SINGAPORE CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL
13.08 - 28.09.2025
新加坡华乐节
7.9.2025 (Sun), 3pm
SCO Concert Hall 新加坡华乐团音乐厅
“归” (Gui) – to return, to go home – is more than a physical journey; it is an emotional pull toward one’s roots, culture, and inner belonging. Revenir, the French word for “to return,” captures this universal longing with a cosmopolitan grace. This concert is a musical journey of return: to homeland, to tradition, to a shared cultural memory that transcends borders.
Set within the heart of Singapore’s multicultural landscape, "归 – Revenir" explores the dual themes of 乡情 (nostalgia for one’s homeland) and 海纳百川 (embracing all rivers – inclusivity and diversity). Through works inspired by ethnic folk tunes, classical forms, and interwoven cultures, the programme invites audiences to reflect on the places we come from and the broader world we belong to.
Sim Boon Yew
Music Director
Wai Sing-fat
Guest Conductor
Mayumi Sakai
Koto
Wong De Li Dedric
Conductor
Wong Hai Rong
Pipa
Chin Yen Choong
Conductor
Chua Keng Chiu
Shakuhachi
Tutti
Unity of Seven Hues - I. Green: Song of the Wind
composed by Zhang Zhao
Conductor: Wong De Li, Dedric
Tutti
Ode to the Sun - I. Crossing the River
composed by Wang Dan Hong
Conductor: Wong De Li, Dedric
Shakuhachi, Koto and Orchestra
Haru no Umi
composed by Miyagi Michio, arranged by Sim Boon Yew
Conductor: Chin Yen Choong
Shakuhachi: Chua Keng Chiu
Koto: Mayumi Sakai
Pipa Concerto
Singapore Premiere
Hanzi
composed by Zhang Yi Bin
Conductor: Chin Yen Choong
Pipa: Wong Hai Rong
- Interval -
Plucked Strings Ensemble
Scenes of Ili
composed by Gu Guan Ren
Conductor: Chin Yen Choong
Tutti
Singapore Premiere
Towering Dance
composed by Joshua Chan
Conductor: Wai Sing-Fat
Tutti
Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa
composed by Law Wai Lun
Conductor: Wong De Li, Dedric
Tutti
The Legend of Shadyr
composed by Liu Yuan
Conductor: Chin Yen Choong
Programme is correct at time of publication and may be subject to change without prior notice.
Music Director 音乐总监
Sim Boon Yew PBM 沈文友
Orchestra Conductor 乐团指挥
Chin Yen Choong 陈彦聪
Wong De Li, Dedric 黄德励
Guest Conductor 客卿指挥
Wai Sing-fat* 衞承發*
Gaohu 高胡
Daniel Liew 刘道翔
Ho Cheuk-man* 何卓汶*
Poon Chi-ming* 潘志明 *
Tan Pik Heng 陈必恒
Tham Xue'er 谭雪儿
Zhonghu 中胡
Tan Chuan You 陈传友
Wong Fong Chin 黄凤珍
Yong Lye Seng 杨来成
Erhu 二胡
Cherie Chia 谢嘉凌
Chow Yun Jing Pristine 周耘菁
Elaine Lui* 雷奕寧*
Gladys Png 方佳意
Jade Lim 林美玉
Joshua Mah 马敬知
Kong Qi Yuen 江慈缘
Kong Wai-kei* 江偉基*
Leo Liza 梁绿珊
Ngai Cheuk Yi Kate 倪卓宜
Ong Kok Keong 王国强
Philip Cheng 鈡沅勛
Tan Chuan Sheng 陈传升
Tan Toh Nguan 陈在元
Yap Yuan Xi 叶源熙
Bass 倍大提琴
Er Wei Hong 余瑋纮
Justin Lee 李挺正
Cello 大提琴
Ang Hui Zhen 洪慧真
Ang Kok Kiong 洪国强
Chloe Teo 张可伊
