IN NEW LIGHT
Nurturing Musical
Leaders of Tomorrow
Our Identity
Embedded in the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore’s global flagship university, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) is uniquely placed to cultivate a distinctive contemporary voice in music education across Asia and the world.
Fresh in our twenties, YST continues to push the boundaries of what a 21st-Century conservatory can be — shaping the future by nurturing students to challenge, explore and grow as the musical leaders of tomorrow.
YST Numbers
A school for exciting talents;
A musical hub;
A community connector;
An international nexus
A vibrant centre of artistic and educational excellence that extends from Singapore to the world.
BMus students per year
MMus, MMusL and PhD
students per year
YST Numbers
A school for exciting talents;
A musical hub;
A community connector;
An international nexus
A vibrant centre of artistic and educational excellence that extends from Singapore to the world.
BMus students
per year
MMus, MMusL
and PhD students per year
Continuing Education
and Training students per year
NUS Learners
per year
Concerts and events
per year
Audience members
welcomed per year
Online followers
Average online reach
Nurturing
Talent
YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAMME
Our Young Artist Programme nurtures 15-18 year olds with clear musical potential and passion, who seek to deepen their learning and prepare for future undergraduate studies in music. Each year, platforms such as our Children’s Concert, Double Reed Day and outreach to primary schools create lively avenues for children and families to explore music.
BACHELOR OF MUSIC (BMUS)
The BMus lies at the core of what we do, nurturing student capabilities across performance, composition, production, contextual studies and community engagement. Our holistic and collaborative programme encourages student agency and interdisciplinary exploration, creating talents who go on to create industry impact on and off the stage.
MASTER OF MUSIC (MMUS) &
MASTER OF MUSIC LEADERSHIP (MMUSL)
The MMus advances higher-level study in performance, composition and conducting, and facilitates professional learning for success in the music industry. The MMusL supports professional growth for musicians who seek to be leaders of change in the rapidly-evolving industry landscape. With an emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation, this flexible programme equips graduates with cross-disciplinary competencies to achieve their ambitions.
PHD IN MUSIC PRACTICES
Empowering and developing artist-researchers who are creating impact as pioneers in their community, and preparing them for future leadership and academic careers globally.
CONTINUING EDUCATION & TRAINING
Offering avenues for adult learners to engage in professional development, expanding their competencies in areas such as production, pedagogy and contextual studies to inform their practice in music, the arts or other related fields.
“
Through various masterclasses, creating our own music, and opportunities to study music outside of Western classical repertoire, I believe that YST offers a music education beyond that of a traditional music school.
KALIA DIANE CRAIG, FRENCH HORN
A Music Education that Goes Beyond
A YST education is designed to open every door of musical possibility. Students ground themselves in rigorous major studies, expand their horizons through ensembles and contextual courses, and explore wide-ranging electives across the National University of Singapore.
Learning comes alive in practice. Each year, students are immersed in a professional-calibre concert season of more than 200 events – developing as performers onstage, creators behind the scenes, and witnesses to world-class artistry.
Collaboration runs through the heart of the Conservatory. Through the Orchestral Institute, contemporary music ensemble OpusNovus, chamber music, and cross-disciplinary projects, students engage with one another in diverse musical settings that mirror the demands of today’s industry.
Guided by acclaimed faculty, inspired by leading artists and ensembles-in-residence, and connected through a global alumni network, YST students don’t just prepare for the future of music – they shape it.
Student Presentation at ArtScience Museum
Resonating Through the Red Dot
OpusNovus at Esplanade Annexe Studio
Graduating Cohort Concert at Victoria Concert Hall
YST is integral to Singapore’s cultural heartbeat.
Our students, faculty and alumni are fixtures across the nation’s leading arts institutions, sparking new ventures and organisations that enrich and expand the local music landscape.
At YST, engagement is integral to learning. Every student develops a commitment to giving back through music. From healthcare, to education and the community, they take the lead on outreach projects that connect audiences across the island.
Through wide-ranging partnerships with organisations such as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Armed Forces Central Band, Sengkang General Hospital, Singapore Teachers’ Academy for the aRts, major venues and presenters, embassies and more, YST is woven into the very fabric of Singapore’s arts ecosystem.
