Aspiring classical performers will find a home at SRMC’s Western Classical Faculty. Our academic team offers you the expertise across a range of instruments, be it in the Strings, Woodwind, Brass, or Percussion families. We are committed to providing you a conducive environment, so that you may hone your craft and exceed your musicianship potential.
Head of Western Classical Faculty, Principal Study Clarinet Lecturer
Qualifications
Bachelor in Clarinet, China Central Conservatory of Music
Profile
In 1987, Tang Xiaoping started his career as a Principal Clarinetist in the Central Opera Symphony Orchestra. The following year, he was invited to perform with China Youth Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland and Italy. He was then accepted into Boston Conservatory of Music in 1994 under the tutelage of Dr. Ethan Sloan. Here, he received the Outstanding Student Scholarship and Dean Scholarship.
In 1995, he joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has performed the famous repertoire of Mozart, Clarinet Concerto in A Major with. Some of his performances include International Chinese New Year Festival in Shanghai and in the Beijing Opera House. In Singapore, he has performed as a soloist in various Singapore Arts Festivals. For instance, he was invited by the Harbin Symphony Orchestra to perform with renowned conductor, Rylor Vladimir in 2015.
Principal Study Clarinet Lecturer
Qualifications
Bachelor in Music Performance with High Honours, Ohio University (USA)
Profile
Vincent Goh is an accomplished professional clarinetist based in Singapore. He began his music career as a clarinetist with Singapore Symphony Orchestra between 1984 and 2006, performing in Europe, America and Asia.
In addition, he has performed as a soloist with Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Singapore Armed Forces Band. Currently, he performs regularly as the Principal Clarinetist with Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, and Metropolitan Festival Orchestra.
Principal Study Double Bass Lecturer
Qualifications
Master of Arts, The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music (Poland)
Diploma in Arts, The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music
Profile
Jacek Mirucki was born into a musically-talented family, which has produced six generations of great violinists. Following his graduation from The Feliks Nowowiejski Academy of Music, he continued pursing his music studies in Vienna under renowned contrabassist Ludwig Streicher at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst.
Since 2003, he has been a Section Double Bassist in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he also mentors students in double bass at tertiary institutes such as Singapore Raffles Music College and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).
Principal Study Viola Lecturer
Qualifications
Doctor of Musical Arts, Michigan State University
Profile
A graduate from Michigan State University with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, Dr Yeo Jan Wea is both a seasoned performer and an experienced viola pedagogue. His performances include Musica Sinfonietta’s Big Bang! Camp Concert 2014 in Penang, where he played together with fellow renowned violinist Edward Van Ness.
Dr Yeo has also conducted for various educational institutions, including the Nanyang Technological University String Orchestra, the Republic Polytechnic String Ensemble, and CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School. As a much sought-after instructor, he has taught students at Singapore Raffles Music College and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) for several years.
Principal Study Classical Guitar Lecturer
Qualifications
Master of Arts, Nanyang Technological University
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Music, Kingston University (London)
Licentiate Diploma (Teaching), Trinity College of Music
Profile
Thomas Liauw is a professional guitarist and music arranger, who has performed at numerous recitals in countries such as Iceland, Italy, London, Poland, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and more. As an experienced instructor and the founder of Tomas Music School, he is dedicated to imparting his musical knowledge for music enthusiasts and budding musicians.
Back in 1990, he successfully completed his first recording entitled ‘Time for Romantic Guitar that quickly became a bestseller. His later works include arrangements for solo guitar, such as Favorite Collections for Solo Guitar Vol 1 & 2 (Pop), Jingle Bell Rock (Christmas Collection) and Guitars in Harmony (Ensemble Pieces).
He has remained an active contributor to the music scene, having organised the International Guitar Festival in Singapore for over a decade. In 2014, he was conferred the Order of the Star of Italy. Bestowed by the President of Italy through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the honorary award recognises his active promotion of Italian musicians in Singapore.
Principal Study Cello Lecturer
Qualifications
Master of Arts, University of Music and Performing Arts, Graz (Vienna)
Profile
Chan Wei Shing is the Section Cellist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He started playing the piano at the age of 8, and the cello at the age of 10. In 1985, he won First Prize in two categories of the National Music Competition – the Cello Open and Chamber Music.
He has studied under the tutelage of famed cellist Professor Angelika May at the University of Music in Vienna and subsequently with Professor Rudolf Leopold in Graz, Austria. In 1996, he was awarded the Masters Degree of Arts, with a major in Cello Performing.
