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Host:

• ​Wang Chenwei
  新加坡华乐团驻团作曲、南洋理工大学国立教育学院兼职作曲讲师、鼟乐团研究教育部主任、新加坡华乐总会理事

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Guests:

• Zhang Ronghui
  新加坡华乐团阮声部首席，新加坡阮咸学会会长，新加坡华乐总会理事，乐见音乐中心创办人

• Tan Su-Min, Clara
  新加坡阮咸学会副会长，国家艺术理事会音乐评估者

• Lo Chai Xia
  新加坡华乐团阮声部副首席，阮咸印象室内乐团高音阮首席，新加坡阮咸学会秘书，乐见音乐中心副校长

• Ngeow Si Ming, Jonathan
  新加坡华乐团阮演奏家，新加坡阮咸学会副秘书，新加坡阮咸印象室内乐团中阮及大阮声部首席

• Koh Min Hui
  新加坡华乐团阮演奏家，新加坡阮咸学会理事，新加坡阮咸印象室内乐团中阮首席

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Host: Wang Chenwei

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WANG Chenwei is Composer-in-Residence of Singapore Chinese Orchestra, adjunct faculty and composition supervisor at the National Institute of Education (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore), and council member of the Singapore Chinese Music Federation. As Head of Research and Education at The TENG Company, he is the main co-author of The TENG Guide to the Chinese Orchestra (2019), a 624-page book on instrumentation and orchestration.

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After graduating from Raffles Institution’s Gifted Education Programme with seven academic awards, Chenwei obtained his Magister Artium (five-year Master of Arts) with distinction and an Honorary Award (Würdigungspreis) from the University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he studied composition and audio engineering under a scholarship from the Media Development Authority of Singapore.

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At the age of 17, Chenwei composed The Sisters’ Islands, a symphonic poem which won the Singapore Composer Award at the 2006 Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition. This piece has been widely performed and recorded in various arrangements, most notably at Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural National Day concert in 2018. 

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Chenwei has received composition commissions by numerous organisations including the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Taipei Chinese Orchestra and the Ministry of Education of Singapore. He was commissioned by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra to compose four set pieces for the National Piano and Violin Competition 2019. Three of his compositions were commissioned as set pieces for the Singapore Youth Festival. His works have also been subjects of academic theses authored by three Taiwanese professors. 

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Additionally, Chenwei served as an adjudicator for Singapore’s National Chinese Music Competition 2020 and the Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation 2021 Guzheng ensemble category, as well as an external examiner for the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2021. 

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Chenwei’s efforts in composing, conducting, playing 12 musical instruments and writing in 12 languages was featured in Extraordinary People, a half-hour documentary broadcast on Singapore television on 12 May 2009. For his contributions to the music scene, Chenwei was conferred the Young Outstanding Singaporeans Award in 2011. 

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Guest: Zhang Rong Hui

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阮演奏家，新加坡华乐团阮声部首席，新加坡阮咸学会会长，新加坡华乐总会理事，中国陕西省民族管弦乐学会阮专业委员会顾问，新加坡阮咸印象室内乐团团长兼艺术总监，新加坡乐见音乐中心创办人。

 

蓉晖自幼跟随中国著名山东派古筝大师高自成先生习筝学艺。1985年考入中国西安音乐学院附中，师从宁勇教授攻读阮专业，并副修钢琴专业。曾荣获学校颁发的重奏奖。

 

1991年，考入中国音乐学院器乐系，师从苗小芸，张鑫华攻读阮与柳琴专业。

 

在校期间多次与中央电视台，中央广播电台，北京电视台等合作，录制了多张唱片及影视配乐。曾受邀为中央电视台录制中国首部中阮独奏《流水颂》MTV，并随著名琵琶大师刘德海先生代表中国音乐学院赴香港文化艺术节参演，95年获颁中国音乐学院颁发的单项奖。

 

1995年毕业，获学士学位，受聘中国中央歌舞团，曾获中国文化部专业人员技术考核阮专业组第一名，同时兼职任教中国音乐学院附中，并兼职中国中央电视台文艺部，参与了多个重要晚会及专题制作。

 

1997年，任职新加坡华乐团。曾出访日本,英国，法国,匈牙利，德国，意大利，捷克，希腊，印尼,马来西亚,台湾，香港等地。蓉晖的演奏音色淳美,技艺精湛,情感丰富,细腻动人，对不同音乐风格有着自己全面独特的艺术见解。

 

 从事演奏的同时，蓉晖积极投入阮专业的推广及教育。曾受邀新加坡国家艺术理事会，新加坡滨海艺术中心及新加坡莱佛士音乐学院举办阮专业讲座，多次接受95.8音乐电台及新加坡国家口述历史个人专访，并担任首届新加坡国际阮咸艺术节评委。在多年的演出与教学实践中,总结出自己独特的教学方法, 培养了众多优秀阮专业人才，学生们多次在国内外的器乐大赛中取得优异成绩.并考入国内外专业乐团，成为专业演奏家。

