One Last Chord -- Tsubasa XI: 奇迹 Kiseki by Guitar Ensemble

Written by: Lee Seng Hun Jayden (26S6V)

Edited by: Lei Yanyang (25S61)

The stage during the performance, as seen from a phone recording. Studio Ardent

The pause during Zenzenzense lasted just a little longer than expected.

On stage, forty guitarists sat waiting beneath the lights while their conductor spoke to the audience — a segment they had only decided to include a few hours earlier. Nobody knew exactly when the music would resume. Yet when the cue finally came, the ensemble entered together almost instinctively, landing back into the piece in perfect sync.

Still from a performance by the J2 ensemble. Studio Ardent

For the graduating batch of HC Guitar Ensemble, that moment came to define Tsubasa XI, held on 25 April 2026.

This year’s concert carried the theme “Kiseki” — miracle — inspired by how fleeting yet meaningful moments can feel amidst the rush of daily life. Held in the middle of an intense academic season, the concert became a reminder to slow down and appreciate the experience of making music together.

J1 ensemble and their conductor, Mr Ow. Studio Ardent

That sense of quiet reflection shaped the concert from the beginning. Opening with One Summer’s Day, the programme eased audiences into a calm, contemplative atmosphere before gradually building towards brighter, more energetic pieces. The final performance, Zenzenzense, brought that journey to a close with a mix of excitement and nostalgia — fitting for the graduating batch performing together one final time. 

Behind the scenes, however, preparing for the concert was far from smooth.

Just two weeks before the performance, the school-wide power outage left the Guitar Ensemble without proper rehearsal venues. With around eighty members in the CCA, rehearsals became cramped and chaotic as batches squeezed into classrooms with poor acoustics. At the same time, members were juggling rehearsals alongside tutorials, assessments and other commitments. As with any large CCA, balancing different priorities and maintaining focus was difficult. 

Performance of 'Ashitaka and San'. Studio Ardent

Still, several pieces became especially memorable through the process. Rasputin, arranged by one of the members, turned rehearsals into a mix of chaos and laughter with its lively percussion and vocalisations. Meanwhile, Racing into the Night was added to the setlist at the last minute, leaving the ensemble less than two weeks to prepare it fully.

Beyond the performances, members spoke most fondly about the shared moments — goofing around during rehearsals, the exhaustion after long school days, and the memories built both on and off stage. More than anything, the ensemble hoped audiences would leave with a greater appreciation for the versatility of guitar music, as well as the joy shared between performers on stage.

Guitar Ensemble CCA photo at the end of the concert. Studio Ardent

Long after the final chord of Zenzenzense faded, what sticks to the mind the most for many members were the in-between beats — cramped rehearsals in temporary venues, the chaotic run-throughs of Rasputin that somehow always ended in laughter, and the endless collection of inside jokes that got them through every stressful practice. After all, that may be the truest meaning of Kiseki — not the music itself, but the people who made it possible.