International Musicians Association Singapore
新加坡国际音乐家协会
The 4th Singapore Golden Lion Awards International Music Arts Festival
Judges
Mr. Kong Zhao Hui
Accomplished Violinist
Mr. Benjamin Loh
Steinway Artist
Pianist
Mr. Tang Xiao Ping
Clarinetist
Mr. Yu Shu Huai
Distinguished Dance Instructor
Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Founding director of the COI
Mr. Kong Zhao Hui
Accomplished Violinist
Mr Kong Zhao Hui began learning the violin at the age of 5 , with his father Kong Guangtian. At the age of 11, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and studied with Wang Zhenshan and Sui Keqiang. He also worked with violin masters including Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern and Yfrah Neaman.
After he graduated from the Central conservatory of music he was invited to teach in the conservatory and held the position of concertmaster of the Beijing Philharmonic chamber orchestra and guest concertmaster of China Broadcasting Orchestra. In 1987, Kong was invited to perform in the First International Music Festival of Macao, where he played The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto to great acclaim. To date, Kong has performed this work in over a hundred well-received concerts.
As a popular and beloved violinist, Mr.Kong has toured in many concert halls around Asia, Europe, USA and Australia. He has worked with both local and overseas based orchestra such as China Central Orchestra, China Philharmonic, China National Symphony Orchestra, China Bullet Orchestra, China Opera Orchestra, China Broadcasting Orchestra, China Youth Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra,Singapore Chinese Orchestra ,Macao Orchestra, Taiwan Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Queens land Youth Symphony Orchestra, Malaysia Youth orchestra, China Central Orchestra, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey, Orchestre de Bretagne.
Mr Kong is an accomplished violinist with a unique and sophisticated personality, a delicate and passionate approach to music. He has worked extensively on the piece Butterfly Lover and has been reviewed by Asia Weekly as an expert on the Butterfly Lover today. He has also been reviewed by music critic Oliver Chou as a rare and surprising interpretation of the work, in which he adds a great variety of new interpretations into the work, with his virtuosic and meticulous solo technique in the phrases and the use of bold and free tempo to emphasise the lyricism of the story and the tragic feelings of the main character.
Currently, Mr.Kong held the position of associate concertmaster of Singapore symphony orchestra and the guest concert master of Shenzhen symphony orchestra.
His discography includes:
Yellow river – the Butterfly Lovers (HUGO Productions (HK) Ltd. 1991)
Concerto Passion (CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL Audio-Visual Press 2006)
Ma Sicong’s Nostalgia - Collected Violin Pieces (Pacific Audio and Video Co.)
Five China compositions (Accord Music Singapore 1993)
Solo Chinese Violin Album (Accord Music Singapore 1994)
Mr. Benjamin Loh
Steinway Artist
Pianist
A native of Singapore, Benjamin Loh first obtained his B.Sc. in Economics from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. Subsequently, he studied at the Manhattan School of Music, where he graduated with a Master of Music in Piano Performance as a student of Dr. Marc Silverman. While a student in Singapore, he studied with the late Mrs. Lucien Wang.
Since returning to Singapore, he has successfully balanced the role of teacher and performer. Many of his students have won prizes in local and international piano competitions, and others have continued their musical training at prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School, Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, École Normale de Musique de Paris, Purcell School and Mozarteum University.
As a performer, he is often heard in chamber music concerts, and performs locally as well as abroad.
He is also very much in demand as a teacher, and has given lectures and master classes in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Italy and the U.S.A. In South Korea, he was on the faculty of the Asia International Piano Academy & Festival (AIPAF) 2008 to 2014, and was their International Advisor for seven years. He has also given lectures and master classes at the John Perry Academy of Music, the Hotchkiss Summer Piano Program, the Colburn School, the University of Iowa and the Chicago International Music Competition and Festival in the U.S.A., the Adam Gyorgy Island Academy in Indonesia, the 1st Chung Ang University International Piano Conference & Festival, Eumyoun International Music Festival and DMZ International Music Festival in South Korea, the 1st Bangkok Piano Symposium in Thailand, as well as at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival and the Music Fest Perugia in Italy.
