Thursday, September 25, 2008

Singapore Chinese Orchestra

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra.

As the flagship of local performing arts groups, the SCO has the patronage of Lee Hsien Loong. It is located at the Singapore Conference Hall since 2001 after the revamp of the building. Under the baton of music director Tsung Yeh, the 70-strong orchestra aspires to introduce Chinese orchestral music to an ever-broadening audience.

With its aim in becoming a people’s orchestra, SCO has reached out through its Community Series concerts at the heartlands, Arts Education Programmes at schools and Outdoor Concerts at National Parks. In 2004, it launched its Caring and MusiCARE Series to bring Chinese orchestral music to the less privileged.

To develop Singaporean talents, the Orchestra began its Arranger-In-Residence and Conducting Assistant programmes in 2003. The former is to recognise the efforts of its local musicians who have actively been rearranging a number of works for the Orchestra, while the latter is a conducting mentorship for prospective local musicians. It has also set up a youth wing orchestra, the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra in 2003 to nurture young music talents into professional musicians.

History


Formerly a performing unit of the People's Association Cultural Troupe, the Orchestra was inaugurated in 1996 at the initiative of the then- Goh Chok Tong. This inception has been instrumental to the Orchestra’s elevation in its artistic pursuits, warranting it a national orchestra.

Performances


Aside from its regular concerts, the orchestra performed a symphonic fantasy epic, Marco Polo and Princess Blue, as part of the Opening Festival of Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in November 2002. This work featured not only the orchestra but also a chorus performing in and . A year later, the orchestra staged a musical and visual conversation with Singapore’s most celebrated multi-disciplinary artist, Mr Tan Swie Hian, at the 2003 Singapore Arts Festival. It was also invited for performances at the World Economic Forum in October and the International Summit of Arts Council in November 2003. In 2004, SCO celebrated the 39th National Day of Singapore by staging a concert featuring over 2300 performers titled "SCO National Day Concert – Our People, Our Music" at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Recently, SCO produced a mega musical production Admiral Zheng He as part of the 2005 Singapore Arts Festival 2005. SCO also embarked on its very first Europe Concert Tour to Budapest, London and the same year.

Patron & Board Of Directors



Patron: Mr Lee Hsien Loong,






List of musicians


Music Director


Maestro Tsung Yeh joined SCO as Music Director in January 2002. Under Yeh's vision, SCO's repertoire has undergone rapid expansion. He is credited with initiating and designing successful productions such as Marco Polo and Princess Blue, Instant is a Millennium and The Grandeur of Tang.

Yeh's persistence and hard work on the orchestra's performance quality has produced audible results in rhythm, tone quality, dynamic range and musicality. SCO successfully toured under Yeh's baton to Europe in March & April 2005 for concerts at Barbican Center in London, The Sage Gateshead in New Castle and the Budapest Spring Festival.

Tsung Yeh is also the Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United States and the Conductor Laureate in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He is the first conductor to be appointed as the Music Director of both the Chinese orchestra and the Symphony orchestra simultaneously.

Assistant Conductor


Quek Ling Kiong, a young and renowned homegrown percussionist and orchestra conductor, joined SCO in 1997. He is currently the Assistant Conductor of SCO and Conductor for the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra. In 2002, Quek received the Young Artist Award presented by the .

During his appointment as the Assistant Conductor for SCO, he conducted School Concerts Series for all levels of audience ranging from Primary to Universities. His specialty of hosting and conducting educational programmes include the Young Children’s Concerts, Young People’s Concerts and Outdoor and Community Series Concerts, are highly acclaimed by audiences. Quek has his debut with SCO at the Esplanade Concert Hall in 2005 WASBE Opening Concert where he received a standing ovation from international audiences.

Quek Ling Kiong is now on study leave to pursue a postgraduate in conducting.

Acting Assistant Conductor



The Current Acting Assistant Conductor of SCO is Yao Shen Shen. Born in 1982, Yao started learning the Erhu from the age of 4 years old from Professor Wang Yong De. He started learning the piano from 5 years old from Professor Wu Le Yi. Yao entered the Affiliated Primary School of Shanghai Conservatory to learn the erhu in 1992 and subsequently entered the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1995. He won the first place in the Erhu audition to Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2001 where he majored in both Erhu and conducting. He conducted the Affiliated Middle School of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music’s Chinese orchestra and a Japanese choir in a concert on 2005. Upon graduating, he gained admittance into the Shanghai National Music Orchestra in 2006 and is currently the Erhu musician and Assistant Conductor. In October 2006, Yao conducted the Shanghai Changning District Experimental Primary School’s Chinese orchestra in a competition and was awarded the first prize. In February 2007, he conducted the Shanghai Yan’an Middle School’s Chinese orchestra in a competition and won the gold prize.