Dominic Lim 林家兴
Helen Wong Nim-chee* 黃念慈*
Jerwin Low 刘健玮
Kenneth Caleb Kee 紀承均
Lee Hao Jun 李浩君
Lee Kwang Kiat 李光傑
New K Yong 梁启融
Toh Lay Keng 卓丽卿
Yangqin 扬琴
Marcus Chow 周郁煌
Sow Yoke Yee 苏钰诒
Liuqin 柳琴
Angeline Low 罗宇恩
Chan Zhijun 陳祉均
Chen Yicong 陈艺聪
Khoo Wan Yee 邱琬颐
Lim Lay Ping 林莉萍
Vernice Oh 胡菀旂
Pipa 琵琶
Chin Zhi Yun 陈芝云
Loke Yng Miin 陆赢敏
Ng Yu Hui 黄宇慧
Wong Hai Rong 黄海蓉
Yew Siew Foong 饶少丰
Daruan 大阮
Kenny Chan 曾靖文
Lee Kee Song 李启双
Lim Jia Hui 林嘉慧
Soo Khor Hock 苏科学
Zhongruan 中阮
Jamie Tan Yong Xin 陈咏欣
Khiu Chui Yin Pauline 丘翠莹
Lee Pei En 李佩恩
Lee Poh Chee 李宝珠
Lee Yee Zin 李怡静
Lim Yue Yiao 林谷窈
Loh Rui Qi Rachel 罗瑞琦
Ng Bee Keng Kayne 黄美卿
Wu Zhuoxin 吴卓欣
Yan Wai Mun 甄慧雯
Sanxian/Daruan 三弦/大阮
Lam Chak-yin* 林澤延*
Koto 日本筝
Mayumi Sakai 堺 真由美#
Harp/Percussion 竖琴/打击乐
Glenda Goh 吴宣霏
Tan Chui Chen 陈翠贞
Dizi 笛子
Chua Keng Chiu 蔡景秋
Clevon Tan Yi Rong 陈奕荣
Ivan Tay 郑智豪
Lau Tze Teng 刘紫婷
Tony Ang 洪鼎量
Sheng 笙
Chern Jia Ding 陳加定
Donna Goh Ziyun 吳紫韻
Lim Jia Kang 林家槺
Low Ruizhe Adriel 刘睿哲
Sherelle Ng 黄诗雅
Soh Swee Kiat 蘇瑞傑
Teo Yijun 赵毅君
Suona 唢呐
Bryan Teh Jia Yi 郑嘉毅
Lee Kern Siang 李勤森
Ma XuanYi 马萱珆
Percussion 打击乐
Kadyn Lee 李泓纬
Lo Hoi-yee* 羅凱儀*
Seoh Eng Teck 邵荣徳
Tan Si Yi 陈思颐
Yeo Qin Jie Alvin 楊欽傑
* Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra香港愛樂民樂團
# Specially Invited 特邀
Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra
Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (KHCO) was established in 1974 and is a cultural group under the administration of Chua Chu Kang Community Club. As one of Singapore’s well-regarded community Chinese Orchestras, KHCO has long been dedicated to nurturing young talent and sharing the beauty of Chinese music with audiences at home and around the world.
The orchestra has received multiple accolades, including several Best Performance Awards at the National Music Competition, the Singapore National Youth Service Award, and the National Youth Letter of Commendation.
KHCO has had the honour of working with renowned musicians such as Chew Hee Chiat, Ho Man-chuen, Song Guang Hai, Wai Sing-fat, Zhang Nianbing and Zhou Chenglong. KHCO has brought its music overseas, performing in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan and Malaysia.
Beyond its annual concerts, KHCO is a familiar presence at festive events like Chinese New Year, National Day, Mid-Autumn celebrations. The orchestra also shares its music regularly through Beautiful Sunday Concert Series organised by The Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay and at special events hosted by the People’s Association and the Istana.
In 2022, KHCO launched Kopi Connect: Where Music Brings Us Together — an annual, heartwarming initiative that brings people together over music and shared memories.
