No Mountain You Cannot Overcome - For 27 year old Alister, nothing is impossible, even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Not only does he believe in living life to the fullest, he wants to encourage others to do the same as well.

"I am a positive person and I always call myself the happiest man on earth!" chirps Allan. Allan has Down Syndrome but even so, he never lets anything dampen his joyous outlook on life.

Ammar may not be able to hear, but he makes his living as a dancer, theatre practitioner and filmmaker.

Bronwyn offers us a glimpse into her world, "Music is my life, I have always wanted to be a musician. For as long as I can remember, I love going onto YouTube to watch videos of music or dancing. One of my favourite shows to watch is Hi-5 – there's always singing and dancing involved!

Zi En shares his feelings while waiting backstage, “Every time I’m backstage waiting for my turn to perform, I do get very excited, but nervous as well. It’s always the same feeling. Usually, I say a prayer… calm myself down. ‍

Faith in Jesus is a big part of Angeline’s life. She said it has helped her to be resilient and understand that everything happens for a reason, including her deaf diagnosis when she was just two and a half years old. 

You probably recognise him as an actor from your favourite local television program, having acted in shows like 118 and Mr Kiasu.

Where music and love are known as our universal language, Jun Wei finds his voice and place in the world through his passion as a symphony musician and pride as a loving son.

“Just do it” That was the life motto that has inspired the countless adventures Chris Hortin-Tan has had as a blind runner, tennis player, triathlete and proud mother of two. Often used by her family members as an encouragement to try something new, the quote has also served as a pillar of support in her spectacular sporting adventures, including open water swims, climbing Mount Fuji, and running her 2nd full marathon in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Love and Accept me as I am - Christopher James Cheong likes eating many types of local dishes especially laksa, adores arts and craft, enjoys reading the newspapers and loves cycling.  He particularly enjoys travelling and seeing new places.  However, what he desires and wants most is acceptance.

An aspiration by Claire - "I hope that the marginalised communities in Singapore will stand courageously as one to fight for an inclusive and accessible home for all.  Together, we have the ability to lend a more resilient and collective voice, and create greater impact and value in people’s lives!

Never Running From A Challenge - Some people attain a sense of calm or serenity through yoga, others through a leisurely stroll in the park. For Darren Ho, peace comes from pushing past his physical limits.

“I am Autistic and Proud of It” - Researcher in autism and neurodiversity. Multi-disciplinary artist who creates immersive experiences through music, visual art, poetry and performance.

“I am Small but Mighty” It is no small surprise that the late founding father of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed tiny Singapore into a mighty global nation, is Eric’s biggest inspiration.

A spinal cord injury from a car accident four years ago left Zora with a physical disability that requires the use of a wheelchair.

The Beautiful Architecture of an Autistic Mind “He likes to doodle and observe architecture, adores cartoons such as The Simpsons and Snoopy, and is intrigued by how things like leather products are constructed. We love the architecture of his mind.”

Jun Heng shares his favourite piece of music, "It has to be Clair De Lune by Claude Debussy. I came across this number several times before learning how to replicate it on the piano.

Navigating Life In His Own Lane - Car enthusiast Huang Kaisong loves reading up on new cars, collecting diecast model cars, and playing racing games. While his journey has not always been a smooth sailing, Kaisong has always navigated life in his own lane.

A Photographer Who Sees Through Silence - “I executed the whole talk by communicating on my laptop. The audience wore earplugs and we communicated via texts, which were also shown on the big LED screen.

Jaffar opens up about his ideals, “I have a hope. That our young generation of Singaporeans can always remember and honour those who had worked so hard for our country, and never forget the sacrifices they've made.

Evident from the post-it-filled fridge door that maps out the schedule of the entire family, Jasmin is the steward to the clockwork system that perfectly organises the hectic at home. With that said, despite also being a business owner of 12 years, Jasmin still finds that the health and happiness of her two boys are her greatest achievement – especially for her son, Kaden. 

Jasmine has cerebral palsy in her left arm but she will let you know that she is still a strong woman.

Dancing Through Life - Jaspreet Sekhon extends her zest for life to everything she does. Be it through dancing, self-advocacy, or educating little pre-schoolers. Nothing stops her from moving through life with a spring in her step.

Jonathan reminisces his early days in Percussion, “If I can ever go back in time to pick my instruments again, I will still pick the Marimba, Xylophone and drum set! I love playing all three instruments although I think the drum set might be my favourite.

For Jonathan, it’s the little things that matter. A TV show at the end of the day or a video on YouTube, and that can of Coke. Because Jonathan has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, he could one day lose the ability to drink. Already, his throat muscles are weakening.

The best way to witness the good in the world is through an open heart. A visually-impaired advocate for the disabled community, Josh believes that achieving happiness is a choice we can make through the little steps we take, whether it be setting small goals or reaching out to others.

After winning his first overseas competition (the silver medal), Jovin Tan discovered that sailing is a sport he was going to put everything in.

Live Your Dream - There’s nothing Judy Wee can’t do. She swims, even participated in the Malaysia Paralympic Games, is the Executive Director of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) and a recipient of the Public Service Medal (PBM).

Like every dancer, June Lin lives life by the beat – always pulsating, always moving.

