Singapore Chinese Orchestra
| Singapore Chinese Orchestra | |
|---|---|
| Orchestra | |
 Singapore Conference Hall | |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Concert hall | Singapore Conference Hall |
| Website |
www |
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1997, the 85-musician orchestra took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and culture and establishing new frontiers through the incorporation of Nanyang music elements in its repertoire. SCO has impressed a broadening audience with its blockbuster presentations and is fast establishing itself among its counterparts around the world. Known for its high performance standards and versatility, the SCO is recognized through invitations to perform at numerous prestigious events locally and internationally. In line with its vision to be a world-renowned people’s orchestra, SCO continues to inspire, educate and communicate through its music.
History
In 1968, an amateur Chinese orchestra was established as part of the National Theatre under the auspices of the Minister of Culture,[1] and became a performing unit of the People's Association Cultural Troupe, the People's Association Chinese Orchestra. This became a professional orchestra in 1974.[1] It later changed its name to Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Orchestra was inaugurated in 1996 as a national orchestra at the initiative of the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.[2]
Performances
Since its inception, SCO has impressed a broadening audience with its blockbuster presentations and is fast establishing itself among its counterparts around the world. In 2002, it staged a symphonic fantasy epic Marco Polo and Princess Blue as part of the opening festival of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. The following year, SCO produced a musical and visual conversation with Singapore’s most eminent multi-disciplinary artist Tan Swie Hian at the Singapore Arts Festival 2003. The orchestra celebrated Singapore’s 39th National Day in 2004 with a spectacular concert – Our People, Our Music – featuring 2,400 local music enthusiasts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. In 2005, it produced a mega musical production, Admiral of the Seven Seas, as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2005. In 2007, SCO was part of the 240-strong combined orchestra that performed at the Singapore National Day Parade. In the Singapore Arts Festival 2008, SCO joined hands with Theatreworks to present the ground-breaking production Awaking, which brought together Kunqu opera music and Elizabethan music. In 2009, SCO made history by becoming the first Chinese orchestra to perform in the opening week of the Edinburgh Festival, and in 2010, performed in Paris as part of the Singapour Festivarts.
Well known for its high performance standards and versatility, the SCO has performed at numerous prestigious events such as the World Economic Forum and International Summit of Arts Council in 2003, and the 2006 International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meeting.
The orchestra also toured Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen in 1998 and Taiwan in 2000. In 2005, it performed at the Budapest Spring Festival and the Singapore Season in London and Gateshead. In 2007, SCO performed at the Beijing Music Festival, the Singapore Season in the China Shanghai International Arts Festival, and the Macau International Music Festival. In May 2014, SCO was invited to perform at the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and in Suzhou to celebrate the Singapore-Suzhou Industrial Park’s 20th anniversary. These international platforms provided SCO with the opportunities to showcase its talents, propelling it to the forefront of the international music arena.
In line with its vision to be a world-renowned people’s orchestra, SCO widens its outreach by performing regularly at various national parks, communities and schools. SCO also commissions its own compositions and in 2006 and 2011, organised the Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition that incorporates Nanyang musical elements from Southeast Asia. In 2012, SCO organised Singapore’s first 23-day National Chinese Orchestra Marathon, a spectacular feat that drew the participation of 31 local Chinese orchestras participated with over 44 performances and an audience of 20,000. On 28 June 2014, SCO created history through the second instalment of Our People Our Music by breaking two Guinness World Records with the Largest Chinese Drum Ensemble of 4,557 performers and the Largest Chinese Orchestra of 3,345 performers at the National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub. It is with this vision that SCO continues to inspire, influence, educate and communicate through its music.
Patron and board of directors
Patron: Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister
| Honorary chairman | Mr Chew Keng Juea |
| Mr Robin Hu Yee Cheng | |
| Chairman | Mr Patrick Lee Kwok Kie |
| Directors | Mr Choo Thiam Siew |
| Mr Patrick Goh | |
| A/P Ho Chee Kong | |
| Mr Lau Kam Yuen | |
| Mr Lim Jim Koon | |
| Ms Lim Sau Hoong | |
| Mr Victor Lye | |
| Mr Ng Siew Quan | |
| Mr Seng Han Thong | |
| Ms Tan Choo Leng | |
| Mr Paul Tan | |
| Mr Till Vestring | |
| Mr Wu Hsioh Kwang |
List of musicians
Music Director - Tsung Yeh
Tsung Yeh joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as Music Director in January 2002. Under his direction, SCO expanded its repertoire with innovative works such as Marco Polo and Princess Blue — A Symphonic Epic, Instant is a Millennium – A Musical Conversation with Tan Swie Hian, The Grandeur of Tang, Thunderstorm, Admiral of the Seven Seas and Awaking. In Awaking, he melded Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu’s plays into one, elevating Chinese orchestral music to a higher level.