KHCO also believes in the next generation. Through music exchanges, it brings together orchestras from secondary schools and junior colleges, encouraging collaboration, growth, and friendship among them.
At its heart, KHCO is dedicated to nurturing young talent and sharing the unique harmony of Singapore’s multicultural story through music. Whether performing in local heartlands or on international stages, KHCO aspires to bring warmth, connection, and inspiration to every audience it touches.
Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra
Established in 1979, the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra is committed to promoting Chinese music and inheriting its cultural heritage. The founding members were once selected as the Hong Kong Elites by the Music Office to tour overseas for performances. Currently, many of the members are professional musicians and winners of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival.
The Orchestra has made its mission to promote Chinese music. Apart from organising regular concerts in Hong Kong, the Orchestra has also been invited to perform at famous venues and festivals all over the world. The Orchestra has collaborated with renowned orchestras worldwide, including the Chengdu National Music Orchestra, Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (Singapore), Chao Feng Chinese Orchestra (Australia), Professional Cultural Centre Orchestra (Malaysia), BC Chinese Orchestra (Canada) and Edmonton Chinese Philharmonica Orchestra (Canada). Conductors and artists recently performed with the Orchestra include Sim Boon-yew, Choo Boon-chong, Li Tingyao, Loo Sze-wang, Chau Chin-tung, Samuel Yau Man-shing and Hathor Wai Fei-hung. The Orchestra actively commissions local composers for new works, including Joshua Chan, Ng Cheuk-yin, Chen Ning-chi and Tang Lok-yin.
Sim Boon Yew (PBM), music director
A renowned Chinese orchestral music practitioner, Sim was a zhonghu musician (1997-2017) and former resident music arranger with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). His great passion in Chinese music is exhibited in his active participation and promotion of it in numerous community cultural events. In 2001, he was conferred the Public Service Award by His Excellency, the President of Singapore.
Since 1981, Sim has been the Conductor of the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (KHCO), and now is its Music Director. Over the years, he led KHCO to perform in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Hong Kong in various music festivals and cultural events and was popularly received.
Enthusiastic in orchestral music, Sim has composed and arranged more than two hundred pieces of such with special interests in local ethnic tunes and render a deep impact to local Chinese music composing scene. Besides producing works commissioned by professional orchestra locally and abroad, Sim’s works also have been frequently played by amateur orchestras locally, and in China mainland, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Dedric Wong De Li, conductor
Dedric is the Assistant Conductor of the Ding Yi Music Company, Music Director of the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra and Nanyang Collective. In 2014, received the National Arts Council Arts Scholarship Recipient. 2016, He was featured by the Straits time Scholars' Choice. Panelist of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Singapore Youth Action Plan.
He graduated with Masters in Orchestral Conducting at the China Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Prof Yang You Qing, with the guidance of Maestro Tsung Yeh.
He graduated from The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 2007, Diploma in Music, majoring in Suona Performance. After his Graduation, He received guidance in conducting from Singapore renown Chinese music Educator, Singapore Cultural Medallion Dr. Tay Teow Kiat.
In 2006, Dedric clinched the first prize in the National Arts Council Chinese Music Competition’ Suona Open Category. Since than Dedric has further his Suona performing skills under the tutelage of many Suona masters in China. In 2008, he stages a Suona concerto with the Xi’An Music Conservatory Oriental National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2011, Dedric was invited by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a soloist to perform the Renowned Suona Concerto Farewell my concubine and accompanied by the Orchestra.
Dedric has also been selected to participate in the 2013 Taipei Chinese Orchestra Conducting Masterclass by Prof Zhang Guo Yong and Mr. Qu Chun Quan. While in 2015, he was selected to participate in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Conducting workshop conducted by Maestro Tsung Yeh. 2016-2017 served as the conducting fellowship with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
In 2016, Dedric he guest conducted and staged his conducting recital with the China Conservatory of Music Middle School Youth Chinese Orchestra. In 2018 he was invited to be the adjudicator of the National Chinese Music Competition and in 2019 Guest Conducted the China Sze Chuan Tian Zi Ensemble.