Music Director


Tsung Yeh

Assistant Conductor


Quek Ling Kiong

Acting Assistant COnductor


Yao Shen Shen

Instrumental musicians




Other musical positions





''All musicians’ names are listed according to alphabetical order.''

Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra




The Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra , or SYCO , is the youth section of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra . SYCO has produced the finest musicians and composers in the local and international music scene.

SYCO recently staged its third annual concert on June 10, 2006 which saw the entire auditorium fully packed. In September 2006, the "Beautiful Sunday" Concert Series presented yet another breakthrough with SYCO making its debut at the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay .

In July 2006, 11 SYCO members, together with former conductor Quek Ling Kiong, travelled to Taiwan to participate in the Tainan International ChiShi Art Festival. At the same time, another 5 members successfully auditioned for and attended the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp conducted by Professor Xia Fei Yun.


Contents


* 1 Objectives
* 2 History
* 3 Committee
* 4 List of musicians
o 4.1 Music Director
o 4.2 Conductor
o 4.3 Resident Conductor
o 4.4 Instrumental musicians
* 5 Instructors
* 6 See also
* 7 External links

Objectives

SYCO gives talented young musicians the chance to work with some of the best music talents in the SCO and experience high quality professional music education and training. Through the training, SYCO hopes to inspire and nurture potential talents and groom them to be the future pillars of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

History

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra had envisaged setting up a youth Chinese orchestra that is affiliated to SCO years ago. This idea was initiated by the SCO Chairman, Mr Chew Keng Juea. The SYCO was formerly formed under the auspices of Ministry of Education ECAC in 1969. The Orchestra was subsequently under the care of Young Musicians' Society in 1980 when YMS became self-supporting. SCO formerly took over the management of SYCO in June 2003.

Committee


SYCO Committee 2006 President Heng Xiangle
Vice-President Low Yin Yin Michelle
Secretary Chow Pei Qian
Scores Coordinator Low Yik Hang
Wardrobe Coordinator Neo Wee Siang Jason
Welfare Coordinator Chew Junru
Ong Ting Kai
Managers Lum Mun Ee
Yong Shu Rong

List of musicians

Music Director

Maestro Tsung Yeh is currently also the Music Director of SCO, the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United States, Principal Conductor of the Beijing Huaxia Chamber Ensemble and Conductor Laureate in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta . He is also a frequent guest conductor for many orchestras around the world.

With growing reputation in the conducting teaching field, he has been one of the Artistic Directors of the Symphony Workshop Ltd in the Czech Republic since 1992, and has also taught the "Conductors' Guild Workshop in Chicago". He is also the master teacher of the International Conductors’ Workshop for contemporary music in Zürich since 1997.

Conductor
Quek Ling Kiong, conductor of SYCO.
Quek Ling Kiong, conductor of SYCO.

Quek Ling Kiong , a young and renowned homegrown percussionist and orchestra conductor, joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 1997. He is currently the Assistant Conductor of SCO and Conductor of SYCO. In 2002, Quek received the Young Artist Award presented by the National Arts Council .

Quek has been actively involved in his school’s Chinese orchestra as a percussionist. In 1982, he joined the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Chinese Orchestra to further his learning on percussion instruments. In 1994, under the encouragement of his teacher, Singapore Cultural Medallion recipient and renowned local conductor Mr Tay Teow Kiat , he furthered his studies in the Shanghai Conservatory of Music . In the same year, he was awarded the scholarship from the NAC, Lee Foundation and Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan , and continued his degree in the conservatory. Upon graduation in 1997, he joined the SCO.

During his appointment as the Assistant Conductor for SCO, he conducted School Concerts Series for all levels of audience ranging from Primary to Universities. His specialty of hosting and conducting educational programmes include the Young Children’s Concerts, Young People’s Concerts and Outdoor and Community Series Concerts, are highly acclaimed by audiences.