His perseverance and diligence have brought SCO’s performances to new heights, both musically and technically. Between March and April 2005, he led the orchestra on a tour to Europe at Barbican Center in London, The Sage Gateshead and the Budapest Spring Festival. In October 2007, SCO performed at the Beijing Music Festival, China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Macau International Music Festival, as well as at major concert halls in Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Shenzhen. In August 2009, SCO made history by becoming the first Chinese orchestra to perform in the opening week of the Edinburgh Festival. Tsung Yeh was awarded the Cultural Medallion 2013, the highest award given in the field of the arts in Singapore.
Resident Conductor - Quek Ling Kiong
Quek Ling Kiong was recipient of the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Singapore Young Artist Award (2002) and the NAC Cultural Fellowship (2013). He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under the NAC Overseas Scholarship, as well as the Lee Foundation and Singapore Hokkien Huay Kwan scholarships. He learned Chinese percussion from renowned master Li Min Xiong and Western classical percussion from Xue Bao Lun. He also explored various Chinese percussion arts with masters such as Li Zhen Gui, An Zhi Shun and Zhu Xiao Lin. After graduating from the Conservatory in 1997, he joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and became its Percussion Principal.
Quek Ling Kiong’s career in professional conducting took off when he became SCO’s first Conducting Assistant in 2003. In 2004, he became SCO’s Assistant Conductor as well as the Conductor for the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO). In 2005, he debuted with SCO at the opening concert of the 12th International Conference of WASBE (World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles). In 2006 and 2013, he led SYCO to perform at the Tainan International Arts Festival and Hsinchu Chinese Music Festival in Taiwan respectively.
Quek Ling Kiong was promoted to SCO’s Resident Conductor from 1 January 2013.
Assistant Conductor - Moses Gay
Moses Gay began his conducting career as the youngest conductor to lead SCO. In 2011, Moses Gay has started his artistic partnership with SCO in year 2011 as its Conducting Assistant, whilst pursuing a master's degree in Orchestral Conducting at the China Conservatory of Music on a full scholarship under the tutelage of Youqing Yang and Tsung Yeh. He was SCO’s Young Assistant Conductor-in-Residence of SCO since August 2013.
At age 16, Moses Gay conducted for the first time with his school orchestra and received much appreciation and applause from audience. Renowned conductor, Ku Lap Man, who was present at that time commented that Moses will be the next rising star in the conducting circle. In 2009, he was presented with the “Conductor with the Most Promising Potential” award at a conducting masterclass held at the China Conservatory of Music. During his course of studies, he has attended various international conducting masterclasses by famous conductors including Vance George, Mark Gibson, Leon Gregorian, Marc Trautmann. He was also mentored by Alexander Polischuk at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory.
Moses Gay was appointed as SCO’s Assistant Conductor from 1 August 2014.