Justin fondly reveals, "There are many individuals who make an impact on my life. I would say my biggest inspiration is John Williams, the composer of the film scores for the Star Wars saga.

Purple, Gold, and Me - Receiving a gold medal is something Kiran never imagined he could achieve, but it became a reality when he turned 24 years old. Having trained to play Bocce for the past 8 years, Kiran has worked and trained hard to be the best he can.

Kishon views life as a continuous video game. Currently, he is playing it at “Hard” mode – a level that is a lot more challenging, but more rewarding when the obstacles are cleared – and he is playing it remarkably.

Jun Qi, our percussionist, reveals, “Long hands. That’s what you need to play the xylophone. It’s why I think my instructor recommended it to me - because I have long hands to manoeuvre between the long stretch of wooden bars.

Advocating the ExtraOrdinary - Deaf advocate, artist and founder of ExtraOrdinary Horizons - Lily Goh is an extraordinary advocate.

Zui Young was born with high astigmatism in his right eye and is only able to see with the right eye. But he never once lost sight of his passion for all things digital.

Luke reflects on his choice of instrument, "I think it's fate that I ended up playing the Zhongruan. I know, you're probably thinking 'What instrument is that?' You can imagine it as a Chinese guitar, which is also an alternative way of referring to the Zhongruan.

Luo Mang reveals the inspirational people in her life! “I have three special women in my life. My biggest inspiration is Teacher Natalie. She’s very professional and devoted in her teaching.

Max listens to K-Pop, loves horses and works in human resources for a multinational corporation in the commercial real estate services industry. It would all seem quite ordinary, except that Max is far from typical. Like all national athletes, he needs to plan his time so that he can attend to his training. Max has also represented Singapore in multiple international competitions.

I Can Do More - Meldip (Mel) has always believed that if there is a wheel, there is a way.

Making Sense of His Senses - Zahier lost his sight as a teenager. When he was warming up during a Physical Education lesson, his retina detached. The vision in his left eye suddenly went red and he likened it to having his eyes open while underwater.

Our Dizi musician, Kok Wee enthuses, “My favourite NDP song? ‘HOME’! That's the song that tells me no matter how tough life can be, home is still where we find our best support.

Tung Hei shares her weekly routine, “Four hours everyday. That’s how much I practise at home, two hours on the viola, and two on the piano. My favourite corner to practise at home is my bedroom! It’s cozy! So my music room is also my bedroom.

Food, Festivities and Music by Nicholas! “My first favourite thing about Singapore is how festive and special the atmosphere at Orchard Road can get, especially at Christmas, with decorations and light-ups. I love it all.

To Nurul, her blindness is simply one jigsaw piece that makes up the extremely vibrant picture of her life.

Orion expresses his love for his daddy, “I think my dad’s my superhero. He’s my biggest inspiration. He’s the one who taught me to play the French Horn. Did you know that we performed together for the first time at The Purple Symphony’s Annual Concert just last year?

Ming Yi has an onstage alter ego, "The me onstage is different from the me offstage. My onstage persona is more formal and immersed, especially so when I'm performing solo.

Samuel shares his story, “I am who I am today because of my parents, especially my mom. Besides being my pillar of strength, my mom was also the person who introduced the violin to me when I was just 6 years old.

Seven Times Down, Eight Times Up - If there is one thing that connects the world, it is music. It extends beyond our imagination and has the ability to make us feel out of this world. According to Sarah Leong, it also transcends all boundaries.

“Artistic, Not Autistic”. This would be the title of See Toh Sheng Jie’s autobiography if he had one. Befitting of the creative artist, he hopes for others to look beyond labels and notice his talents instead.

The Independent Me - We all have limitations. But we find courage to move forward because of people who cheer us on.

A birthday wish for Singapore by Sakinah, "It’s so much more fun practising with the orchestra. We used to play together at weekly rehearsals but now, we can’t. Yes, I really miss our rehearsals and gatherings.

He is as ready to enjoy life as his name suggests.

I lost my sight not my purpose - Tan Guan Heng lost his sight during the peak of his career in a publishing firm, but it didn’t stop him from pursuing his passions – writing and being of service to others.

Music can Touch the World - What is a (Purple) Parade without music? For singer-songwriter, award-winning copywriter and former Associate Creative Director Tham Yin May, music is her way of raising awareness of social causes.

For those who follow local sporting news, Theresa’s broad, happy smile and strong physique sitting atop a wheelchair is a familiar sight. The national swimmer, after all, clinched a Bronze for Singapore at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in a 100m breaststroke event.

The World is His Stage - Winner of the Goh Chok Tong Enabler Award in 2019, Timothy Lee or Timmy for short, takes all the roles in life very seriously, and with wonderful flair.

There is light at the end of the tunnel - A singer, content creator, sportswoman and environmentalist – these are only some of the ways that Wan Wai Yee has contributed to society.

Wesley is on the autism spectrum. To him, autism is a neurological difference to be embraced, not a disease to be eradicated.

Making a Splash - Swimmer, a Person with Disability, Advocate – these are identities Yip Pin Xiu feels most comfortable with. These are also the very things that enable her to be a solid voice for those who might not be heard.

Zachary muses, "It's usually love at first sight, but for me, it was love at first sound. When I was little, my parents brought me to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's Concerts for Children.