In the recent years, he has been actively performing and representing Singapore in many International Arts Festival, in countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, London, Wales, Australia, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Cambodia.
With his keen interest in traditional Chinese music, he received twice The Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts and Cultural Bursary in year 2004 and 2006.
Chin Yen Choong, conductor
Yen Choong is one of the founding members and Huqin musician of Dingyi Music Company.
In 1999, Yen Choong started learning the Erhu from Ms. Xu Wenjing. A highly talented musician, he quickly acquired a high level of skill in the instrument.
Since joining the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra in 2000, he has been featured as a soloist in various performances playing the Erhu and Banhu both locally and overseas. In 2002, Yen Choong took part in the National Music Competition and was awarded 2nd runner-up in the Erhu Open Category and led Dingyi Music Company to win the National Music Competition Ensemble category in the same competition in 2008.
Yen Choong was awarded the Arts and Cultural Scholarship by the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for his diploma studies at NAFA. Later, as a recipient of the National Arts Council (Singapore) Arts Bursary, Yen Choong became part of the pioneering cohort of Chinese instrumentalists achieving a B.A. (Hons) in Music from NAFA.
Yen Choong studied orchestral conducting with Mr. Eric Watson, Dr. Robert Casteels and renowned Hong Kong conductor Mr. Wai Sing Fat. He has also participated in conducting masterclasses with Mr. Yan Hui Chang and Mr. Xia Fei Yun. He is currently the Conductor of Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra and various schools. In 2012, he conducted the international combined orchestra, featuring musicians from Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Australia, for an invitation concert by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra.
Wai Sing-fat, guest conductor
Wai is one of the founders of the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra. He started learning Dizi in secondary school and graduated from the Hong Kong Conservatory of Music majoring in Oboe in 1984. He learnt conducting under Miran Kojian in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and became the first conductor of the HKAPA Chinese Orchestra. Since 1985, he has worked as a full-time arts administrator in the Music Office and the Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association respectively. He also obtained a bachelor’s degree in music in the Chinese University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in Business and Administration in the Open University of Hong Kong.
Wai has always devoted himself to music activities. He toured overseas and conducted several local and international orchestras. Apart from being the resident conductor of the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra, Wai is active in music education and orchestral training, such as the trustee of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund, vice president of the Hong Kong Bamboo Flute Society, committee member of the Hong Kong Chinese Instrumental Music Association, and advisor to the Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Music Office.
Mayumi Sakai, koto
Mayumi Sakai (堺 真由美) began learning the koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, at the age of five. Demonstrating exceptional talent from an early age, she received the Excellence Award in the under-15 division of the prestigious Michio Miyagi Koto Competition when she was just nine years old.
Driven by a deep passion for traditional Japanese music, she continued her studies and later obtained her official teaching certification in Japan. With a desire to share the beauty and cultural richness of the koto with a wider audience, Mayumi relocated to Singapore. There, she has been actively involved in community outreach—volunteering her time to teach children how to play the koto and performing at various cultural events to promote Japanese music and heritage.
Wong Hai Rong, pipa
Wong Hai Rong is a Singaporean pipa musician whose journey with the instrument began in 2008. She has studied under the late maestro Yanyu and Liuyan, President of the Pipa Society of Singapore. Hai Rong holds a Diploma in Music Teaching (2021) and a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Pipa Performance (2023) from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). She also possesses diploma certifications from both the NAFA–CCOM and NUS Chinese instrumental, now under TENG, grading systems.
A three-time runner-up at the Singapore Chinese Music Competition (SCMC), Hai Rong has showcased her versatility by performing with various ensembles, including the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Ding Yi Music Company, and The Purple Symphony.
