Founded in July 1994, the Praise Choristers of Telok Ayer Chinese
Methodist Church consists of about 20 children from 6 to 16 years old.
In addition to performing regularly within its own church, it has also
performed at international functions, e.g., at the 13th World
Association of Chinese Church Music Conference in 1996 and at the World
Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches Mission Conference in 1997.
In December 1995, the choir presented a Christmas program in Batam,
Indonesia, and at a local hotel in Singapore. The choir sang for the
Singapore Boys’ Brigade Sharity Gift Box caroling program and the
Festival of Choral & Yuletide Music at Sentosa in 1996 and 1997
respectively.
In 1998, the choir presented a choral concert consisted of songs from
around the world at the Melaka Wesley Church, Malaysia. In 2004, the
choir presented a choral concert at the Chinese Methodist Church,
Melaka, Malaysia.
The choir is featured in the Endless Praise – from East & West, a
CD recording produced by the Methodist School of Music in 2004. Since
December 2004, the choir has presented Christmas carols at Orchard Road
as part of the Celebrate Christmas in Singapore program organized by the
Council of Churches and the Singapore Tourism Board.
Since 2006, the choir has also participated in the Festival of Lessons and Carols organized by the Methodist School of Music.
Ms Mary Y. T. Gan - the Conductor
The Praise Choristers is directed by its founder, Ms Mary Gan Yoke Thue,
the founding Principal of Methodist School of Music, a private school
established by the Methodist Church in Singapore to provide quality
music education in Singapore and to assist churches in the training of
musicians.
Ms Gan graduated from Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas,
USA, with a Bachelor of Music (magna cum laude) degree in Piano and
Sacred Music in 1977. Prior to coming to Singapore, she taught music at
the Selangor Institute of Music and privately in Klang from 1977 to
1980. In 1982 she earned the Master of Music in Church Music degree
from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She
has also studied at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ, and Duke
University, Durham, NC, during her sabbatical leave in 1985 and 1992
respectively.
An experienced church musician, Ms Gan was the director of Trinity
Theological College Choir when she was a full-time TTC music lecturer
from 1982-1997. She has organized many choir festivals and is
especially committed to promoting children’s choir ministry. She
directed the Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church Junior Choir from
1983-1992, 2005 to present. She has been the director of Telok Ayer
Praise Choristers since it was formed in July 1994. From February 2003
to December 2007, she also directed the Toa Payoh Jiayun Choir. She has
also served as an adjudicator in the MOE organized Singapore Youth
Festival Central Judging of Primary School Choirs.