August 05, 2022
In this instalment of our #35forEMCC35 series, we spotlight Ganesh Kalyanam, the very first Executive Producer of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) Crew, back when EMCC was still called Campus Concerts! Ganesh shares with us how NUS staff and students worked together to pioneer Singapore’s longest-running university arts programme, and how these experiences shaped his current role as the Founding Director of The Republic Cultural Centre (TRCC) over at Republic Polytechnic, home to the iconic IGNITE! Music Festival.
How did you first get started with Campus Concerts?
Dr Victor Savage and a few other staff used to organise ad hoc shows on campus. In 1987, when I was in my 1st year, Dr Savage approached me, knowing that I had some experience in organising shows. We decided that in order for these shows to be sustainable and scalable we needed to formalise it and get a group of students behind it. Thus we formed the Campus Concerts Crew and initially did Friday lunch time concerts at LT 13. This soon grew to Wednesday and Friday concerts, expanding to the science faculty and eventually even doing show outside of campus.
How did your roles evolve during your time with Campus Concerts?
I was involved with the growing and training of the group till I graduated. As an alumnus, I came back off and on to assist. We were fortunate at that time to be able to make a pitch to ESSO Singapore (forerunner to ExxonMobil) to come in as sponsors. They saw the potential and have been supportive ever since.
What is the most cherished memory you have of your time with EMCC?
I was very honoured that the crew was recognised for its contributions to the arts and cultural scene, when we were awarded the National Youth Award and subsequently we received the Commonwealth Culture Award.
What has your experience with EMCC taught you about yourself as a leader in the arts industry?
It reiterated the importance that every single person plays in the presentation of a successful show. The artiste, the crew, the marketing and front of house — everyone is as important. What the audiences see is a spontaneous showcase of talent. What they often don’t see are the hours spent planning, promoting and rehearsing to ensure that the show is seamless, entertaining and meaningful.
How did the students’ passion for the arts intersect with what EMCC sought to achieve?
While the series gave a platform to artistes to showcase their talents, it also created opportunities for arts administrators, in the areas of artiste liaison, marketing, programming, front of house, technical crew, etc to bloom. Several prominent arts administrators in Singapore started their careers from Campus Concerts.
How has your EMCC experience complemented your professional life?
As Director of TRCC, I have had the opportunity to drive the development of the arts in the realm of the Institutes of Higher Learning in Singapore. In many ways RP’s Campus Arts Productions team is modelled after EMCC.
What hopes do you have for EMCC in furthering its arts outreach programme and pushing the boundaries of artistic expression by students?
I hope that EMCC will continue the tradition of celebrating both artists and everyone else that make these shows possible, like the crew, producers, etc. I am really proud to be a part of EMCC’s journey and pray that new generations of students will continue the tradition of celebrating the arts in all its facets.
About #35forEMCC35
NUS Centre For the Arts is proud to commemorate 35 years of ExxonMobil Campus Concerts (EMCC) through our #35forEMCC35 series. Spotlighting 35 individuals from past and present editions of EMCC, the series showcases how EMCC has complemented these individuals’ academic and professional lives, and their hopes for EMCC in the years to come.