"By day, I work as an arts administrator in the National Arts Council’s (NAC) Access & Community Engagement Department where our mission is to deepen engagement in and through community arts. My scope of work revolves around managing arts programmes for social impact, and collaborating with artists and stakeholders in both private and public sectors to bring quality arts experiences to community spaces.

By night, I'm a professional trombonist. My music career is kept alive through performances with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (JASSO), and with my band, Litmus Jazz Ensemble. We formed the band in 2020 as an outlet to play and compose original music amidst the pandemic, and in June we performed in Hong Kong for our very first international tour!

The biggest challenge for me stepping into my career was having to manage so many different projects simultaneously across my fields of work – and I was already fighting for my life back in school just to get my one capstone project done! But being thrown into the deep end like this forced me to improve on my time management, organisational skills, and decisiveness, and I’m all the better for it. It’s been fascinating to learn about the inner workings of Singapore’s art sector in my day job at NAC; but as an artist, the most rewarding thing about my work is how I’m able to make meaningful contributions to the arts community and society at large, whilst also being able to pursue my own artistic endeavours."

"Since completing my Master of Music in clarinet performance at the Sibelius Academy in December 2023, I have been working as a freelance orchestra musician in Finland. My professional journey here began during graduate studies, where I had the opportunity to apprentice at The Orchestra of the Finnish National Opera and the Tapiola Sinfonietta. These were valuable opportunities to gain exposure as a musician, opening the door to future career opportunities.

The past summer has been a busy one for me! Most recently, I played with the Fiskars Summer Festival, the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as with the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra for a performance of Mussorgsky’s opera Khovanshchina, alongside other gigs. At the same time, I am also auditioning for full-time orchestra jobs.

Schedule planning and preparation are really important for me to balance performing and auditioning at the same time – building a strong track record in my current jobs so as to make a positive impression for future engagements, while also working hard to secure my future career. This is especially as I often perform alongside experienced veterans who are more familiar with repertoire and accustomed to the tighter rehearsal schedule in professional orchestras.

A fond memory from my time at YST would be the food! Especially the bee hoon they used to sell at PGPR, and teh peng. It is always nice to come back and visit teachers, friends, as well as the places and running routes I used to frequent as a student."

[Photo by the Prague Spring International Music Competition (Ivan Malý)]

"As a Section Percussionist with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Central Band, my typical day consists of physical training and drills, deployments for parades, welcome ceremonies for foreign dignitaries and other guests, as well as preparations for any incoming high-key activities. Not forgetting my own daily practice to maintain my chops!

At the moment, my schedule is pretty filled with preparations for the SAF Day Parade, National Day Parade (NDP), as well as NDP recording sessions. Marching and playing at the same time definitely takes getting used to! It requires a high level of multi-tasking: reading mace commands, executing foot drills, playing music from memory to high standards, all while under the heat and in full uniform.

To me, watching the reactions of the students who come and watch us in our Concert and Outreach series is the most rewarding as I get to see them be visibly touched by the music we play. It’s always wonderful to see their eyes widen in awe and amazement – which shows the power of having accessible music for all, and motivates me to further my craft as a musician."

"My professional life is a dynamic blend of performance, education, and administration. I perform regularly as a violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), am Head of Western Instruments at Singapore Raffles Music College (SRMC), and teach music at the Tanglin Trust School (TTS).

Each of these roles has been a great opportunity for growth and adaptation. When I first joined the SSO, I had to adjust to the high standards and rigorous performance schedule. At SRMC, I developed skills in academic administration, curriculum development, as well as leadership to foster a collaborative environment among faculty and students. At TTS, I learned to adapt my teaching style to suit a diverse group of students and incorporate contemporary educational techniques to make music more accessible and enjoyable.

The most rewarding aspect of my work is being able to inspire and nurture through music. In performance, it's the joy of creating music that resonates with audiences and sharing camaraderie with fellow orchestra members. In education, it's seeing students grow, achieve their potential and deepen their appreciation of music. I aspire to instill a love for music in my students, helping them develop not just as musicians but as individuals."