Arts groups strike a chord in CBD

JUST as the lunchtime crowd was starting to build up at Raffles Place on Wednesday, 20 Chinese classical musicians silently took their seats on the zoysia lawn above the MRT station. Before them stood a sign that said: "Conduct us!" But the 300-odd passers-by who had quickly gathered around the musicians were unsure.

Eventually, one intrepid soul stepped forward, chose Mamma Mia from a list of six songs, raised her hands and proceeded to conduct the orchestra. Giggles ensued - not among the serious musicians, mind you, but the audience - as passer-by after passer-by took to the podium to conduct the musicians from the Ding Yi Music Company.

But by the end of the one-hour concert, the ever-expanding crowd gave the orchestra a rousing, heartfelt send-off.