 

2005年,蓉晖创办新加坡阮咸印象室内乐团，团员多为历届比赛获奖者，乐团曾受邀为吴作栋资政，纳丹总统，陈庆炎总统，黄循财部长等国家政要演出，参与了新加坡成立45周年及新中建交20周年的文艺演出，新加坡总统星光慈善晚会，印尼雅加达爱乐交响乐团合作的华乐当下情音乐会，台湾柳琴阮咸艺术节，台湾柳琴室内乐团20周年庆艺术节，中国文化部首届国际丝绸之路艺术节等重要演出，同时，蓉晖还组织策划了阮咸与琵琶大师刘德海合作的《指点山河》音乐会，阮咸印象10周年音乐会，15周年线上MV《家》，著名作曲家张逸马专场音乐会《心乐印象》等重大演出，为乐团积累了多部经典阮咸作品，不仅提升了乐团在乐界的名声，也肯定了乐团在现代阮咸乐团发展中的推动地位，对当今阮专业人才的培养起着重要作用。阮咸印象更是首个被选入新加坡航空公司机舱视频音乐节目的华族室内乐团，之后阮咸精彩节目也播放在中华航空机舱，是新加坡最为活跃的阮咸乐团。

 

2021年初，蓉晖携手一群志同道合，热爱华乐，积极投入阮事业的音乐人，成立新加坡阮咸学会。

 

Guest: Tan Su-Min, Clara

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Tan Su-Min, Vice-President of Ruanxian Association of Singapore, graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Artsin Singapore (in partnership with the University of Wales) in 2011 under the scholarship of the National Arts Council(Local) with a Bachelor of Arts Degree with First Class Honours under the supervision of Zhang Ronghui, and was credited as the Best Graduate of the Department of Music. At the congregation, she was also presented with theEmbassy of Peru Award for her outstanding achievements both in academic studies and in music.

 

In 2011, she was awarded Singapore National Arts Council Arts Scholarship (Overseas) to pursue her Master’s Degree in Music Performance for Zhongruan under the tutelage of the famous Zhongruan virtuoso and composer Liu Xing andhas graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2014.

 

Tan Su-Min has achieved outstanding results in numerous music competitions, including first prize in the Solo Zhongruan – Senior Category in the National Chinese Music Competition in 2004; the NAFA-Music Essentials Concerto Competition in 2008; and Open Ensemble Category in the National Chinese Music Competition in 2008.

 

In February 2014, she was invited as a soloist by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra to world premiere Liu Xing’s Zhongruan Concerto No.2 at the 42nd Hong Kong Arts Festival. Thereafter, the HKCO conducted a popularity poll byasking music fans, the media and colleagues in the field to pick their favourite pieces from the works featured in the series since its launch and the 2nd Zhongruan Concerto was voted as the most popular performance. Thus, she wasinvited again to perform the Concerto with the HKCO for their season, Music About China 2015 in February.

 

In 2015, Tan Su-Min and her twin sister Tan Su-Hui were featured on 中国古筝网 as international artistes. She wasinvited as a soloist at the “2015 Bandu Ruan Festival”.

 

In 2016, She was invited as one of the representatives for “Bandu’s Five Future Master of Chinese Instrument project” for a China tour. She was invited by Esplanade to hold a duet recital, Twin Travellers with Tan Su-Hui at theEsplanade Recital Hall, featuring their duet compositions and arrangements. In 2019, she was invited as a soloist for“Bandu Music 15th Anniversary concert”.

 

In 2015, Tan alongside with her twin sister and music composer Dayn Ng formed MUSA band in 2015 and has since travelled to various countries for music festivals and performances. In 2019, MUSA was invited to be featured on China’s “Chinese Music Banquet” programme. MUSA_SG’s youtube channel has garnered over 8 million views with their original and arrangement works. They have recently been commissioned by Esplanade Theatres by the Bay to perform their original production “Reflections”.

 

Guest: Lo Chai Xia

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A home-grown musician, Lo Chai Xia, started her ruan journey under the

professional guidance of SCO ruan principal, Zhang Rong Hui. In 2014, Lo Chai Xia graduated with Bachelor of Music (Second Upper Honours) from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. She also took up a second instrument, guzheng, under the tutelage of guzheng master, Yin Qun while pursuing for her studies in NAFA.

Due to her outstanding performance throughout the course of her studies, Lo Chai Xia was awarded the National Arts Council (NAC) Arts Bursary (Local) from Year 2009-2013. In 2006, Lo Chai Xia clinched the 2nd prize (with the absence of 1st prize) in the National Chinese Music Competition, Zhongruan Open Category. In 2010, she participated in the Inaugural Beijing Ruan Competition and was awarded with a Bronze. She was also awarded a Bronze in the 3rd International Zheng Contest in 2013.

