Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO) is an amateur orchestra founded in 1986 based in Singapore. The music director and conductor is Yan Yin Wing who prepares musicians from all different backgrounds for concert around four times a year. The BHSO's many guest performers have included conductors Christopher Fifield, Ha Sung Ho; cellist Pal Banda; er-huist Wang Gui Ying; and pianists Albert Lin, Elena Metodieva and Michelle Seah Lai Kuan. Upcoming performances by solo artists include Sim Keng Boon, Cristine Coyiuto and Catherine Lan.
Yan Yin Wing
Yan Yin Wing pursued his music studies between 1976 to 1978 in London and obtained the Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) in violin teaching. During that period, he also studied conducting and was awarded a scholarship to attend a Summer Conductors’ Course in 1978 organised by the Ernest Read Music Association.
In 1984, Yan was awarded a grant from the Singapore Cultural Foundation to pursue a one-year Advanced Orchestra Conducting Course at the renowned Sweelinck Conservatorium Amsterdam. During that year, he also attended a Master Class (Orchestra Conducting) at the International Sommerakademie of the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria.
Yan has always been very much involved with the promotion of classical music and encouraging local talents in Singapore by bringing people from all walks of life and of all ages together to make music. Since 1989, Yan has been the driving force behind Singapore’s only community-based Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (BHSO). Not only does he conduct and direct the orchestra but he also plans and organises their concerts and gathering and encouraging participation and support. Whenever opportunity arises, he will showcase local music talents and also invite overseas musicians and conductors to perform with the orchestra. This has resulted in positive feedback from the community and greater participation.
In 1986, 1990, 1991, 1993 and 1994, Yan has represented Singapore to lead the delegation at both the ASEAN Youth Music Workshops and the Composers’ Workshop.
A keen composer, Yan’s composition “SALUTE” was premiered at the National Tribute Dinner for former Senior Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew. Some of Yan's other compositions for full orchestra, string orchestra, chamber works, songs and choruses have also been performed in Singapore and Malaysia. One of Yan's orchestral work "ASCENT" was also performed in China by the National Opera and Ballet Symphony Orchestra of Beijing. A recent composition that was performed was a forty minute Operetta titled "Jonah". Other significant projects include getting the community involved in orchestral and choral music. In 1990,a highly successful concert was performed together with the Belgium Boys’ Choir in celebration of Singapore’s 25th anniversary where one of Yan’s composition “5-Star Medley” (based on five popular community songs) was sung in four languages together with the audience. Other special engagements include Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's Inauguration Dinner, the Esplanade's Orientation & Trial Concert, the Debutate Ball held at the Ritz Carlton Singapore and the People’s Association’s 40th Anniversary held in 2000.
Since initiating an exchange programme with the Korea Symphony Orchestra in 1999, Yan has been invited regularly to conduct their concerts in Seoul. More recently, Yan has also initiated exchange programmes with Japan's Suginami Philharmonic Orchestra and Malaysia's Penang Symphony Orchestra.[1]