SMU Chinese Orchestra premieres a new composition Moonbound in collaboration with the Purple Symphony
In the COMMISSIONS concert held at the SOTA Concert Hall, the SMU Chinese Orchestra premiered Moonbound, a new work by local composer Mr Sulwyn Lok, conducted by Mr Wilson Neo. The concert reaffirmed SMU’s long-standing tradition of commissioning local works, a rare initiative for a non-conservatory university. The premiere performance features eight guest musicians from The Purple Symphony, each with different disabilities and each taking on lead and solo roles. Their roles embody the values of inclusion, contribution, and strength through collaboration. This mirrors SMU’s belief in creating space for every voice to be heard and every talent to shine.
In its spirit and structure, Moonbound becomes more than a composition; it is a living metaphor for SMU’s enduring values and future-facing vision. Moonbound takes on special resonance within the broader theme of “Celebrating Meaningful Impact – 25 Years and Beyond.” Just as the university has grown through bold vision, care for community, and a commitment to inclusion, the piece reflects a journey shaped by purpose and transformation. It invites the audience to reflect on how far SMU has come, and how it continues to progress— with grace, courage, and the shared aspiration to create meaningful impact. Looking skyward, Moonbound honors the past, embraces the present, and leaps into the future guided by grace, courage and care.
About the composition :
"Moonbound (Bēn Yuè, meaning “to fly towards the moon”) is a contemporary homage to the classic Chinese pipa suite The Moon Rises High (Yuè ér Gāo), reimagining its luminous heritage for a new generation. Taking its title from the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess who ascended to the heavens, the piece reflects the enduring human desire to reach beyond the known, and to find beauty in the journey.
Structured in three parts, the work begins with urgency and momentum — a rhythmic pulse that evokes not just youthful ambition, but the heartbeat of someone stepping into the unknown for the greater good. Like Chang’e, whose ascent was both a personal sacrifice and a quiet act of courage, this opening captures the spirit of transformation — a leap towards light shaped by love and purpose.
The central section offers a moment of repose, drawing inspiration from The Grace of the Moon Goddess (Sù’é Yǐnǐ) — a delicate movement from the original suite that portrays quiet strength, inner clarity, and the gentle power of care.
The final return brings back the energy of the opening, now transformed — brighter, more assured — as if guided by moonlight itself. In this reimagined flight, we are reminded that heroism does not always wear a crown — it can be found in every steady step forward, in every hand extended to others, and in the shared light of a community moving as one."
In its spirit and structure, Moonbound becomes more than a composition; it is a living metaphor for SMU’s enduring values and future-facing vision. Moonbound takes on special resonance within the broader theme of “Celebrating Meaningful Impact – 25 Years and Beyond.” Just as the university has grown through bold vision, care for community, and a commitment to inclusion, the piece reflects a journey shaped by purpose and transformation. It invites the audience to reflect on how far SMU has come, and how it continues to progress— with grace, courage, and the shared aspiration to create meaningful impact. Looking skyward, Moonbound honors the past, embraces the present, and leaps into the future guided by grace, courage and care.
About the composition :
"Moonbound (Bēn Yuè, meaning “to fly towards the moon”) is a contemporary homage to the classic Chinese pipa suite The Moon Rises High (Yuè ér Gāo), reimagining its luminous heritage for a new generation. Taking its title from the legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess who ascended to the heavens, the piece reflects the enduring human desire to reach beyond the known, and to find beauty in the journey.
Structured in three parts, the work begins with urgency and momentum — a rhythmic pulse that evokes not just youthful ambition, but the heartbeat of someone stepping into the unknown for the greater good. Like Chang’e, whose ascent was both a personal sacrifice and a quiet act of courage, this opening captures the spirit of transformation — a leap towards light shaped by love and purpose.
The central section offers a moment of repose, drawing inspiration from The Grace of the Moon Goddess (Sù’é Yǐnǐ) — a delicate movement from the original suite that portrays quiet strength, inner clarity, and the gentle power of care.
The final return brings back the energy of the opening, now transformed — brighter, more assured — as if guided by moonlight itself. In this reimagined flight, we are reminded that heroism does not always wear a crown — it can be found in every steady step forward, in every hand extended to others, and in the shared light of a community moving as one."