This year, we are pleased to celebrate our first graduating cohort of Music & Society (MS) and Music, Collaboration & Production (MCP) majors! Both majors were announced in 2018 and enable students to realise their leadership potential and identities in a range of different emerging contexts, in addition to their specialisation in performance, composition, or audio arts and sciences. The MS major encompasses the study of music in potential social, political, economic and aesthetic contexts, while the MCP major allows exploration of practical applications such as alternative ensemble contexts, production approaches and presentation platforms.
We also congratulate graduates from our Joint Degree Programme, where BMus students spend three semesters studying at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University (US), and our Artist Diploma, a two-year programme for performers at an advanced stage of artistic development embarking on a professional performance career.
As our graduates embark on their own unique journeys, they share some of their highlights during their studies at the Conservatory.
“Do whatever makes you happy.”
My horn teacher Mr Han Chang Chou often says “不要着急, 要放松心情” (Mandarin: Don’t be anxious, stay calm), because I can become quite anxious when I feel stressed. His words are always reassuring and they hold a special meaning in my life.
“Choose to surround yourself with people who enrich your life, and be that person for them too.”
“Always be inquisitive and learn as much as you can!”
I am very excited about opening a private music school after I graduate! I want to help others experience the joy of making music.
“Dependability, teachability and availability are important abilities to have.”
“Musicians don’t need to know when, they need to know why.” – Assoc Prof Jason Lai on conducting.
“Don’t give up when a big dream gets shattered; hold on to even the smallest dream.”
I’ll be interning and working in a South Korea-based media company as a music arranger of different musical genres.
Business for Musicians. This class taught me the importance of designing arts marketing strategies as well as research methodologies, all of which will be useful to musicians at some point in time.
“Try anything and everything – you never know where it could take you. Sometimes, just trying is all that it takes, and it is through experience that we learn to be better.”
“Don’t be stuck in your ideals. The world is changing faster than ever and if we don’t adapt, we’ll be left behind. The perfect opportunity may never come by. Create your own opportunities and stay ahead of the world.”
“Integrity and authenticity come foremost and are the foundation for all that you do. Be sensitive in experiencing everything in this world and be generous, courageous in sharing it with others.As an artist, never just replicate what other people have done before – that’s not the reason and meaning behind your existence. This is not just an aim to work towards, but the baseline for being an artist.”
With the ongoing pandemic, this has been a year unlike any other. In addition to teaching students online and taking on recorded performances, I am taking this time to reflect on where the classical music scene is headed, what it means to me, what I can contribute and what else I can continue to do and explore throughout my life.
“Persevere and believe in whatever you do. Learn to be compassionate, forgiving and generous in whatever you do.”
“We cannot control what will happen tomorrow or in the future; what we can do is to cherish every day and seize every opportunity.”
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YST CONSERVATORY
National University of Singapore
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