As an adjudicator, he has been on the jury of the ASEAN Chopin International Piano Competition (Malaysia), International Chopin Piano Competition in Asia (Japan), PTNA Competition (Japan), All Japan Piano Concours (Japan), IIYM International Piano Competition (Kansas, U.S.A.), PianoHouse International Piano Competition (U.S.A.), Asian Youth Music Competition (Hong Kong), Kawai Asia Piano Competition (China), Taiwan-Asia Piano Open Competition (Taiwan), Asia Piano Competition (Taiwan), Philippines Steinway Youth Piano Competition, UCSI – International Piano Festival Competition (Malaysia), and the 1st Korea-Asia Piano Open Competition (South Korea). In 2016, he was appointed a juror of the World Piano Teachers Association – International Piano Competition (Serbia).
In the past, Mr. Loh has held the post of music critic for The Straits Times and The Business Times in Singapore. He was formerly Vice-President of the Singapore Music Teachers Association as well as Head of Music at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore. Presently, he is on the piano faculty of the LASALLE College of the Arts, and also maintains an active private teaching studio. He was also on the Advisory Committee of the Singapore National Arts Council National Piano and Violin Competition. He is also an Honorary Consultant of The Amigos Music Society of Hong Kong.
In 2005, he was given the Special Recognition Award by the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA) for his contributions to the Singapore National Arts Council.
Mr. Loh is a Steinway Artist.
Mr. Tang Xiao Ping
Clarinetist
Mr.Tang Xiao Ping began learning the clarinet at the age of nine. In 1983 he began studying at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China. Two years later he won Third Prize in the Beijing Youth Clarinet Competition.
After graduating with high grades, he was accepted into the Central Opera Theatre Symphony Orchestra as Principal Clarinet. In 1994 he was accepted into Boston University to pursue his Artist Diploma where he studied with Dr.Ethan Sloane. The following year he was nominated as the most outstanding student in the University and earned a Dean's Scholarship.Xiao ping held the assistant bass clarinet principal of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra .
Mr. Yu Shu Huai
Distinguished Dance Instructor
As a distinguished professional dancer with National Grade 2 Performer of China, Yu Shu Huai has been performing as Principal Dancer and teaching dance for more than 40 years. In 1994, Mr Yu was invited to Singapore to teach Ballet and Chinese Dance for children and adults, which has been 23 years until present. His major academic activities include CCA instruction under MOE in local primary, secondary schools and Junior Colleges as well as RAD syllabus, the age of students widely ranges from 3 to 78 years old. As CCA instructor, Mr Yu led the schools attained many Gold, Silver, Bronze and Distinguished Awards in yearly Singapore Youth Festival (SYF), regional and international dance competitions.
Mr Yu obtained registration of Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) London in 1999. He is a senior RAD ballet instructor with more than 20 years teaching experiences of RAD Preliminary (Grade 1-8) and Vocational syllabus (Grade Intermediate Foundation – Advanced II). From 2014 to 2019, Mr Yu joined Singapore Nangyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) as part time ballet teacher. He is highly qualified in knowledge and skills of dance, helping many students to improve their techniques consistently and obtain high scores (Distinguished / Merit) in the yearly RAD ballet dance examinations.
In addition to academic activities, Mr Yu established Singapore Dance Dynamics Group- a non-profit organization under National Arts Council- and worked as Artistic Director and Choreographer, actively participating in the performances organized by National Arts Council, People’s Association and various communities.
Dr. Chua Soo Pong
Founding director of the COI
Dr. Chua Soo Pong obtained his PhD from the Queens University of Belfast, U.K. in 1979,
and his M.Sc. from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London in 1976. In 1972, he received his B.A. (Hons) from Nanyang University, Singapore. He taught at National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technology University, Osaka University, Chualalongkorn University, Bangkok University, and was Senior Consultant, Centre for Chinese Studies of the SIM University in Singapore. In the recent years, he taught at the Hanoi Academy of Film and Theatre and National Academy of Dance in Vietnam as a Visiting Professor. He has been the Artistic Advisor of the Vietnam National Theater and Vietnam National Tuong Theatre.
