The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music is pleased to announce the new OKK Wind Prize, an endowed gift donated by Ms Ong Su Pin and Mr Mervin Beng. The Prize recognises a Year 2 or 3 Woodwind or Brass student who is a strong performer with broad-based engagement in the wider landscape, and supports them in pursuing a career development project of their own.
The prize is named after teacher and bandmaster Mr Ong Kim Kiat, affectionately known as OKK to his students, who taught in schools for three decades. Mr Ong was bandmaster to two military bands and a bagpipe band (possibly the first in a Singapore school) at Anglo-Chinese School. Not formally trained in music, he taught himself music theory and a plethora of woodwind instruments (to a high proficiency) so that he would be able to teach his students.
Ms Ong Su Pin is the daughter of Mr Ong Kim Kiat, and an accomplished pianist and cellist. Mr Mervin Beng, her husband, is chairman of the Resound Collective, a classical music reviewer for the Straits Times, and is a former member of the YST Governing Board.
Ms Ong and Mr Beng shared, “We are pleased to be championing the creative aspirations of wind and brass musicians at YST and look forward to seeing the impact they will make as musical leaders in our ecosystem, just as Mr Ong Kim Kiat nurtured generations of students through his initiatives in evolving the wind-band tradition in Singapore.”
Assoc Prof Brett Stemple, Vice Dean (Performance & Artistic Research) and Head of Brass said, “The OKK Wind Prize is an excellent and timely way of recognising the Singapore wind-brass scene which continues to evolve in vibrancy and diversity, and will act as a powerful incentive for young musicians looking to expand their artistic and professional horizons.”
Assoc Prof Zhang Jin Min, Head of Woodwinds shared, “Our wind students and graduates have been active in pushing frontiers for the scene within and beyond Singapore, be it in performance excellence or leadership in the community. This award provides valuable support for their artistic and personal development.”
The inaugural recipient of the award is Stephen Mak Wai Soon (Year 2, Bassoon).
Prof Bernard Lanskey, Dean of YST said, “YST is very grateful to donors such as Su Pin and Mervin, who are not only passionate about music but also generous in their commitment to support the next generation of musicians in their development. Thank you for your gift, which helps us nurture the aspirations of our students as they chart their own artistic course, and for your ongoing engagement and friendship with YST.”
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YST CONSERVATORY
National University of Singapore
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Singapore 117376
