A sacred music concert was held on 9 May 2026, a Saturday evening during the Mother’s Day weekend at the Church of St. Teresa, Singapore. The event was organised as a fundraiser for the church’s restoration fund, while also serving to extend the spirit of Easter beyond the first week of April. More broadly, the concert aimed to foster a sense of community by bringing people together in a historic heritage church setting to experience a curated programme of sacred music themed around the key Christian events of Easter such as the Paschal Mysteries.
HALLELUJAH!
09/05/2026
Sacred Music Concert at Church of St Teresa Raises Funds, Fosters Community and Celebrates Easteride
An Easter Celebration through Music
Caption: Members of STELLA ÆTERNA CONSORT pose with the parish priests of the Church of St. Teresa, Fr John Joseph Fenelon (centre right) and Fr Jean Nguyen (centre left), after the fundraising Easter sacred music concert.
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Caption: A smaller ensemble sang from the choir loft to create an atmospheric effect, mimicking angelic voices from above in performances of the Regina Caeli chant and Lotti's (1717) motet on the same Marian text.
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Left: Music Director and Conductor Samuel Lee leads STELLA ÆTERNA CONSORT during a fundraising Easter sacred music concert at the Church of St. Teresa, Singapore.
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Right: Artistic Director Esther Jong shares a moment of fellowship with supporters at the Church of St. Teresa following the fundraising Easter sacred music concert,
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Caption: Soprano soloists Alice Putri (left) and Val Chong (right), accompanied by Gerard Wong (rear), perform the duet “He Shall Feed His Flock” from Messiah by Handel (1741).
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Caption: Organist Gerard Wong performs two contrasting works on the Allen digital pipe organ: “BWV 630 Heut' triumphieret Gottes Sohn by JS Bach (17th century) and Toccata in B Minor by Gigout (1890).
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Left: Organ and piano accompanist Julian Soh accompanies STELLA ÆTERNA CONSORT during a fundraising Easter sacred music concert at the Church of St. Teresa, Singapore.
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
Right: Assistant Pianist Koh Ming Yang (at piano) accompanies the concert's encore, a well-loved piece in tribute to the Church of St. Teresa and its patron saint, St Thérèse of Lisieux, with assistance from organ/piano accompanist Julian Soh (page turner).
Photo: Gwyneth Ho
The programme was presented by STELLA ÆTERNA CONSORT, a newly founded ensemble and community, of which this is their fourth Catholic-themed fundraising concert held in the past 12 months since conception. This time in collaboration with the Church of St. Teresa, the concert brought together an audience of around 150 attendees for an evening of sacred music, reflection, and cultural awareness.
The repertoire featured a broad selection of works, primarily performed by the full chorus, interspersed with smaller works (including duets, quartets, octets, and instrumental interludes) to provide musical contrast. Iconic movements from Handel’s Messiah were prominently featured, opening and closing the concert with well-known works such as “And the Glory of the Lord” and the “Hallelujah” chorus. The programme also included various accompanied works on piano and digital pipe organ, as well as a cappella pieces, from Gregorian chant to sacred polyphony, by composers such as Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Antonio Lotti, and Anton Bruckner and more.
The church interior was fully utilised, with lighting dimmed to create an atmospheric setting that brought forth the resonance of music within the building’s cathedral-like acoustics. Select works were also performed from the choir loft, creating the effect of voices emanating from above. The tabernacle was respectfully recessed for the duration of this non-liturgical but community-driven event, allowing the sacred space to be adapted for concert use while maintaining reverence.
The programme was interwoven with spoken narration providing historical and biblical context to the music, helping to deepen audience understanding and appreciation, and enriching meaning to the overall experience.
The music was directed and conducted by Samuel Lee, a long-serving member of the Catholic music ministry in Singapore, particularly at the Church of Our Lady of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, where he serves as conductor of the Saturday Vigil Mass choir. The artistic vision for the concert was shaped by Esther Jong, founder of STELLA ÆTERNA CONSORT, who served as a sacred-musician in Australia, and now Singapore.
Among the notable soloists were soprano Alice Putri, currently an adjunct lecturer at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (NUS), and soprano Val Chong, a recent BMus graduate in vocal performances from the same conservatory. Both sang with poise and conviction, each bringing a distinct character to their parts. Equally compelling was organist Gerard Wong, currently pursuing the Associate of the Royal College of Organists (ARCO) diploma, also presented noteworthy renditions of J.S. Bach’s chorale prelude BWV 630 and Gigout’s Toccata in B minor, demonstrating the expressive and powerful capabilities of the digital pipe organ.
Julian Soh also served as the main accompanist on both organ and piano, particularly for the full choral works, and was assisted by assistant pianist Koh Ming Yang, a full-time university student and part-time piano teacher who also accompanied selected pieces.
The concert concluded with a familiar choral work for the Church of St. Teresa community in Singapore, encouraging a sense of communal participation and unity among those present. This closing moment reinforced the event’s broader aim, to bring together music, heritage, and community.
Date/Time: Saturday, 9 May 2026, 7:30pm - 9pm
Venue: Church of St Teresa, Singapore
Theme: Extending the celebration of Easter through a musical reflection on the Paschal Mysteries
Purpose: Easter fundraising concert for the restoration of the Church of St Teresa
Programme includes: 15 published works, with 4 programme additions