Since then, he has been involved in many operas and concerts, including a trio performance with pianist Pascal Roger, and in the Singapore Arts Festival with the Singapore Dance Theatre.
Principal Study Percussion (Marimbas) Lecturer
Qualifications
Diploma of Arts in Music (Percussion), Victorian College of Arts, Australia
Profile
Lim Meng Keh graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts Australia in 1983 under the Singapore Public Service Commission Scholarship with a diploma in timpani/percussion. Upon graduation, he was awarded the coveted Billy Hyde Percussion Prize.
Since graduation, he has been a timpanist/percussionist with the SSO. He performed as soloist with the SSO in 1984 and with the SAF Central Band in 2000. He collaborated with the Singapore Dance Theatre in its premiere “The Ice Nymph” in 1989 and also represented Singapore in the Asian Friendly Concerts held in Fukuoka, Japan in 1994 and 1998. As a member of the SSO Percussion Ensemble, he has appeared on the SSO Chamber Music Series Singapore Arts Festival Fringe Concerts Shell Lunchtime Concerts and Esso Concert Series. Meng Keh has conducted workshops at various educational institutes since 1989.
He has been a tutor at the Singapore Youth Orchestra and the SYO Training Ensemble since 1985 and Lecturer of Timpani/Percussion at the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts since 1994. His students have attained distinctions in the examinations and were featured in the ABRSM High Scorer’s Concert.
Principal Study Harp Lecturer
Qualifications
Master of Music in Performance (Harp), University of Michigan
Licentiate Diploma (Harp), Trinity College of Music
Profile
As a Harp Recitalist, Katryna Tan has performed several recitals internationally and in the region. She was invited by the New South Wales Harp Society to perform in the Government House (2004), performed in the Adelaide Harp Festival 2006, 2012 and her 2007 engagements include concerts in France and the States.
Katryna has also performed in Japan, Hong Kong and Macau. She has appeared as guest soloists with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Armed Forces Band, Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra, the renowned King’s College Choir from England and Dingyi Chinese Chamber Orchestra. Katryna has also performed with prestigious orchestras in the region, including Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra, Macau Orchestra and Evergreen Symphony Orchestra (Taiwan).
Katryna regularly plays and commissions works by Asian composers. In addition, she composes and arranges music for the harp. In a solo recital in 2005, Katryna premieres her own composition—“ Water Dance”, inspired by an Ancient Chinese instrument guqin. Her latest works include “Jiang Jin Jiu” and “Sketches”. In 2007, she presented her works internationally in concert in Paris and in Washington under the Embassy Series. “Water Dance” was nominated in the category of Best Original Compositions in the 5th Cameronian Arts Awards in Malaysia. Katryna’s compositions has also been performed in the prestigious World Harp Congress 2011, Canada.
Principal Study Tuba Lecturer
Qualifications
Master of Education (Music), National Institute of Education
Bachelor of Music, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Profile
A recipient of the Conservatory Scholarship from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (National University of Singapore), Singaporean born Julian graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2013, and subsequently a Master of Education (Music) from the National Institute of Education (Nanyang Technological University) in 2016. He has since been involved with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Armed Forces Band as their principal tuba player, the World Youth Orchestra during the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore as well as the Singapore Lyric Opera’s various productions.
Julian’s passion in music education has seen him taught in various schools, tertiary institutions, as well as serving as music director in school bands in Singapore prior to his move to Desheng. Julian is trained in both IGCSE and IBDP Music Curriculum, as well as an IBDP Examiner for Music. Under his guidance, Desheng School’s IED has saw its first batch of music students accepted into renowned music conservatories in the US such as the Boston Conservatory and the Berklee Conservatory of Music. The students have also achieved a 100% distinction rate for Music during the 2017 IGCSE Examination.
Julian is also currently the conductor of Desheng IED’s String Orchestra, training student musicians with and without musical background to perform music.
Principal Study Trombone Lecturer
Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Education (Music), National Institute of Education
Bachelor of Music (Performance), University of Northern Colorado
Profile
Samantha Chong is the Music Director of several school bands. Under her baton, the bands have received Gold Awards at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging. Awarded a scholarship by the Singapore Public Service Commission to the University of Northern Colorado, USA, she has studied under renowned musicians such as Buddy Baker and Jack Robinson, and professors of conducting, Eugene Corporon and David Wallace.
Formerly a Trombonist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Principal Trombonist with the Singapore Festival Orchestra, Ms Chong continues to be active in the music scene. She is currently the Principal Trombonist of the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra and the Wind Stars Ensemble, as well as the band leader of WindWorkz: the Big Band.