Instrumental musicians
| Instrument | Musician | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Gaohu | Li Bao Shun | Concertmaster |
| Zhou Ruo Yu | Gaohu Associate Principal | |
| Yi Yu Long | – | |
| Liu Zhi Yue | ||
| She Ling | ||
| Xu Wen Jing | ||
| Yuan Qi | ||
| Zhao Li | ||
| Erhu | Zhao Jian Hua | Erhu I Principal |
| Zhu Lin | Erhu II Principal | |
| Ling Hock Siang | Erhu Associate Principal | |
| Ann Hong Mui | – | |
| Chen Shu Hua | ||
| Cheng Chung Hsien | ||
| Chew Keng How | ||
| Hsieh I-Chieh | ||
| Qin Zi Jing | ||
| Shen Qin | ||
| Tan Man Man | ||
| Zhang Bin | ||
| Erhu / Banhu | Tao Kai Li | |
| Zhonghu | Wu Ke Fei | Associate Principal |
| Chuan Joon Hee | – | |
| Goh Cher Yen | ||
| Li Yuan | ||
| Neo Yong Soon Wilson | ||
| Sim Boon Yew | ||
| Wang Yi Jen | ||
| Cello | Xu Zhong | Principal |
| Tang Jia | Associate Principal | |
| Chen Ying Guang Helen | – | |
| Ji Hui Ming | ||
| Lee Khiok Hua | ||
| Poh Yee Luh | ||
| Double Bass | Zhang Hao | Principal |
| Lee Khiang | – | |
| Qu Feng | ||
| Wang Lu Yao | ||
| Yangqin | Qu Jian Qing | Principal |
| Ma Huan | – | |
| Pipa | Yu Jia | Principal |
| Goh Yew Guan | – | |
| Hou Yue Hua | ||
| Tan Joon Chin | ||
| Zhang Yin | ||
| Liuqin | Seetoh Poh Lam | |
| Liuqin / Zhongruan | Zhang Li | |
| Zhongruan | Zhang Rong Hui | Principal |
| Lo Chai Xia | Associate Principal | |
| Cheng Tzu Ting | – | |
| Foong Chui San | ||
| Han Ying | ||
| Koh Min Hui | ||
| Zhongruan / Sanxian | Huang Gui Fang | |
| Daruan | Koh Kim Wah | |
| Daruan / Zhongruan | Jing Po | |
| Harp / Konghou / Guzheng | Ma Xiao Lan | |
| Guzheng / Percussion | Xu Hui | |
| Qudi | Yin Zhi Yang | Dizi Principal |
| Bangdi | Lim Sin Yeo | – |
| Bangdi / Qudi | Phang Thean Siong | |
| Xindi | Tan Chye Tiong | |
| Xindi / Qudi | Zeng Zhi | |
| Gaoyin (Soprano) Sheng | Guo Chang Suo | Sheng Principal |
| Ong Yi Horng | – | |
| Zhongyin (Alto) Sheng | Seah Kar Wee | |
| Zhong Zhi Yue | ||
| Diyin (Bass) Sheng | Lim Kiong Pin | |
| Gaoyin Suona | Jin Shi Yi | Suona / Guan Principal |
| Lee Heng Quee | – | |
| Zhongyin Suona / Diyin Suona | Liu Jiang | |
| Meng Jie | ||
| Cizhongyin Suona | Boo Chin Kiah | |
| Guan | Han Lei | |
| Percussion | Wang Jian Hua | Honorary Percussion Principal |
| Duan Fei | Acting Percussion Principal | |
| Tan Loke Chuah | Associate Percussion Principal | |
| Ngoh Kheng Seng | – | |
| Shen Guo Qin | ||
| Teo Teng Tat | ||
| Wu Xiang Yang |
Other musical positions
| Position | Musician |
|---|---|
| Conducting Assistant | Low Cher Yong |
| Arranger-in-Residence | Chuan Joon Hee |
| Lim Kiong Pin | |
| Sim Boon Yew | |
| Assistant Conductor | Quek Ling Kiong |
Names of all musicians, apart from the principal and associate principal, are listed in alphabetical order.
Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra
The Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) is a group of young musicians between the ages of 11 to 25 years old, It has been under the management of Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) sinces 2003 and held its premier concert ins 2004.
