tzee Yen, Lim Kai Ling and Evangel Wong

A collection of voices from students, staff and alumni. dear cfa, these are things we want to say.

(Activity Room, 5:00pm, 6:30pm, 9:00pm)

(20 min per session, only 25 spots each! Click here to secure yours.)

Open Mic Performance*

Enjoy heartfelt songs performed by NUS Amplified, NUS Fingerstyle Guitar and NUS Voices.

(Open Air Carpark, 7:00pm - 8:00pm)

Don't Stop the Groove* by NUS Funkstyles

Join in the fun and show off your moves in Funkstyles’ DJ Dance Party!

(Dance Theatre, 7:00pm - 9:00pm)

SWANSONGS: A Finale Rave for CFA Runme Shaw Studios* by NUS Electronic Music Lab

With an array of high-energy original music made by students and alumni of NUS EML, SWANSONGS is sure to bid Runme Shaw CFA Studios farewell with the rave of its lifetime.

(Auditorium, 8:00pm - 10:00pm)

*You are free to roam between events!

2. Featured Artists

NUS Amplified

From its humble beginnings as a simple guitar club in mid-2012, NUS Amplified has grown in the past decade to become a premier musical collective, boasting a repertoire of talented drummers, guitarists, bassists, keyboardists and vocalists. Known for their members’ exceptional abilities to put on riveting performances onstage, NUS Amplified’s musicians perform a wide array of genres that include but aren’t limited to: Top 40s, J-Pop, Funk, Indie and even Metal.

NUS Electronic Music Lab

NUS Electronic Music Lab (EML) is a unique music arts group that not only performs but creates - focusing on original music composition and production through digital software and electronic audio technology. The group prides itself in its diverse range of electronic musicians spanning many genres including ambient, 8-bit chiptune, trance, dubstep, house, hip hop, lo-fi, synthwave and so on.

NUS Fingerstyle Guitar

NUS Fingerstyle Guitar (NUSFG) is a group dedicated to the art of fingerstyle guitar. Established in 2019, the group serves as a valuable platform and community for guitarists and music lovers to have fun and learn from each other. As a group, NUS Fingerstyle Guitar strives to help its members learn and appreciate fingerstyle guitar and music.

NUS Funkstyles

NUS Funkstyles, established in 2011 by passionate individuals sharing a common love for funk music and culture, stands by the motto “KEEP THE FUNK ALIVE” where students explore 2 main genres: popping and locking. With a vision to create a vibrant and prominent tertiary funk style club in Singapore, NUS Funkstyles welcomes all enthusiasts looking for a safe space to join the funk dance scene!

NUS Harmonica

Founded in 1981, NUS Harmonica promotes the practice of harmonica music as a unique art form. The group explores diverse styles of harmonica music with solo, ensemble and orchestral performances in two annual concerts series; Impressions and Soireé. This beginner-friendly group provides structured training programmes for members’ different levels of experience and musicality.

NUS Stage

Founded in 2006, NUS Stage is a group dedicated to nurturing talent on stage who aspire to tell the untold stories of our generation and who keenly explore the underlying social issues through thought-provoking tales of human drama. The group is strongly committed to training actors, nurturing playwrights and grooming production teams who push creative boundaries and produce high quality, artistic content that engages its audiences.

NUS Voices

Established in 1999, NUS Voices is a family of talented instrumentalists and vocalists, sharing a common passion for performing Mandopop. As a group, Voices aims to empower Mandopop enthusiasts by providing them a platform to refine their musical talents while passionately expressing their love for Mandopop and music.

n:ow

n:ow is a collective formed by chong shen hao, Koh Tzee Yen, Lim Kai Ling and Evangel Wong with an aim of creating work with boundless possibilities. By carving a space of their own, n:ow strives to push the boundaries of conventional art practices while exploring their creative pursuits. There is no better time than n:ow.

Thaddeus Ong Ray Tzer

Thaddeus is a third-year NUS College Computer Science student who enjoys doodling, urban sketching and visual arts.

Check out his works at: @thaddisposal on Instagram!

Chua Zi Tao

Chua Zi Tao is a Singaporean composer who explores his musical identity through various modes of duality, such as the divergence and convergence between science and culture. His works range from vivid cultural soundscapes to radical experimental glitches while exploiting the possibilities of conventional acoustic settings to interactive sonic art installations.

Check out his works at zitaochua.com!

Organised By

NUS Office of Student Affairs, Centre for the Arts