Dr. Chua has published extensively on intangible cultural heritage and the traditional theatre in East and Southeast Asia. He is the author/ editor of books and essays on Chinese opera, traditional theatre in Southeast Asia and dance in Singapore. He is also co-editor (Asia Volume) of the World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre published by Rutledge, London in 1998. He was the editor of “Performing Arts”, the first journal on the arts in Singapore, published by the National Theatre Trust, from 1983 to 1989. He has been writing on dance, intangible cultural heritage and theatre for bi-lingual magazine “Yuan”, Singapore, as a columnist since 2013.
Dr. Chua is also a choreographer, director, playwright, and theatre and dance reviewer and has been actively serving the arts community in Singapore as an art advocate, critic, and acted as advisor for over a dozens of dance, theatre and literacy groups in Singapore since the early 80s. His dance, plays and Chinese opera productions have been performed in over thirty countries.
Dr. Chua is one of the co-founders of the ASEAN Puppetry Association (APA) and its Vice President since its inception in 2006. He is also a co-founder of Asia Dance Association (1983) , and the Commonwealth Theatre Lab (1989). He was the President of World Dance Alliance (Singapore) from 2006-2007, Founding Director of the School of Performing Arts at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (1999-2000). Dr. Chua was the first Senior Specialist (SEAMEO SPAFA Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (1989-1995).
Since 2011, Dr. Chua has been invited by leading theatre companies in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Zhejiang China and Vietnam to produce new works in Hanoi, Vietnam; Siem Reap, Cambodia and Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Zhejiang provinces in China. These productions he created toured Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Canada, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Monaco, Thailand, Turkey and USA etc. He actively contributes to international exchange programmes and promotes understanding between cultures.
Dr. Chua has been actively serving the arts community in Singapore as an art advocate, critic, and acted as advisor for over a dozens of dance, theatre and literary groups since the early 80s in Singapore. He is a recipient of Singapore International Foundation for the many projects to promote the arts internationally since 2000.
Festival Experts
Mdm. Wu Yili
First-generation Chinese Pianist
Mr. Lee Yuk Chuan
Well-known conductor in Singapore
Mr. Boris Kraljevic
Pianist
Mr. Chua Lik Wuk
Violinist
Mr. Andrew Ma
One of the Best Hong Kong Pianists
Mr. Shuenda Wong
Pianist
Mdm. Wu Yili
First-generation Chinese Pianist
Wu Yili was a prominent member of the first generation of musicians after the founding of New China. She was recognized as a first-rate instrumentalist of the nation. Over the decades, she has been an accomplished concert pianist as well as an active music educator; she has taught numerous students in China, the United States and Singapore. After debuting with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in 1948 at the Shanghai Lyceum Theatre, accompanied by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Wu found fame in China. In 1955, Wu became the first solo pianist for the China National Symphony Orchestra after a year after joining, and was recognized as one of China's top pianists, frequently performing for foreign leaders visiting China and went on tours abroad. Wu was the first to make a piano arrangement of 1959’s Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto, with it being one of her most famous performances of her career. In Singapore, Wu released two highly acclaimed albums in 2008 and 2013, the latter winning the 2013 Top 10 Records award of Guangdong Musicians' Association. She also publicised the music of her native Guangdong province, including arranging Yule Shengping. Wu was honoured with the World Outstanding Chinese Artist Award in June 2017.
Mr. Lee Yuk Chuan
Well-known conductor in Singapore
Mr Lee is a well-known conductor in Singapore. He began conducting choirs and orchestras since the 1950s when he was in his early twenties. His talents and skills in conducting choir and composing music were enhanced with the acquisition of qualifications in violin, singing and music theory from the Royal College of Music. He aims to dedicate his work to promoting choir, orchestra performances as well as local song compositions. His remarkable achievements in these fields have earned him the top position in the Choral Association (Singapore) and Association of Composers (Singapore). He is also the President of Musicians Society of Singapore.
He was conferred the outstanding Public Service Medal (PBM) by the Singapore President in year 2001. In year 2002, he received the “Meritorious Award” by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore Ltd (COMPASS) and in year 2012, COMPASS presented him the “COMPASS Lifetime Achievement Award” for his valuable continuous contributions to the music scene of Singapore.