Committee
| SYCO Committee 2009 | |
|---|---|
| President | Heng Xiangle |
| Vice-President | Cheow Xunqi |
| Secretary | Chow Pei Yan |
| Scores Coordinator | Low Yik Hang |
| Wardrobe Coordinator | Chee Jun Sian |
| Welfare Coordinator | Koh Min Hui |
| Neo Ye Siang Desmond | |
| Managers | Lum Mun Ee |
| Yong Shu Rong | |
List of musicians
Music Director
- Tsung Yeh
Conductor
- Quek Ling Kiong
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 (2011)
| Instrument | Musician | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Gaohu | Yang Shihui Rachel | Concert Master |
| Eng Yah Mui, Vanessa | – | |
| Lim Wan Ying | ||
| Ng Rui Jun | ||
| Soh Zhong Nie | ||
| Tan Chia Sin | ||
| Tay Jun Wen | ||
| Zhang Chiyang | ||
| Zhonghu | Keuk Yanzhang, Daryl | Zhonghu Principal |
| Foo Lin Geng | – | |
| Lim Yi Yan | ||
| Neo Wen Kai | ||
| Sng Geng | ||
| Tan Jun Yuan (Chen Junyuan) | ||
| Tang Yui Mun Fabian | ||
| Teo Yin Song, Gerald | ||
| Yan Ling Yu | ||
| Erhu | Zhou Boyi | Erhu I Principal |
| Tay Zhi Wen | Erhu II Principal | |
| Aylwyn Seto Zi You | – | |
| Correena Wee Shi Jia | ||
| Eugina Koh Kai Xin* | ||
| Lai Si Jin | ||
| Li Siyu | ||
| Lee Michelle Belle | ||
| Nicodemus Yim Wai Tuck | ||
| Lu HuiYi | ||
| Rachael Sim Xsuen | ||
| Sean Lee Wen Wei | ||
| Theong Li Han | ||
| Thor Jia Wen | ||
| Yeo Ping Chong | ||
| Yim Kum Foong Christine | ||
| Yangqin | Wong Hui Wen | Yangqin Principal |
| Lim Sen Ji | – | |
| Wong Zhen | ||
| Guzheng | Tay Yvonne | |
| He Lang | ||
| Yuan Ting | ||
| Pipa | Tan I-Ming | Pipa Principal |
| Koh Hui Rong | – | |
| Du Ruo | ||
| Goh Sok Kie | ||
| Ong Yu Yan Nicole | ||
| Tang Yee Ting | ||
| Zhongruan | Lo Chai Xia | Zhongruan Principal |
| Chew Kee Wei | – | |
| Koh Hui Ru Jermaine | ||
| Koh Min Hui | ||
| Ngeow Si Ming Jonathan | ||
| Tan Su-Hui Sophy | ||
| Daruan | Chan Jing Wen Kenny | – |
| Tan Zhong Xiao | ||
| Liuqin | Chew Xin Yi Jessly | – |
| Lim Yun Yi | ||
| Qudi | Tan Qing Lun | – |
| Poh Hui Bin Joyce | ||
| Qudi / Xindi | Heng Xiangle | Dizi Principal |
| Tan Jun Qiang Jonathan | – | |
| Bangdi | Ng Hsien Han | – |
| Ong Ting Kai Jason | ||
| Gaoyin Sheng | Neo Ye Siang Desmond | – |
| Lim Xin Norris | ||
| Zhongyin Sheng | Cai Xiaohan | – |
| Ling Xiao Jin | ||
| Guan | Yu Sheng Hong | – |
| Gaoyin Suona | Chang Le | Suona Principal |
| Ng Chu Ying | – | |
| Ong Jun He | ||
| Tay Jing Wen | ||
| Zhongyin Suona | Bay Chuan Sheng Bennett | – |
| Cizhongyin Suona | Lee Ting Feng Mervin | – |
| Diyin Suona | Lo Jun An | – |
| Cello | Gan Ying Ying | Cello Principal |
| Chua Boon Yang | – | |
| Jasmine Sim Mei Xing | ||
| Chee Jun Sian | ||
| Wang Mei Zhi Cybil | ||
| Koh Kai En Eunice | ||
| Lai Si Ning | ||
| Lee Chang Yu | ||
| Lim Dao Xiang, Daniel | ||
| Double Bass | Damien Kee Hong Wai | Bass Principal |
| Fu Weiqi | – | |
| Ngo Lih Yee | ||
| Koh Khai Chuan | ||
| Yong Gang Gavin | ||
| Ng Wei Jie | ||
| Percussion | Low Yik Hang | Percussion Principal |
| Boo Chong Wei Benjamin | Percussion Associate Principal | |
| Goh Ek Jun | – | |
| Koh Bee Kwee | ||
| Li Chengying | ||
| Ng Zi Jian Kenny | ||
| Poh Zi Yang | ||
| Tan Mei Jou Joel | ||
| Wong Hui Sian Sharon |
Instructors
| Instructor | Instrument |
|---|---|
| Low Cher Yong (former)/ Zhang Bin | 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 |
| Guo Chang Suo | Sheng |
| Han Lei | Guan |
| Liu Jiang | Suona |
| Ji Hui Ming | Cello |
| Lee Khiang | Double Bass |
| Ngoh Kheng Seng | Percussion |
See also
References
- 1 2 Frederick Lau (2007). Music in China. Oxford University Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0195301243.
- ↑ "PAssion Arts Partners: The Singapore Chinese Orchestra". People's Association. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 18 March 2009.
External links
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