Students will take on more roles at this year's National Day Parade, organisers revealed yesterday.
They will participate in the military tattoo display for the first time at the August 9 event while the Combined Schools Choir will return after a five-year break.
Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Chiong, chairman of the parade and ceremony committee, told a media event that having the students participate in the parade will "bring together Singaporeans from all walks of life".
Yuhua Secondary School will send 61 display band members to take part while the National Cadet Corps (NCC) Precision Drill Squad will send 18 students from Deyi, Woodlands Ring and Christ Church secondary schools, and Anglican High School.
Special education schools will also send 18 students.
As a result, this year's military tattoo will be the biggest one held at The Float @ Marina Bay, with more than 560 participants.
Since March, the participants have been spending nine hours every Saturday at rehearsals.
Christ Church NCC student Vicky Soh, 15, said the rehearsals have been a good way to make friends.
"It takes a while for me to get close to people so the rehearsals are helpful for a shy person like myself," she said.
Four secondary schools - Riverside, Unity, Yuhua and East Spring - will send 220 students to be part of the choir.
Rachel Robin Fernandes, a Secondary 2 student from East Spring, said she is looking forward to singing her favourite song, Chan Mali Chan.
Said the 13-year-old: "Taking part in the parade is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I'm both excited and nervous."
Mr Ng Hee Seng, vice-president of the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees, 62, will be marching in the contingent for the 39th time. He has been catching up with old friends at the rehearsals.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer said: "I've made a lot of friends over the years, and the rehearsals are great for spending time together."
Yesterday, pilots from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) flew their jets in three different formations as a teaser for the parade's aerial display.
One of them is a fighter jet painted blue in preparation for the RSAF's golden jubilee celebrations later this year.
More details will be announced at a later date.