A much sought-after music educator, she has groomed many lower brass players of the Singapore Youth Orchestra, the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Singapore Armed Forces Bands. She has also served as adjunct lecturer at Temasek Polytechnic, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the Singapore Raffles Music College.
In addition, she serves as the Vice-President of the Trombone Society (Singapore) and is active as an executive committee member of the Band Directors’ Association (Singapore). She also conducts the Methodist Festival Orchestra and the John Wesley Choir of Wesley Methodist Church.
Principal Study Flute Lecturer
Profile
Paul Huang received his Bachelor of Music in flute performance from the Royal College of Music (RCM) and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2015. He was awarded 2nd prize in the open category of the Singapore Flute Festival in 2016. Paul performs regularly with orchestras and chamber ensembles. In 2013, Paul and two other fellow school-mates formed é3rio. The trio won first prize at the 2017 Nanyang International Music Competition in Singapore. In the same year, they were awarded first runner-up at the Ipoh Music Festival in Malaysia.
To venture beyond being a musician, Paul has recently completed his postgraduate studies in Performance Science at the Royal College of Music. He aspires to help musicians further enhance their performance beyond classical music training through the incorporation of performance psychology in performance preparation.
Principal Study Violin Lecturer
Profile
Violinist Zhao Tian joined Singapore Symphony Orchestra in November 2018. Previously, he was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (Maryland USA) for two years. He recently performed “Scottish Fantasy” by Max Bruch with Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Orchestra in Malaysia. In 2015, he led the Manhattan School of Music Opera Orchestra under the baton of Grammy-nominated conductor George Manahan in a recording and New York Premiere performance of “Dangerous Liaisons” by Conrad Susa. In 2016, he served as the concertmaster of The New York International Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In 2018, He has toured with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra to the UK for a concert at Proms.
An active chamber musician, Zhao Tian has participated in many acclaimed music festivals including Aspen, Music Academy of West, and Texas Music Festival. His collaborations include Glenn Dicterow, Gil Shaham, Pichas Zukerman, Lucie Robert, David Takino. In 2014, he performed as the first Chinese member of the Seji Ozawa Chamber Orchestra in Japan.
Alongside violin performances, Zhao Tian is also a passionate teacher. He teaches at Orchkids Program in Baltimore as well as the Brooklyn Music Studio in New York City. Zhao Tian began his violin study with his father and enrolled Sichuan Conservatory of
Music at the age of 8. He continued his studies in Singapore as a full-scholarship student at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. In 2014, he was selected as an exchange student to the Peabody Institute of Music. He received two Master of Music degrees from Manhattan School of Music in Violin Performance and Orchestral Performance. His teachers included Glenn Dicterow, Lucie Robert, Lisa Kim, Qian Zhou, and Hu Weimin.
Zhao Tian’s numerous honors include the 1st prize of the Fuchs Chamber Competition (U.S), 2nd prize of the Canetti violin Competition (FRANCE), Prize winner in Hong Kong International Music Festival Concerto Competition (CHINA), and 1st prize in Southwest Regional National Violin Competition (CHINA).
Beijing Wind Music Orchestra Percussionist
Qualifications
BMus (Hons) Music Performance, University of West London
Professional Achievements
Former Percussionist at Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Concertised across regional countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia
Oboist, conductor
3 October 2018
Photo by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay
Yibin Seow is a Singaporean oboist and conductor. He is the Associate Conductor of the Orchestra of the Music Makers , and conducts the concert bands of schools like National Junior College (Junior High), Tampines Junior College, Chong Boon Secondary School and Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary). Whilst based in Europe, he was the Conductor of the Junior Royal Northern College of Music, UK, Principal Guest Conductor of North Cheshire Wind Orchestra, UK and Conductor of the Musikgesellschaft Harmonie Büsserach, Switzerland.
He has conducted at the Southbank Centre’s The Rest is Noise festival, BBC Radio 3 live broadcast, and guest-conducted bands like the Blasorchester Südwind, Germany, Zürcher Jugendblasorchester u25, Switzerland and the Sociedade Filarmonica Palmelense “Loureiros”, Portugal. He also worked extensively with British Orchestras such as Chester Philharmonic Orchestra, Stockport Symphony Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata.
