What it means to go beyond: NTU alumni at the heart of NDP 2026

Text: Vivien Yap | Photos: NDP 2026 EXCO, Caleb Chia, Gareth Fernandez

When ME6 Caleb Chia Yeow Kwang delivers his commands at the National Stadium on 9 August 2026, it will be his second time on the stadium grounds for Singapore’s National Day Parade. The first was 20 years ago, when he participated in the parade as a Colours Ensign at the former National Stadium.

This year, he returns as Parade Commander – one of three NTU alumni at the heart of NDP 2026, alongside songwriter Gareth Fernandez and Karnatik vocalist Sushma Somasekharan.

Leadership inspired by people

This year, Caleb returns as Parade Commander, leading more than 2,000 participants on the nation's biggest stage. "To me, it's a privilege to serve," he says.

What surprised him most about the role are the people. "As I journeyed through parade preparations, I realised that a lot of my role is about building trust and bringing people from all walks of life together." When Caleb spoke to parade participants about why they return year after year, their answers stayed with him – they love their country and want to contribute.  

NTU partly shaped Caleb's philosophy of leadership, rooted in people rather than position. He completed his Master of Systems and Project Management at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) in 2019.

At NTU, group projects with course mates from different backgrounds taught Caleb (first from left) that a good idea can come from anyone, forming the building blocks of how he leads.

Caleb recalls not doing well in school and taking on a master’s degree was something he never thought he could do. "Completing my master’s in NTU taught me that how we start a journey doesn't determine how we end it. What matters is how we keep learning, growing and giving our best.”

Then (right) and now (left): Caleb revisits his alma mater, whilst looking back on all that he has achieved over the past decades.

Hear what it means to be the Parade Commander for National Day Parade 2026 from Caleb himself here.

Writing songs from the heart

Gareth Fernandez studied sociology at NTU's School of Social Sciences. His path to the 2026 National Day Parade began with a phone call from Bang Wenfu, the music director of this year’s Parade Show. The plan was for him to cover an existing song. But knowing the weight of this opportunity, Gareth asked if he could write an original song instead. In just a week, Gareth collaborated with musician and close friend Dru Chen to write the verse and chorus for ‘Sparkle’.

One lyric in the song captures both the spirit of the Singaporean experience and Gareth’s introspective songwriting: “pressure makes diamonds kid, so remember you're enough.”

"Singapore is beautiful and safe but it is also a pressure cooker," he says. "I chose to reframe that as something empowering."

His time at NTU was formative in developing the critical thinking that gives his songwriting its depth – the habit of going a layer deeper rather than resting at the surface. It was also in watching peers navigate their own paths that music stopped being a hobby and became a direction. He recalls being inspired by NTU alumni Narelle Kheng (WKWSCI/2016) and Jonathan Chua (SSS/2015), who were pursuing their passion as members of Singapore band, The Sam Willows, while still studying at NTU.

Not a stranger to big stages, Gareth has performed on various big stages such as 2018’s National Day Parade Show (left) and 2024’s Chingay Parade (right).

Now balancing music with his day job as an account executive in international software company, Rippling, Gareth has no regrets. “What I’ve achieved has provided me with unique perspectives that not many people have. Standing in front of Singapore for National Day this year has been nothing but incredible.”

Watch snippets of Gareth's performance and hear what it means to write 'Sparkle' for this year's National Day Parade Show here.

Finding herself at NTU

Sushma Somasekharan was abroad when she received a message about performing at this year's National Day Parade Show. She almost dismissed it as spam until she learned in person that the organisers specifically wanted Karnatik music featured. "The little girl in me would have never imagined that I'd ever be singing in front of the entire nation," she recalls.

A classical music system from South India, Karnatik music features alongside original Karnatik poetry Sushma wrote for her performance. Having left her corporate job more than a decade ago to study Indian music in Chennai, Sushma has since dedicated her life to the performance and preservation of this traditional art form.

An alumna of Nanyang Business School, Sushma credits two professors for inspiring her to learn beyond the classroom. Assoc Prof Poh Eng Hin, who taught income tax, sparked a love for the subject that led her to her first role at a Big Four accounting firm. Prof Ng Eng Juan, who taught her Financial Reporting Standards, had left a similar mark. Sushma has since come full circle, teaching Indian music as a lecturer at the National Institute of Education, paying forward the same inspiration her professors once gave her.

Having stayed in hall throughout her undergraduate years, she recalls how the campus shaped her inner life. "I would study in the classrooms and come back to my room at night. The cool night air and the tranquillity of nature became part of my psyche," she says. That introspection continues to shape her artistry today.

Watch Sushma and her performance at this year's National Day Parade Show here.

What the parade represents

To Caleb, Gareth and Sushma, this year’s parade and show is more than a celebration.

"The parade represents commitment, service, and unity - and those values belong to everyone. After all, the Singapore story is written by every single one of us,” says Caleb.

Watch the National Day Parade 2026 on YouTube.

Know NTU alumni with a story worth telling? Write to us at u-alumnimag@ntu.edu.sg.