When karaoke was popular in the 1990s, the people in Singapore
were also interested in that entertainment. Most of the recorded
music then was for English, Chinese, Cantonese and Hokkien songs.
Although there was then no music for Teochew songs, Mr. Goh Eng Hoe
who taught singing in Chinese and Hokkien started to teach Teochew
songs. He later formed the first Teochew Opera karaoke singing
class on 4 July 1997.
The class which initially consisted of less than 20 members had expended
to 120 for the past 11 years.
There are now five classes at the various part of the island.
Most of the members are elders. A number of the members are
not Teochew-speaking. They are keen in Teochew Opera singing.
Many of them are also interested in Teochew Opera performance.
These amateur players attend their lesson weekly at classes held in
Community Centre, Resident Committee and Clan Association.
The members have the opportunity in stage performance.
It is also a review of what they have learnt.
The first performance was held on 11 June 2000.
The second performance was on 26 June and 27 June 2004.
The third performance was
on 1 July and 2 July 2006.
Picture of Mr. God Eng Hoe and one of his classes
The Class was invited to take part at
the Confluence of
Teochew Opera Performances on 14 July 2007.
The Class also organised a hundred-member-group on 7 October 2007.
The group visited Shantou, Chaozhou and Jieyang of China.
The group visited Jieyang Xiaomeihua Teochew Opera Training Centre
and had a stage performance with the young players.
When the group visited Chaozhou on 9 October, the Radio and
Television of Chaozhou together with the Chaozhou Teochew Opera
Association organised a stage performance
for the players of both cities to have cultural exchange.
The performance was then broadcasted in the television program.