Clarinetist and Associate Professor, Central Conservatory of Music
14 June 2017
Born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, Wang Tao is one of the pioneering clarinetists in China. He is currently the Associate Professor, Master’s Supervisor and Director of Student Affairs at Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing. An active performer on stage since the age of 11, he has held recitals in mainland China, the United States, France, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and more. He has won prizes in many prestigious international competitions, such as the First Prize at the 2nd China National Youth Clarinet Competition.
During his studies, he was trained by the best clarinetists of the nation, including Prof. Xiang Zhenlong, Prof. Yu Bo, Prof. Zhang Wu and Prof. Tao Chunxiao. He was also the first ever postgraduate with a Master’s degree on Clarinet in Central Conservatory of Music’s history. After graduation, Tao elected to teach in CCOM and was awarded full scholarship by the Italian Government. He further studied in the London Royal Academy of Music under clarinetist Michael Collins.
In 2011, Tao was invited as a Senior Visiting Scholar to New England Conservatory, Boston, learning with Richard Stolzman. Tao was then invited by Stolzman to tour with him in Japan as a guest performer. Artistically versatile across various professions and domains, he recently signed with Universal Music China in October 2015, following with the release of his first UMG album Night & Day. In December 2016, Tao stepped back to his origin – the classical world. His first classical recital album Schubert was released on the legendary yellow label, Deutsche Grammophon.
Pianist, Composer, Head of Teaching & Research, Central Conservatory of Music
14 June 2017
Born in Wuhan, China, Chen Xin Ruo began to study piano at the age of five. He entered the affiliated high school of Wuhan Conservatory of Music in 1993, during which he studied composition under his father, Prof. Chen Guoquan. In 1996, he continued his undergraduate studies in composition with Prof. Luo Xinmin at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. He obtained his Master’s and Doctoral’s degree in 2004 and 2008 under Prof. Guo Wenjing, one of the famous Chinese contemporary music composers.
In 2003, Chen Xinruo collaborated with famed clarinetist Wang Tao and formed “Children’s Garden”. As a piano and clarinet duo, they have released six albums in the style of pop and crossover by Primal Beat Creations (PBC) Music, Taiwan. The fourth album, “Send You a Blue Gift for Winter 送你冬日蓝”, won the Best Pop Instrumental Album at the 18th Taiwan Golden Melody Awards in 2007. In 2012, the sixth album, “Love Without Boundaries 爱无界”, won the Best Composer of Pop Instrumental Album in the 23th Taiwan Golden Melody Awards.
Chen Xin Ruo is also an active arranger and music director at many live concerts in China. Between 2008 and 2016, he has worked with famous pop singers including Faye Wong, Chen Chusheng, and Tan Wei-wei. He was also the orchestral arranger for the Film Soundtrack Concert of famous director Feng Xiaogang in 2011.
Histextbook “Keyboard Harmony and Improvisation” was published by Central Conservatory of Music Press in November 2016. Hs Guqin concerto “Jin Shang” (Wine Ecstasy, Guqin: Zhao Xiaoxia, Conductor: Shao En) received its first performance by China National Symphony Orchestra at Zhong Shan Music Hall in February 2017. In March, he composed the scores for the film “What a Wonderful Family”, directed by Huang Lei.
Multi-flutist, quena player, composer, and arranger
12 April 2017
Leonardo Garcia Fuenzalida is a Chilean multi-flutist, quena player, composer and arranger, based in Paris, France. He graduated from the Catholic University Music Institute of Chile (Western Flute performance) and from the Paris Conservatory (CNSMDP), in Generative Improvisation and Musical Acoustics. He has also obtained two French State Diplomas (DE), in Traditional Instruments and Flute, and a PhD degree in Sociology (music and religion) at the University of Paris-X.
Currently, he is a recording session and live musician, who performs Jazz, Contemporary and World Music. He is also a Lecturer at the Jazz Department of the Superior Artistic Pole of Paris Boulogne-Billancourt (PSPBB), teaching Traditional Music and Ethnomusicology. He has performed, recorded and taught in countries such as Bulgaria, Chile, Colombia, USA, China, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan.
Associate Principal Viola, Singapore Symphony Orchestra
9 November 2016
Born in Yunnan (Kunming), Guan Qi studied violin and music composition under the tutelage of his father at the age of twelve. In 1985, he studied the viola at the Central Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Professor Sui Ke Qiang, Wang Zhen Shan Lin Yao Ji, Csaba Erdelyi and Bruno Pasquier.
After graduation, he started performing as the Principal Viola at China Youth Symphony Orchestra, Central Opera and Dance Symphony Orchestra, and Marcan Chamber Orchestra. Guan Qi joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1988, and is now the Associate Principal Violinist.
