I have been honoured to be a part of many wonderful initiatives at the Conservatory, but the project that allowed me to grow most significantly would be Unmask – a concert curated, produced and performed by the graduating class of 2021.
I have always been interested in production since Year 1, where I had the chance to be stage manager of Fix(,) The Musical. Working in this world of production – scheduling rehearsals, communicating with artists, coordinating logistics and everything in-between – was something I realised I enjoyed doing. At the end of Year 3, when the school asked for students who were keen to produce the next graduating cohort concert, my interest was definitely piqued and I was glad for other batchmates who were eager to embark on this journey together. Unmask was truly the culmination of hard work by all six members of the organising team – Nigel, Stephanie, Tze Shiuan, Wen Liang, Jaben and myself. It would not have been possible without our collaborative effort.
We received a lot of support and guidance from the staff and teachers at YST, including Assoc Prof Brett Stemple, Howard Ng and Tang I Shyan. They were patient with us, generous with their knowledge and ready to help us every step of the way.
The past four years, especially the recent year, pushed me to become more innovative, think outside the box, and be flexible and comfortable with change.
As a Year 1 student, I needed everything to be a certain way. I planned a trajectory of how I wanted to grow over the four years, and would beat myself up when I realised I was not accomplishing the goals I had set for myself. The past year has taught me that while expectations are important, they can also limit and hinder growth. I learnt how to adapt and flow while still putting in hard work. As I slowly work towards change, I believe it has allowed me to become a better musician, artist, collaborator and person.
I hope to pursue a Master’s degree in my further studies. I also hope to continue pursuing teaching, hosting, production and collaborative work through various avenues.
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YST CONSERVATORY
National University of Singapore
3 Conservatory Drive
Singapore 117376
