# NTU Music Express

NTU Music Express is an annual non-profit Chinese Song Composing Competition organized by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Chinese Society. Up till now, it has been held for twenty-two years consecutively.
In the past few years, "Music Express" has explored and stimulated the creative potential of many students, and become a platform for NTU students to show their talent. The aim of "Music Express" is to encourage people to participate in the Chinese song writing and express their feelings, views and thoughts.
"Music Express" was originally a non-competitive activity; the majority of participants are NTU students. Now, the competition is opened to any students, residents and citizens in Singapore and Malaysia who are below 35 years old and students above 12. Original songs will be given some comments by professional judges. Eight groups of finalists will be invited to participate in roadshow and workshop section.

## History

Previously, Music Express competitions were mainly focusing on Singapore tertiary institution students.
From the 12th to 18th, “Music Express” was divided into two groups which are group A, songwriting (contestants must compose the rhythm and lyric), and group B, lyric writing (contestants must fill in the lyric in the song provided by the organizer). Even though Group B is eliminated in the 19th Music Express, it was divided into Student Group and Public Group. However, Student Group was eliminated in the 20th Music Express. Despite this, Music Express has held its own event roadshows to the public outside NTU in 21st and 22nd Music Express. At the same time, the competition was promoted to Malaysia.
In the "Music Express" of previous years, Singapore's famous songwriters such as Ms Naomi, Mr. Wang Rui Qi, Ms. Xing Zeng Hua, Mr. Liu Guo Ming, Mr. Xu Huan Liang, Mr. Goh Kheng Long, Mr. Eric Ng, Mr Derrick Tham, Ms. Xiaohan, Mr Hong Junyang, Mr. Jim Lim and Mr. Zhang Si Er were invited to be the guest of honor and judges of "Music Express". In addition, famous singers for instance Serene Kong, Ah Du, Zhang Feng Qi, Wu Jia Hui, Joi Chua, Kelvin Tan Wei Lian, Huang Yida, Soda Green and Ling Kai were invited as special guests as well. Singapore singers, Kelly Poon and Stella Seah, were also few of the performing guests who had performed in Music Express.

### Previous Music Express-22nd Music Express

The twenty two Music Express was held successfully in August 2016. The nationwide Chinese Song Composing competition focused on Singapore tertiary institution students, in return numerous good entries were collected. Singapore renowned music recording companies, Touch Music Publishing Pte Ltd and Ocean Butterfly Music Pte Ltd are Music Express's official working partners.

## Timeline
### 20th Music Express

| Period | Event |
| 24 August 2014 | Grand Finale Performance |

### 22nd Music Express

| Period | Event |
| 20 Dec 2015 to 22 May 2016 | Original song submission period |
| 24 March 2016 | Music Sharing Session |
| 25 June 2016 | Workshop |
| 17 July 2016 | Roadshow |
| 20 August 2016 | Grand Finale Performance |

### 23rd Music Express

| Period | Event |
| 12 Dec 2016 to 22 May 2017 | Original song submission period |
| 29 March 2017 | Music Sharing Session |
| 17 June 2017 | Workshop |
| 8 July 2017 | Roadshow |
| 26 August 2017 | Grand Finale Performance |

## Prizes
### 20th Music Express

| Award | Prizes | Entries | Lyricist | Composer |
| First Prize | Cash $1200 + Trophy + Certificate | 《深夜》 | Ong Sanchez | Isaac Yong (Zheng Yu) |
| First Runner-up | Cash $600 + Trophy + Certificate | 《个人Siesta》 | Tiffany Kwa, Eddy Sng, Tammy Jeongin, Hanrey Low | Chong Yun Xiang |
| Second Runner-up | Cash $300 + Trophy + Certificate | | | |
| Best Performance Award | Trophy + Certificate | | | |
| People's Choice Award | Trophy + Certificate | | | |

### 21st Music Express

| Award | Prizes | Entries | Lyricist | Composer |
| First Prize | Cash $1200 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《认输》 | Boon Hui Lu | Cheong Waii Hoong |
| First Runner-up | Cash $500 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《转角的微笑》 | Wan Li Ying | Guo Wei Qi |
| Second Runner-up | Cash $300 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《傻瓜》 | Liu Zhi Huang | Yu Qing Jun |
| Best Lyrics Award | Cash $150 + Trophy + Certificate | 《认输》 | Boon Hui Lu | Cheong Waii Hoong |
| Best Composer Award | Cash $150 + Trophy + Certificate | 《转角的微笑》 | Wan Li Ying | Guo Wei Qi |
| People's Choice Award | Cash $100 + Trophy + Certificate | 《傻瓜》 | Liu Zhi Huang | Yu Qing Jun |

### 22nd Music Express

| Award | Prizes | Entries | Lyricist | Composer |
| First Prize | Cash $1200 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《时间逆转》 | Clover Ng | Grace Teo |
| First Runner-up | Cash $500 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《城市》 | Chai Siew Li | Chai Siew Li |
| Second Runner-up | Cash $300 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar | 《不说话了》 | Goh Chun Wei | Goh Chun Wei |
| Best Lyrics Award | Cash $150 + Trophy + Certificate | 《时间逆转》 | Clover Ng | Grace Teo |
| Best Composer Award | Cash $150 + Trophy + Certificate | 《脱离》 | Tee Yao Sheng | Tee Yao Sheng |
| People's Choice Award | Cash $100 + Trophy + Certificate | 《脱离》 | Tee Yao Sheng | Tee Yao Sheng |

### 23rd Music Express

| Award | Prizes |
| First Prize | Cash $1000 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar |
| First Runner-up | Cash $500 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar |
| Second Runner-up | Cash $350 + Trophy + Certificate + Acoustic Guitar |
| Best Lyrics Award | Cash $250 + Trophy + Certificate |
| Best Composer Award | Cash $250 + Trophy + Certificate |
| People's Choice Award | Cash $150 + Trophy + Certificate |

## Past finalists and guest performers

| Event | Finalists | Guest performer |
| 21st Music Express | Steve Soh & Rex Vun; Cheong Waii Hoong; Boon Hui Lu; Zhang Yi Qing; Yu Qing Jun & Liu Zhi Huang; Liu Song Yu; Guo Wei Qi & Wan Li Ying; Wang Jia Yi & Tan Hui Zhen | Serene Koh |
| 22nd Music Express | Chai Siew Li; Tee Yao Sheng; Sally Yiew; Clover Ng & Grace Teo; Goh Chun Wei; Chai Pei Shan; Hannah Pang | Ling Kai |