Associate Concertmaster, Singapore Symphony Orchestra
30 March 2016
Kong Zhao Hui, currently the Assistant Leader of Singapore Symphony Orchestra, was born in Liaoning, China, and began to learn the violin with his father when he was six. In 1973, he was admitted to the China Central Conservatory of Music where he continued his music studies under the supervision of Professor Wang Zhen Shan and later, Professor Sui Ke Qiang. During that time, he was also the concertmaster of the China Pioneer Symphony Orchestra.
As an acclaimed violinist, he has performed in many concert halls around Asia, Europe, USA and Australia. The orchestras he has worked with include Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, Taiwan Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony and Chinese Orchestra, Queensland Youth Symphony Orchestra, Malaysia Youth Orchestra, China Central Orchestra, China Philharmonic, China Bullet Orchestra, China Opera Orchestra, China Broadcasting Orchestra, China Youth Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, and Orchestre de Bretagne.
Kong went on to release an album of Ma Si Cong’s violin works in 1995, and also recorded The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto with the China Central Philharmonic under the Hugo label in 1991 and 2003. Other albums he has recorded include Remembrance of Melodies in 2005 and Passion in 2016.
Cellist and External Lecturer, Central Conservatory of Music
Studied in Central Conservatory of Music Middle School and College, Orchestral Instruments Department, and the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, Orchestral Instruments Department.
Dr. Zhang is currently a cello teacher of the Chamber Music Department in the Central Conservatory of Music; a cello teacher of University of Music and Theatre Leipzig; a distinguished Cello player in the Jena Philharmonic Orchestra, Vogtland Philharmonic Orchestra, and Berlin Philharmonic Youth Symphony Orchestra; a cello teacher in Tongji University, School of Arts and Media; special guest cellist performer of Singapore Conservatory of Music; a visiting professor of Singapore Raffles Music College; and Founder of Cello Park Junior Cello Chamber Orchestra.
Beginning to learn piano at the age of 4, she later studied cello under the tutelage of the principal of the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, a cello professor, youth performer, and educator, Professor 娜木拉.
1995 – 2002 – Studied in the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School and College, Orchestral Instruments Department;
2002 – 2011 – Studied at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig, Germany, and was awarded her Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, and Doctorate.
In 2013, Dr. Zhang has also founded the first Youth Cello Chamber Orchestra in China – Junior Cello Chamber Orchestra (Cello Park), and in 2015 as well as 2017, they won first prize in many groups and solo competitions on the Taipei Cultural Music Competition.
In November 2015, as one of the mentors of the 7 cello students of Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, they had won three gold awards and two silver awards at the 18th Moscow International Cello Youth Competition under her guidance.
In July 2016, she has led the Junior Cello Ensemble and Shanghai Lian Lian Piano Ensemble to Germany for a number of exchange performances with Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt, Weimar Conservatory of Music Middle School and Musikakademie der Stadt Kassel “Louis Spohr” Music School.
In October 2017, the students whom she taught won third place in the Strings category in the Osaka International Music Festival, Japan.
In May 2018, the students under Dr. Zhang’s tutelage was awarded third and fourth place in the Youth Group Category during the International Cello Competition in Knuševsky, Russia.
In July 2018, Dr. Zhang founded a piano trio, WU-TONG Trio, in which she played the cello.
In August 2018, she led the Junior Cello Chamber Orchestra (Cello Park) to take part in Singapore’s first International Instrumental Competition, and they won all the Gold, Silver, and Bronze award in the Cello category in one fell swoop.
In January 2019, at the 13th Wichita International Cello Competition held in Prague, Czech Republic, the five students whom Dr Zhang taught won first prizes in their respective categories.
Dr. Zhang has also consecutively participated in the 2018 and 2019 Chinese New Year celebration performance held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council of China, and her performance was highly praised by the party and state leaders.
In May 2019, she organized the 4th Singapore Raffles Cultural and Arts Festival, Beijing area’s Instrument Competition, as the artistic director.
In June 2019, she was the main judge of the Western instrument Competition held by the Western Conservatory of Singapore Music Academy.
In July 2019, she led the Junior Cello Chamber Orchestra (Cello Park), Shanghai Lian Lian Piano Ensemble, and Wuxi Sisi Piano Art Group to Germany for a number of exchange performances.
In October 2019, she went to Australia to serve as the judge of the Strings Instrument category of the first Oceania International Instruments Competition.
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