 

Lo Chai Xia was the zhongruan principal in the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) from 2010 to 2011 and was chosen to represent SYCO to perform at the “E-awards” organized by MediaCorp. She also represented the Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble to perform in the “20th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Singapore and China” event in Beijing. She has travelled to countries like Indonesia, China and Taiwan to perform.

Lo Chai Xia is currently the zhongruan associate principal of SCO, adjunct teacher in the School of the Arts Singapore (SOTA), the soprano-ruan principal in the Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble and the vice-principal of Ejoy Music Center.

 

Lo Chai Xia have many experiences in teaching. She is the Guzheng and Ruan instructor of many MOE schools; like Nanyang Primary School and often gets distinction in Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). Chai xia’s students also won prizes in various solo competitions.

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Guest: Ngeow Si Ming, Jonathan

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Jonathan Ngeow is one of the most sought after Ruan musicians of his generation. His ability to captivate audiences with his intrinsic musicianship and dynamic presence, coupled with his passion for advocating Chinese music through his media presence redefines what it means to be a Chinese instrumentalist, making him one of the leading Ruan musicians of today.

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A multi-award winner, Jonathan clinched the first prize (Zhongruan Open Category) at the National Chinese Music Competition 2010 in Singapore and performed his winning concerto with the SCO at the Prize Winners’ Concert. He was also awarded the silver prize at the inaugural Zhongruan competition organised by the China Nationalities Orchestra Society the same year in Beijing.

 

In 2017 he was invited to stage a recital at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and performed Zhongruan concerto (Reminiscences of Yunnan) accompanied by the Symphonic Winds. In 2018 Jonathan held a recital (Onwards) in the Esplanade recital studio as part of their Chinese Chamber Series and in that very year he recorded the music for Disney’s live action movie “Mulan”. In 2019 he debuts his solo recital at the National Theatre and Concert Hall in Taipei. In the midst of the Pandemic in 2020, Jonathan recorded the music for the Hollywood movie “Songbird”.

 

Jonathan is a versatile musician who is comfortable playing in an orchestra, chamber ensemble and as a soloist. Apart from being in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, he is also the founding member of DingYi Music Company, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble. Jonathan prides in teaching and inspiring the next generation of ruan musicians and hopes he can impart his knowledge to them.

Jonathan graduated with First Class Honours from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in partnership with the Royal College of Music (London) and the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing) under the tutelage of Mdm Zhang Rong Hui.

 

Guest: Koh Min Hui

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Koh Min Hui started learning the Zhong Ruan at the age of 8 under the guidance of Ms Xu Yi Ping. Since 2006, she has been under the tutelage of Mdm Zhang Rong Hui, Principal of Ruan in Singapore Chinese Orchestra, majoring in Ruan. A recipient of the Ngee Ann Kongsi merit award for degree studies 2010; Min Hui graduated from her BA (Hons) Music at NAFA in July 2011 and has been a full-time Zhong Ruan musician in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra since June 2011.

 

Being the only Gold Award winner representing Singapore in the 2010 Inaugural International Ruan Competition (professional youth category) organised by the China Nationalities Orchestra Society in Beijing, Min Hui also triumph many local competitions including the East Zone Chinese Instrumental Competition, the Inaugural Singapore Ruan Competition and the National Arts Council National Chinese Music Competition. In 2008, she was the first person in history of the National Arts Council National Chinese Music Competition to clinch the First prize in the Zhong Ruan Open Category.

 

Min Hui’s passion towards virtuosic excellence propelled her to represent Singapore in international engagements such as the 4th ASEAN Festival of Arts held at Pampanga, Philippines, and Singcham - a Singapore and China collaboration in Beijing whom the Guest of Honour was the former President of the Republic of Singapore, Mr S.R. Nathan. Some of her other notable achievements that shaped her career includes her feature as a soloist with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, invitation to perform during the book launch of late Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and to be the only Chinese Instrumentalist selected for the opening piece “Fanfare” with Asian Contemporary Ensemble for the National Arts Council Cultural Medallion award and Young Artist Award Prize Presentation. Min Hui is currently the sectional principal for the Zhong Ruan section in the Singapore Ruanxian Chamber Ensemble.

In addition to being a well sought after performer, Min Hui has also been actively teaching since 2007. As a Singapore representative, she conducted several instrumental workshops and solo performances for the 2016 ASEAN Music and Dance Connectivity supported by Thailand Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Min Hui is also professionally trained to teach children on the autism spectrum and has been teaching Ruan in Pathlight School since 2014. She is also the newly appointed the Ruan instructor for the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) from Jan 2020.

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