Resident Conductor

Ku Pao-Wen graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts, majoring in conducting from the University of South Carolina . He was also the Assistant Professor in the Tainan National University of the Arts Department of Chinese Music.

Instrumental musicians
Instrument Musician Remarks
Gaohu Lim Wan Ying Associate Concertmaster
Gu Le Le -
Koh Shi Hui Sylvia
Wang Koon Lee Dean
Zhonghu Chia Yong Hong Zhonghu Principal
Kwek Zi Kia -
Tan Hong Ging
Yeo Ting Ting Reena
Erhu Chew Jun Ru Gaohu/Erhu Principal
Hoo Yuan Yang Gaohu/Erhu Associate Principal
Giam Yue Ling -
Ho Qian Hui
Loo Jiamin
Neo Wee Siang Jason
Pang Jin Jia
Tan Kuen Cherng
Tan Ming Kwang
Tay Zhi Wen
Teo Yu Yao
Thor Jiawen
Wu Jun Jie Shaun
Zhou Boyi
Yangqin Loo Lian Wei William Yangqin/Guzheng Principal
Lur Khim Tian -
Tan Hao Song
Guzheng Koh Wei Ken Kenneth
Tay Yvonne
Wong Whye Khuin Nicholas
Pipa Low Yin Yin Michelle Pipa Principal
Koh Hui Rong -
Kua Hui Lin
Mah Sook Chen
Ng Kuan Seng Nicholas
Ouyang Qianwen
See Cai Yan Anthea
Tang Yee Ting
Wong Jie Xiang Raymond
Zhongruan Chow Pei Qian Liuqin/Ruan Principal
Cheng Zi Xin -
Chew Kee Wei
Koh Puay Chin
Sum Yu Heng
Tan Hwee Kng Stella
Tan Su-hui Sophy
Tan Su-min Clara
Zhongruan /
Sanxian Ngeow Si Ming Jonathan
Daruan Koh Min Hui
Liuqin Chew Xin Yi Jessly
Lim Yun Yi
Ng Shui Jaet Hanson
Qudi Tan Qing Lun Dizi Principal
Poh Hui Bin Joyce -
Qudi /
Xindi Sim Hui Fen Pauline
Tan Jun Qiang Jonathan
Wong Wai Hang
Bangdi Heng Xiangle
Ong Ting Kai Jason
Gaoyin Sheng Neo Ye Siang Desmond Sheng Principal
Zhongyin Sheng Wang Chen Wei -
Guan Lim Jia Wei
Tong Wei Jie
Wong De Li Dedric
Gaoyin Suona Tan Jian Shan Jonathan Suona Associate Principal
Bay Chuan Sheng Bennett -
Casteels Tzu-ming
Heng Shu Ling Serene
Ong Jun He
Zhongyin Suona Lee Ker Yih
Tan Boyuan
Cizhongyin Suona Goh Wei Hong
Diyin Suona Ng Chee Yao
Cello Sim Guan Jie Ryan Cello/Bass Associate Principal
Cheah Li Ping Jolene -
Choke Chong Hwee
Chong Mu He
Fang Yiyuan
Gan Ying Ying
Ng Xuan Wei
Tay Shu Wen Audrey
Ting Zhi Hong Elgin
Double Bass Fu Weiqi Cello/Bass Principal
Huang Hui Xian Julina -
Huang Shuinan
Percussion Toh Kai Siang Eugene Percussion Principal
Boo Chong Wei Benjamin -
Cheng Siew Sian Gina
Koh Bee Kwee
Liu I-hsin
Low Yik Hang
Tan Mei Jou Joel

Instructors
Instructor Instrument
Low Cher Yong Gaohu / Zhonghu
Ling Hock Siang Erhu
Zhang Rong Hui Zhongruan / Liuqin
Yu Jia Pipa
Qu Jian Qing Yangqin
Xu Hui Guzheng
Lim Sin Yeo Dizi
Lim Kiong Pin Sheng
Han Lei Guan
Liu Jiang Suona
Ji Hui Ming Cello
Lee Khiang Double Bass
Ngoh Kheng Seng Percussion

See also

* Chinese Orchestra
* Singapore Chinese Orchestra
* Singapore Symphony Orchestra
* Music of Singapore

External links

* Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra

Retrieved from " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Youth_Chinese_Orchestra "

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