Mr. Boris Kraljevic
Pianist
Boris Kraljevic completed his graduate and postgraduate studies (Master of Arts) at the State Conservatory Tchaikovsky in Moscow, Russia, in the class of Professor Lev Naumov. During his education he won the National Piano Competition in ex Yugoslavia three times and became laureate of international competitions.
He had performed recitals and concerts with distinguished artists and ensembles in prestigious concert halls such as Musikverein in Vienna, Concert Hall of Moscow Conservatory Tchaikovsky, Esplanade in Singapore, Palace of United Nations in Geneva, Cairo Opera House, Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Cultural Center of Buenos Aires, Rudolfinum Concert Hall - Dvorak Hall in Prague, Concert Hall of Slovak Philharmonic, Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City, Seoul Arts Center and KUMHO Concert Hall in capital of South Korea, as well in KIOI Concert Hall and Bunka Kaikan Hall in Tokyo.
Boris Kraljevic resides in Singapore where he is teaching since 2006. He is Artistic Director of the International Festival Dani muzike in Herceg Novi, Montenegro and Honorary member of Council of the International Seoul Summer Music Festival in South Korea. Under his guidance many students received accolades and became laureates of prestigious piano competitions such as "Gina Bachauer", "Eastman Young Artists Piano Competition", "Carl Czerny", "Smetana Piano Competition", "Concertino Praga", national piano competitions in countries of ex Yugoslavia, Singapore and other countries of Asia.
The Spanish label KNS Classical released two CD’s of Boris Kraljevic with recorded pieces of W.A.Mozart and Late Piano works of Johannes Brahms. He is professor in demand for master classes at music conservatories worldwide and often sits in the jury of international piano competitions.
Mr. Chua Lik Wuk
Violinist
Chua Lik Wuk made his solo debut with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16. In the same year, he was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London. His teachers included Hugh Bean, Rodney Friend, and Professor Karel Sneberger.
Among the numerous prizes Chua had won whilst at college were the WH Reed Prize and the Woltmann Award, the Marguerita and Peter Oundjian Prize (for Violin and Piano Duo), and the Percy and Dorothy Coates Prize (for Piano Trio). He was also the winner of the Overseas Prize in the Royal Overseas-League Music Competition.
Chua was the concertmaster of three of the four orchestras in college. In 1985, he performed at the Orford Music Festival in Montreal, Canada, and also represented Singapore at the World Philharmonic Orchestra’s debut performance in Sweden. In 1984, he was accorded a distinction for being the first and only Singaporean to perform for Queen Elizabeth II on Commonwealth Observance Day. Chua graduated with a Class I Award in the Performer’s Course, and his outstanding results won him another ABRSM scholarship for the prestigious postgraduate course where he graduated with the ARCM (Honours) in Performing and Teaching.
Upon returning to Singapore in 1987, Chua joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and also appeared as a soloist with the SSO on numerous occasions. His quartet, formed in 1989, has played to critical acclaim, both locally, as well as in Japan in 1989, and Indonesia in 1990.
In 1992, Chua went to the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA, to study with the world-renowned American violinist Charles Treger. He taught in his capacity as Professor Treger’s studio assistant, and was active as a soloist and recitalist. He also led the Symphony Orchestra, Graduate String Quartet and ‘Opus One’ String Ensemble. In 1994, he was conferred the Master of Music Degree.
In 1996, Chua founded PRISM Chamber Concerts, in an effort to promote chamber music to local audiences. In that same year, he was invited by the Britten-Pears Foundation to give a recital and conduct master classes in Yangon, Myanmar. In 1998, Chua was appointed Assistant Leader of the SSO, a position he held until 2000. He was also the recipient of the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award in 1999.
From 2007 to 2009, Chua collaborated with pianist Lim Yan in a series of recitals at the Esplanade Recital Studio which received high acclaim from both critics and audiences. Off the concert stage, he devotes much of his energy to teaching, and continues to maintain his own private studio.
Chua plays on a 1711 Antonio Stradivari.