In 2020, she joined the Siong Leng Musical Association as an artist, delving into the rich traditions of Nanyin music. Under their guidance, she expanded her repertoire to include the Nanyin pipa and sanxian. Her dedication led to her appointment as Assistant Manager for Education and Outreach in 2023, and as of May 2025, she serves as Siong Leng’s full-time Arts Manager, continuing to perform and contribute to the ensemble’s mission.
Chua Keng Chiu, shakuhachi
Keng Chiu’s musical journey began in 1996 with his first exposure to orchestral music, learning the Dizi under the guidance of esteemed local Sheng musician Mr. Er Chiang Song (余昌松). In 1999, he continued his training with Mr. Phang Thean Siong (彭天祥), a prominent member of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and later joined the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (吉丰华乐团). After attaining a Distinction in the NUS Dizi Diploma examination in 2010, he was certified as a registered Dizi instructor with Singapore’s People’s Association.
Driven by a deep passion for East Asian woodwind instruments, Keng Chiu began studying the Shakuhachi (尺八), a traditional Japanese bamboo flute, in 2009 under Master Ueno Koshuzan (上野 宏秀山). He later advanced his studies with Kizan Kawamura (川村 葵山), a Grand Master and lecturer of the Tozan Ryū School in Japan.
In 2022, he passed the Tozan Ryū Shakuhachi Certification Examination （都山流 尺八検定試験）with highest honours, earning the title of 首席登第 (shuseki tōdai), awarded to the top candidate. Over the years, he has performed regularly with the Japanese Association Koto Club and remains committed to promoting the art of Shakuhachi through performance and education.
Unity of Seven Hues - I. Green: Song of the Wind | Composed by Zhang Zhao
This orchestral suite celebrates the cultural diversity of China’s ethnic groups through the metaphor of color. Each movement represents a unique musical and cultural identity, blended with traditional melodies and modern techniques. Zhang Chao’s composition is both a tribute to the vastness of China's heritage and a musical embodiment of unity in diversity.
The first movement, Green: Song of the Wind, draws inspiration from the vast Mongolian grasslands. The color green symbolizes nature, vitality, and expansive landscapes. Composer Zhang Chao integrates musical elements from traditional Mongolian culture — including long-tune singing styles, horse-riding rhythms, and the timbres of folk instruments.
The music begins with a spacious and airy atmosphere, evoking the sound of wind sweeping across the steppe. As the tempo intensifies, listeners are drawn into a vivid soundscape of galloping horses and open skies. This movement captures the bold spirit of the Mongolian people and their deep connection with the land, presenting a musical portrait of grace, strength, and harmony with nature.
Ode to the Sun - Movement I. Crossing the River | Composed by Wang Dan Hong
This large-scale symphonic work for the Chinese orchestra pays tribute to the sun as a symbol of vitality, hope, and renewal. Through vivid orchestration and rich emotional contrast, Wang Danhong paints a musical journey from dawn to dusk. Fusing traditional Chinese pentatonic modes with contemporary techniques, the work celebrates nature’s majesty and humanity’s reverence for light and life.
“Ta Jiang” (“Crossing the River”) is a powerful musical portrayal of surging waters and courageous hearts. With dynamic rhythms and bold orchestration, Wang Danhong captures the grandeur of China’s rivers and the spirit of those who dare to journey through them. The piece is both a vivid landscape and a metaphor for perseverance and progress.
Haru no Umi | Composed by Miyagi Michio, arranged by Sim Boon Yew
“Haru no Umi” (The Sea in Spring) is a seminal work for koto (Japanese zither) and shakuhachi (bamboo flute), composed in 1929 by Miyagi Michio, one of the most influential figures in modern Japanese traditional music.
The piece paints an evocative soundscape of the Seto Inland Sea on a calm spring morning. Gentle waves, soft breezes, and the shimmering water are brought to life through lyrical dialogues between the instruments. The flowing melodies and subtle ornamentation embody the elegance and serenity of Japanese aesthetics, reflecting nature’s quiet renewal in spring.
Over time, Haru no Umi has become a symbol of New Year and springtime in Japan, often performed in celebratory settings. Its graceful simplicity and timeless charm continue to captivate audiences around the world.