Center for Music and Health
Music offers a powerful pathway to inspire, heal and connect.
Founded in 2022, YST’s Centre for Music and Health (CMH) is the first dedicated research centre in Singapore and Southeast Asia to spearhead evidence-based practices that leverage the efficacy of music for health and well-being.
Anchored in YST’s artistic expertise and NUS’s research excellence, CMH develops programmes and interventions to improve lives; partners with community organisations to enhance and evaluate their impact; and strengthens the knowledge base that shapes public awareness and policy in this emerging field.
“
Life at YST is incredibly exciting. I’m constantly pushed out of my comfort zone to challenge myself on a daily basis with countless opportunities for growth. Despite the challenges, the experience is ultimately incredibly rewarding, and I walk away with invaluable life lessons — to expect the unexpected, and to imagine the unimaginable!
MICHAEL HUANG, AUDIO ARTS & SCIENCES
Bali Regional Resonances Summer Immersion Programme
Centred in Singapore, Connected with the World
Global connections are integral to what we do — whether it is bringing world-class musical expertise to Singapore, creating overseas exchange opportunities for our students, or positioning ourselves as a leading voice within the international music industry.
With students from over 20 nationalities from across the globe and a visible alumni community making their mark worldwide, YST nurtures musical leaders whose impact resonates across borders.
“
My time at YST has been a journey of growth, discovery and deep musical connection. I’ve been guided by inspiring teachers, challenged to push my limits, and surrounded by a vibrant community where I could flourish not only as an artist, but as an individual.
JAVLON HAYITOV, BASSOON
Shaping the Arts Worldwide
YST alumni and partners span the globe, shaping musical landscapes and forging connections that resonate far beyond our shores.
Exchange and Network Partners
MOU and Institutional Partners
MOU and Institutional Partners
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YST holds a special place in my heart. Our community is woven tight, composing a symphony of support, friendship, and growth. Together, we are a family of artists, where every individual note shines, and the collective music resonates with the beauty of togetherness.
KIRA LIM, VOICE
At the Heart
of NUS Arts
A cornerstone of NUS’s artistic profile, YST enriches campus life as both a creative hub and a catalyst for enhancing student engagement in the arts.
As a key driver of the NUS Arts for All framework, YST opens pathways for non-music majors to pursue academic study in the performing arts, while presenting a vibrant concert season that unites the campus community.
At the same time, YST students benefit from NUS’s world-class learning environment, with access to Second Majors, Minors and cross-disciplinary modules that allow them to benefit from Conservatory training with broader interdisciplinary academic pursuits.
“
YST has given me such extensive support and opportunities to grow as a musician and individual, allowing my aspiration and passion to become a reality.
NG WEI XIANG, OBOE
Investing in Creativity
Support for the arts is essential to sustaining a vibrant musical community and nurturing the next generation of musical leaders.
YST is deeply grateful to its many benefactors, whose generosity has provided scholarships and bursaries that open doors for student talent, prizes that celebrate musical excellence, visits from distinguished international artists, access to fine instruments, and wider initiatives that give music greater reach and resonance.
The following major gifts have played a vital role in advancing YST’s mission:
– Yong Loo Lin Trust
– The late Mr Tan Kah Tee
– Mr Ngiam Tong Yuen &
Mrs Jean Ngiam-Wu Po Kin
– Mr Geoffrey Yu
– Ms Vivien Goh
– Kris Foundation
– And more…
Every contribution carries with it not only material support, but also trust and belief in YST’s mission — affirming a shared vision of nurturing young musicians and strengthening Singapore’s music ecosystem for generations to come.
“
“I deeply appreciate and have greatly benefited from our benefactors’ generosity in providing a wealth of resources. Our teachers and mentors provide invaluable guidance, our professional development is well-supported, and international opportunities help us broaden our perspectives and networks. All these truly help us to cultivate our unique voices as artists, no matter where we move on to next.
ALYSSA GOH, VIOLIN
Vision For
The Future
Our vision for the future is bold:
To nurture students to challenge, explore and grow as musical leaders of tomorrow;
To push the boundaries of possibility in music;
To continually imagine and shape new artistic futures in the next 20 years and beyond.
© Copyright 2026 | YST Conservatory