QUALIFICATION
Master of Music in Violin Performance,
University of Massachusetts (Amherst), U.S.A.
Postgraduate Diploma in Violin Performance,
Royal College of Music, London, UK
Performance Diploma (Class 1) and ARCM (Hons) in Performing and Teaching, Royal College of Music, London, UK
Mr. Andrew Ma
One of the Best Hong Kong Pianists
-
Graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and furthered his studies at the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto Canada, where he graduated with first class honor. He benefited from the tutelage of Margaret Lynn, Gabriel Kwok, John Winther, Boris Lysenko and Professor Li Mingqiang.
-
Winner of the Singapore Rolex Performance Award, the second runner-up in the Mozart Bicentenary Piano Competition of Asia and the first runner-up in the Hong Kong Selection Competition for the First China International Piano Competition.
-
As an active performer and educator in United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong with great success.
-
Being invited as the guest performer for the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of the People’s Republic of China. He was also invited as the soloist with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the Shanghai Broadcast Symphony Orchestra etc.
-
Being invited to make recordings for radios, televisions in Canada, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong and continuously giving master classes and lectures and as adjudicator of different piano competitions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and China till now.
-
Competition Committee Member in Asia Youth Music Competition and KAWAI Asia Piano Competition since 2001. During 2007 to 2012 as the consultant of Asia International Piano Academy and Festival Korea.
-
Examiner of Hong Kong Arts Development Council since 2012.
-
Vice President of Chinese Social Arts Association and Music Foundation Committee and Vice President of Hong Kong Music Tutors Union.
-
Aside teaching at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Hong Kong Baptist University, Chinese University in Hong Kong, Ma is appointed as the consultant for Chinese University of Hong Kong, School of Continuing Studies, and consultant of Trinity College London (HK) and guest professor of Yunnan Normal University.
Mr. Shuenda Wong
Pianist
Recognized for his versatility, pianist Shuenda Wong has performed in solo recitals, as concerto soloist, chamber musician, accompanist and orchestra pianist. He obtained masters and bachelor degrees from UK and Germany (full scholarship at Guildhall School of Music, high distinction at Staatliche Hochschule Freiburg) and won many awards such as the Kobler Trust award,Barbara Stringer Scholarship ,HSBC Classics Bursary and HSBC Piano Competition , the MYOF Scholarship and Patron Award, Raymond Fox Bursary from Making Music Association UK. He was prize winner in International Piano competitions in UK (Oxford Music Festival, Royal Overseas League, Haverhill Sinfonia), France (Lagny Sur Marne), Germany (Arthur Lepthien), Netherlands(Enschede) and Thailand (Mahidol International), he was also nominated for the Malaysian BOH Cameronian Arts Award, Kenneth Loveland Award, UK and Prestige Magazine Top 40 Young Talents Award.
Notable performances include concerts at the Kaisersaal Freiburg, Elzacher Stadthalle in Germany, Salle Ravel Paris,France,Bunkamura Hall and Miyagi Museum of Art in Japan, Kasteel Terworm in Holland,Hong Kong City Hall, collaborations with the MPO and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra,the opening of the British Commonwealth Games, the Asian Pacific Cooperation Meeting and The Philippines Centennial Independence in Manila, recitals for the Brunei Music Society, Cambodia Music Society, Shanghai University of Commerce and Nanjing Conservatory of Arts,China. In the UK, he has performed in Purcell Room Southbank Centre, St Martin-in-the-fields, St James Piccadilly, the Barbican Hall London, ROSL House Edinburg, Princess Alexandra Hall London, and Erin Arts Centre Isle of Man amongst other venues.
Shuenda is also a dedicated music educator.He was adjunct lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia,Trinity College London presenter,Head of Piano at Bentley Music Academy and currently Master Tutor at British Academy of Performing Arts. His students have won International Piano Competitions in Austria,Germany, UK (Royal Albert Hall debut),USA (with Carnegie Hall Debut),Korea, Taiwan , Hong Kong ,China, Singapore, Thailand; also prizes in national piano competitions and high scorers awards of Trinity College London Diploma exams. He has adjudicated in countless music competitions and festivals around Asia.