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My NSLF Choral Speaking Journey: Beyond the Script
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
On 25 July 2026, seven Secondary 1 students represented Hwa Chong Institution at the National Schools Literature Festival Choral Speaking Competition held at Yishun Secondary School. Performing Louis MacNeice’s “Prayer Before Birth”, the team delivered a confident and engaging recital and received a Bronze Award. The students had been selected from participants in the preliminary round of the High School English Department’s Light-Up with Literature: Poetry Recital Competition. In this reflection, Haoyu looks back on the preparation, challenges and friendships that shaped his journey.
Written By: Miao Haoyu (1i1, 2026)
When I walked into Yishun Secondary School for the National Schools Literature Festival (NSLF), I felt both excited and apprehensive. Although I knew that we were well prepared, this was my first time participating in a literature competition.
As I watched my teammates getting ready for the choral recital, however, my worries gradually faded. I was reminded that we had prepared for this moment together and would face it as a team. With that thought in mind, I stepped onto the stage, ready to give my best.
My journey to the festival had begun several months earlier, when I was selected as one of seven Secondary 1 Hwa Chong students to participate in the competition. As it was the first time in several years that Hwa Chong had taken part in this event, we were determined to make the opportunity count.
We practised repeatedly, refining our delivery, movement and coordination as a group. The process was demanding, but seeing my teachers and teammates devote so much effort to the performance motivated me to persevere. After many rehearsals, we filmed our preliminary-round submission. Watching the completed performance filled us with pride because it reflected the hard work we had invested. When we learnt that we had been selected as finalists, our excitement grew.
Still, as basketball player Kobe Bryant famously reminded his team, the job was not finished. The preliminary round was only the beginning, and the live final still lay ahead.
Before the recital, I felt increasingly nervous. Questions about what might go wrong filled my mind and made it difficult to focus. I then recalled the effort that had brought us this far, as well as the determination shown by my teammates and teachers. Drawing courage from them, I stepped onto the stage.
We began our performance with conviction and energy. As our voices filled the room, I could sense the intensity of the poem and the collective strength of our delivery. For those few minutes, we were fully focused on bringing “Prayer Before Birth” to life for the audience and judges.
When the performance ended, we felt both relieved and elated. We had given our best and were proud of what we had achieved together. We stayed to watch the performances by the other schools and encouraged the participants afterwards. Having experienced the same nervousness ourselves, we understood what they might have been feeling.
During the break, we also spoke with students from other schools and learnt more about their experiences and school cultures. These interactions reminded me that the festival was not only a competition, but also an opportunity to connect with others through a shared appreciation of literature.
The prize-giving ceremony was filled with anticipation. As we waited for the results of the Choral Speaking Competition, every passing moment seemed unusually long. Then came the announcement: “Bronze Award, Hwa Chong Institution!”
Our nervousness immediately gave way to joy. As we walked onto the stage to receive the award, I realised how much we had grown through the experience. The result was meaningful not only because of the trophy, but also because it reflected our perseverance, teamwork and willingness to support one another.
This was a truly enriching journey, and I am grateful to Ms Kalavathi D/O Ganasen and Ms Alexandra De Vera for their guidance and encouragement throughout the process. I am equally thankful to my teammates for their friendship and support, without which this achievement would not have been possible.
Through NSLF, I learnt new techniques for interpreting and performing poetry. More importantly, I discovered that what happens beyond the script can be just as meaningful as the performance itself. We forged new friendships, strengthened existing ones and learnt to face challenges together.
In the end, it was our friendship that carried us through the difficult rehearsals, the nervous moments and the final performance. That is the part of this journey that I will remember most.
The video below was submitted to the judging panel during the preliminary round and offers a glimpse of the team’s interpretation of “Prayer Before Birth”. As the live performance on the competition day could not be recorded, this submission captures the performance that earned the team a place in the finals. Enjoy!
