The Orchestra of Music Makers: Lee Guan Wei at TEDxNUS
The Music Maker orchestra, composed of about 100 members averaging 21 years old, argues that channeling combined passions into action, guided by the needs for autonomy, mastery, and purpose, is how cultural impact is achieved. The group demonstrates this capability through its commitment to both musical excellence and societal contribution, evidenced by raising $1.7 million for charity and touring Malaysia. The speaker ultimately recommends using music not just for art, but as a tool for philanthropy, community bonding, and national development.
## Speakers & Context
- Speaker describes the "Music Maker" orchestra:
- Composed of approximately **100 members**.
- Average age of members is **21 years old**.
- Members come from different backgrounds and unite because of their love for classical music, viewing it as *"the epitome of artistic development in sound."*
- The group aims to coordinate schedules to perform music.
- The speaker notes that the orchestra’s name, "The Music Maker," is sometimes called redundant.
## Theses & Positions
- The fundamental message is that *thinking* about passions and ideas is insufficient; they must be put into **actions**.
- The power to organize a group greater than the sum of its parts is achieved by harnessing human drives:
- **Autonomy:** People require the freedom to express their ideas.
- **Mastery:** People desire the ability to improve their skills.
- **Purpose:** People need meaning in their work.
- The structure of the orchestra promotes a **bottom-up approach** where programs are decided by consulting the musicians, allowing passion to drive the organization.
- Music is a versatile tool with power to be used for philanthropy, building relationships, education, and medicine.
## Concepts & Definitions
- **Music Maker Orchestra:** A group of ~100 members dedicated to performing classical music while fostering both musical excellence and societal contribution.
- **Ode:** A poem by Arthur O'Shaughnessy displayed for the audience, which suggests musicians perform to affect others, and if they cannot find a way, they *"will just form one to just affect you."*
- **Bottom-up approach:** Programming and decision-making for the orchestra are determined by consulting the members, not solely by management.
## Mechanisms & Processes
- **Orchestra Formation:** Comprised of individuals who received musical training but chose not to pursue a full-time professional career.
- **Program Development:** The orchestra proactively programs its musical schedule for future years by consulting internally.
- **Synergy of Passions:** Combining the combined passions of people within the arts and culture segment is key to directing Singapore's artistic development.
- **Harnessing Drives:** Combining the elements of autonomy, mastery, and purpose guides the group’s execution.
## Timeline & Sequence
- The group plans to hold **two concerts** within the next **2.5 years**.
- **2009:** HSBC awarded the orchestra the **User Excellence Award**.
- **Past activities:** The group has launched **two CDs** and appeared in international and local newspapers.
- **Last month:** The orchestra toured to **Malaysia** as part of an exchange with Penang musicians.
## Named Entities
- **Arthur O'Shaughnessy:** Author of the poem displayed at the event.
- **HSBC:** Bank that presented the User Excellence Award in 2009.
- **Penang musicians:** Group involved in the Malaysia exchange tour.
## Numbers & Data
- Orchestra size: **~100 members**.
- Average age: **21 years old**.
- Number of planned future concerts: **13 concerts** (in 2.5 years).
- Charitable funds raised: **1.7 million**.
## Examples & Cases
- **Vienna model critique:** The speaker contrasts the traditional model where management dictates programs ("here's your program") with their own model.
- **Connection to Venezuela:** Reference made to José Bray, a TED Prize winner who uses music to educate children and develop character and discipline in Venezuela, bonding the society.
- **Mahler's Second Symphony:** Featured in a concert held in aid of the Straits Science Pocket Money Fund and the Business Times Running Artist Fund, featuring choirs from all over Singapore and Australia.
## Tools, Tech & Products
- **CDs:** The orchestra has launched **two CDs**.
## References Cited
- **Arthur O'Shaughnessy:** Author whose poem was referenced.
- **Daniel H. Pink:** Author whose work discusses the three motivational factors (autonomy, mastery, purpose).
- **TED Prize winner José Bray:** Individual who uses music education in Venezuela.
## Counterarguments & Caveats
- Critics suggest the name "The Music Maker" is redundant (analogous to "library of the book reader" or "highway of the drivers").
- The funding for developing large-scale community music projects (like the one in Venezuela) is noted as a challenge due to lack of resources.
## Methodology
- **Orchestra Governance:** The operational model is built on *consultation* with members to program, rather than unilateral management decisions.
- **Cultural Impact Model:** Uses music as a medium to stimulate societal cohesion, measurable through fundraising and public performances.
## Conclusions & Recommendations
- Passion and ideas require action to become reality.
- Actively structure collaborations around the three motivational principles: **autonomy, mastery, and purpose**.
- Aim to utilize music for wide-ranging social good, including education and philanthropy.
## Implications & Consequences
- The combination of art, community focus, and personal drive can elevate a local cultural scene, positioning the arts sector for broader societal benefit, potentially across the Asia-Pacific region.
## Verbatim Moments
- *"we are on average 21 years of age and come from different backgrounds ok"*
- *"do the book readers own their own library i mean do drivers on the highway in our case our musicians own our own orchestra"*
- *"we perform to affect you and if we can't find an avenue to affect you we will just form one to just affect you"*
- *"we want to use music to contribute back to society"*
- *"thinking doesn't get you anywhere you know you're not telepathic"*
- *"autonomy people want the freedom to have the ideas expressed"*
- *"the management are also the performers so in that way it's really a bottom-up approach"*
- *"the power comes here in civic society"*
- *"people passion the power of music and the purpose to serve the community"*
- *"we also brought together um choirs from all over singapore and from australia to put together mahler's second symphony the resurrection"*