Hanzi – Pipa Concerto | Composed by Zhang Yi Bin [Singapore Premiere]
Hanzi，“Chinese Characters” is a pipa concerto composed by Zhang Yibing, drawing inspiration from the forms, motions, and cultural significance of Chinese written script. Each musical gesture reflects the spirit of calligraphy — the brush strokes, the flow of ink, the rhythm of inscription — translated into the sonic world of the Chinese orchestra and the expressive range of the pipa.
The piece explores the visual and structural elements of Chinese characters: dots, lines, slants, hooks, and curves are mirrored through musical articulation and texture. Sometimes bold and swift like a brush racing across paper, sometimes solemn and steady like an ancient stone carving, the music resonates with a profound reverence for tradition.
This concerto is not only a technical and expressive showcase for the pipa, but also a powerful musical homage to the enduring cultural legacy embedded within the Chinese written word.
Scenes of Ili (Composed by Gu Guan Ren)
“Scenes of Ili”, composed by Gu Guanren, is a vibrant and expressive work for plucked strings ensemble, inspired by the natural beauty and cultural diversity of the Ili region in Xinjiang, China. The composition captures the vast grasslands, majestic rivers, and spirited dances of the region’s ethnic communities through richly textured interplay between traditional Chinese plucked instruments such as the pipa, liuqin, zhongruan, daruan, and sanxian.
The music is marked by driving rhythms, melodic flair, and a vivid sense of movement, incorporating folk idioms from Uyghur, Kazakh, and other ethnic musical traditions. Through intricate ensemble passages and expressive solos, Scenes from Ili paints a colorful and lively sonic portrait of a land steeped in tradition yet full of energy and life.
This piece is both a technical showcase and a cultural celebration, making it a favorite among contemporary Chinese chamber repertoire for plucked strings.
Towering Dance | Composed by Joshua Chan
This piece is constructed around several distinct musical gestures which are repeated, extended and transformed as the music proceeds. The major programmatic reference is the fanfare-like phrases played by the wind instruments and percussion, which is festive, exciting, and dance-like. It contrasts greatly with the much slower strings passages that appear in other sections, the texture of which symbolizes the meditative flying in the air. The first version of Towering Dance was commissioned by the Music Lover Chinese Orchestra in 2002. This is now the revised, second version of 2022.
Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa | Composed by Law Wai Lun
Composed by Law Wai Lun, this piece is a narrative Chinese orchestral work inspired by African folktales or symbolic storytelling. The piece tells an imaginative tale of a young prince who embarks on a journey, encounters a lion, faces trials, and ultimately forms an unlikely bond with the wild creature.
Structured in multiple contrasting sections, the music unfolds like a cinematic story — filled with tension, drama, discovery, and emotional resolution. Chinese traditional instruments are used to imitate sounds of nature and animals, while rhythmic motifs influenced by African percussion add exotic color and vitality to the score.
More than a showcase of orchestral color, the piece reflects themes of bravery, empathy, and the harmony between humankind and the natural world — making it a compelling and educational piece for both young audiences and seasoned concertgoers.
The Legend of Shadyr | Composed by Liu Yuan
Originally titled The Legend of Shadyr and also known as Uyghur Symphonic Poem, composed by Liu Yuan, is a dramatic and evocative work for Chinese orchestra that paints a musical narrative inspired by the landscapes, cultures, and myths of China’s western regions.
The piece follows the fictional tale of Shadir, a heroic figure whose journey across deserts and mountains embodies both physical and spiritual trials. Drawing upon folk elements from Xinjiang and Central Asia, Liu Yuan fuses rhythmic drive, modal melodies, and exotic instrumentation to create a vivid auditory landscape — one filled with the mystery of the Silk Road, echoes of ancient chants, and the solitude of the vast frontier.
Through sweeping orchestration and rich storytelling, The Legend of Shadir serves not only as a musical journey, but also as a reflection on faith, destiny, and the unyielding human spirit.