Singapore Chinese Orchestra
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The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra.[citation needed]
As the flagship of local performing arts groups, the SCO has the patronage of Prime Minister 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.
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[edit] History
Formerly a performing unit of the People's Association Cultural Troupe, the Orchestra was inaugurated in 1996 at the initiative of the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.[citation needed] This inception has been instrumental to the Orchestra’s elevation in its artistic pursuits, warranting it a national orchestra.
[edit] 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 Chinese and Mongolian. 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 Newcastle the same year.
[edit] Patron & Board Of Directors
Patron: Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister & Minister for Finance[citation needed]
| Honorary Chairman | Mr Chng Heng Tiu |
| Chairman | Mr Chew Keng Juea |
| Deputy Chairman | Mr Chia Ban Seng |
| Directors | Ms Chew Lee Ching |
| Ms Claire Chiang See Ngoh | |
| Mr Choo Thiam Siew | |
| Mr Hee Theng Fong | |
| Mr Heng Chye Kiou | |
| Mr Robin Hu Yee Cheng | |
| Mr Lai Hock Meng | |
| Mr Lee Suan Hiang | |
| Mr Neo Gim Kian | |
| Mr Ong Lay Khiam | |
| Mr Poh Choon Ann | |
| Dr Soh Kay Cheng |
[edit] List of musicians
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 National Arts Council (NAC).
During his appointment as the Assistant Conductor for SCO, he conducted School Concerts Series (Tunes of SCO) 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 (World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles) Opening Concert where he received a standing ovation from international audiences.
Quek Ling Kiong is now on study leave and the newly-appointed assistant conductor for the SCO is Ku pao-Wen.
Ku Pao-wen (Assistant Conductor)
Ku graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts, majoring in conducting from the School of Music, University of South Carolina. He is appointed as the Assistant Conductor of Singapore Chinese Orchestra and conductor of Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra in November 2006.
Born in Taipei city, Republic of China, Ku learnt the violin and piano since young, whereas he picked up the pipa at the age of twelve. Highly talented in pipa performance, he won many prizes in various national competitions. For example, he attained the Prize for Outstanding Performance in the Taipei International Pipa Concerto Competition in 1996, whilst being awarded First Prize for pipa during the Taipei Chinese Instruments Concerto Competition in 1982 and 1992. On top of that, he was also awarded First Prize in the Youth category for pipa during the Golden Instrument Chinese Music Competition in 1985, First Prize for the Youth category during the Taiwan Music Competition in 1986 and 1985.
During the years of study, Ku entered the National Taiwan Academy of the Arts, Chinese Culture University and the Graduate School of Music of the Taipei National University of the Arts (previously known as National Institute of the Arts) with top grades. Subsequently, he obtained a full scholarship for his masters at Lindenwood University in America, thereafter obtaining his doctorate in orchestral conducting under maestro Donald Portnoy from the School of Music, University of South Carolina.
After he attained his doctorate, Ku became an Assistant Professor at the Chinese Music Department of the Tainan National University of the Arts (Taiwan), where he taught Conducting, Chinese Orchestral Music Seminar, Performance Practice Seminar, Topics on Contemporary Music, Chamber Music, Chinese Orchestration, Music Appreciation, and conduct the university orchestra. He also taught at many other universities in Taiwan, and had hosted the programme, “Eastern Classics”, on Taiwan Philharmonic Radio Company Limited.
Ku’s conducting is skilled and full of emotions. He is often invited by many local and overseas professional music groups as guest conductor, and his outstanding performance have received much acclaim. His published works include his doctorate thesis, “The Unity of Chinese & Western Musical Elements – Tan Dun’s Symphony 1997 (Heaven, Earth, Mankind)”, “The Concepts of Lesson Planning and Design in Instrumental Ensemble for Chinese Music”, “General Discussion of the Principles of Application of “Immediate Space” in Conducting”and “Recent Developments of Large-scale Nan Kuan Performances in Taiwan”.
[edit] Instrumental musicians
| Instrument | Musician | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Gaohu | Li Bao Shun | Concertmaster |
| Wong Sun Tat | Gaohu Associate Principal | |
| Low Cher Yong | - | |
| She Ling | ||
| Xu Wen Jing | ||
| Zhang Bin | ||
| Gaohu / Banhu |
Tao Kai 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 | ||
| Chiang Kum Mun | ||
| Kong Yan Yan | ||
| Shen Qin | ||
| Tan Kim Lian | ||
| Zhonghu | Ng Boon Chai | Acting Associate Principal |
| Chuan Joon Hee | - | |
| Goh Cher Yen | ||
| Sim Boon Yew | ||
| Tian Xiao | ||
| Wang Yi Jen | ||
| Cello | Xu Zhong | Cello Principal |
| Chen Yang Guang | - | |
| Ji Hui Ming | ||
| Lee Khiok Hua | ||
| Li Hua | ||
| Poh Yee Luh | ||
| Double Bass | Wang Meng Ngee | Double Bass Principal |
| Lee Khiang | - | |
| Qu Feng | ||
| Yangqin | Qu Jian Qing | Yangqin Principal |
| Li Xiao Yuan | - | |
| Pipa | Yu Jia | Pipa Principal |
| Goh Yew Guan | - | |
| Hou Yue Hua | ||
| Tan Joon Chin | ||
| Liuqin | Seetoh Poh Lam | |
| Liuqin / Zhongruan |
Zhang Li | |
| Zhongruan | Zhang Rong Hui | Zhongruan Principal |
| Foong Chui San | - | |
| Ling Hwee Loong | ||
| Yeo Puay Hian | ||
| Sanxian / Zhongruan |
Huang Gui Fang | |
| Daruan | Koh Kim Wah | |
| Daruan / Zhongruan |
Jing Po | |
| 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 |
See Seow Pang | |
| Gaoyin Sheng | Guo Chang Suo | Sheng Principal |
| Ong Yi Horng | - | |
| Zhongyin Sheng | Seah Kar Wee | |
| Tan Eng Kiat | ||
| Diyin Sheng | Lim Kiong Pin | |
| Gaoyin Suona | Jin Shi Yi | Suona/Guan Principal |
| Lee Heng Quee | - | |
| Zhongyin / Diyin Suona |
Liu Jiang | |
| Cizhongyin Suona | Boo Chin Kiah | |
| Guan | Han Lei | |
| Percussion | Quek Ling Kiong | Acting Associate Principal |
| Ngoh Kheng Seng | - | |
| Shen Guo Qin | ||
| Tan Loke Chuah | ||
| Teo Teng Tat | ||
| Wu Xiang Yang |
[edit] Other musical positions
| Position | Musician | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Assistant | Lim Kiong Pin | N/A |
| Low Cher Yong | ||
| Arranger-in-Residence | Chuan Joon Hee | |
| Lim Kiong Pin | ||
| Sim Boon Yew | ||
| Yeo Puay Hian | ||
| Sectional Coordinator | Lee Khiang | For Bowed String |
| Tan Chye Tiong | For Woodwind, Percussion & Plucked String |
|
| Sun Huang | On Study Leave |
All musicians’ names (except principal & associate principal) are listed according to alphabetical order.
[edit] Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra
The Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra, or SYCO, is the youth section of the SCO. SYCO has produced professional 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.
The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) 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 (MOE) ECAC in 1969. The Orchestra was subsequently under the care of Young Musicians' Society (YMS) in 1980 when YMS became self-supporting. SCO formerly took over the management of SYCO in June 2003.
