POLAND'S NATIONAL DAY RECEPTION @ CLIFFORD PIER

The Third of May is Poland's Constitution Day. It has been this way since 1791, making Poland one of the world's oldest republics. The Polish Embassy in Singapore held its National Day celebration early this year, cementing its long-time friendship with Singapore as nations that value rule of law and stand up against oppression. 

Strong ties built on cultural and trade exchanges were reinforced in a friendly atmosphere, where food and drink (important for both nations) flowed freely. Poland Shiok! has become a catch phrase and long may that be. Here are some photos at Singapore's historic art deco landmark Clifford Pier, now part of Fullerton Bay Hotel, where Poles and Singaporeans have a good time together.

Clifford Pier is the grand setting

The evening begins

Polish pianist Krzysztof Moskalewicz
performs his own transcription of 
Dayung Sampan and Chopin's Heroic Polonaise.

Polish ambassador to Singapore
Tadeusz Chomicki makes his welcome address

All stand for the national anthems 
of Singapore and Poland

The VIPs line up

Some historical photos from 1966:
LKY visits Warsaw during the Cold War

The musical community was invited, including
Julie Tan and the Miruckis, Jacek and Silwia

This was just the table of appetisers

Suka Makan Polish style

Must not miss out on the meat! 

Former SSO principal percussionist
Grzegorz Markiewicz has been in Singapore 
since 1980 and never left.

Calling all Chopin lovers,
including pianist Churen Li and
Dato Paul Supramaniam 

Mugging with Vivienne, Hengyue, Layla,
Milena & Agnieszka

Churen and Violetta join in 

Looks like the Chopin Society
will be busy pretty soon.

Clifford Pier by night,
called Red Light Harbour in Chinese, 
is no longer a sleazy place to hang out

YONG SIEW TOH CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC 20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER

FLOWING RESONANCES

YONG SIEW TOH CONSERVATORY

20TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER

Friday (22 September 2023)

It cannot be over-estimated how the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore has impacted the classical music scene over the past 20 years. Before it was inaugurated in 2003, young people who aspired to become professional musicians had to study overseas, usually in UK, USA and Australia. All that changed when the Singapore Conservatory of Music was formed with help from the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. The Conservatory took the name of the late Malaysian piano teacher Yong Siew Toh, becoming the sister faculty of the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

Every year, conservatory graduates comprising cohorts of young professionals become members of Singapore's top music groups, including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra and re:Sound Collective. Also formed were the conservatory's resident ensembles such as Red Dot Baroque, T'ang Quartet and the Lorong Boys. Not to mention many soloists and those who return to their home countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia to serve their respective musical scenes. In short, YST has become integral to the future of classical music in Singapore and the region.

The Espoir Quartet,
formed by current YST students.

YST's 20th anniversary was celebrated with a gala dinner at the historical Clifford Pier, now part of the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Its art deco architecture was the perfect setting for a little bit of history making. Here are some photos from the dinner on Friday 22 September 2023, and it truly was an evening to remember.  

A New Orleans styled brass procession
opened the dinner...

...leading to a complete performance
of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with
An Ning on piano and Lien Boon Hua conducting.

YST's latest faculty member An Ning,
his wife Angela and cellist Qin Li-Wei. 

More cellists:
Leslie Tan and Tang I Shyan

Pianists Lin Hengyue and Lin Xiangning. 

Violinists: Lianhe Zhaobao's Zhang Heyang
and Luo Wei, conductor of the Kids Philharmonic
and curator of the Rin Foundation violins.

Laura Peh and Kris Tan of Kris Foundation
with pianist Abigail Sin and Zhang Heyang.

Alan Choo and Lien Boon Hua,
founder-directors of Red Dot Baroque
and Wayfarer Sinfonietta.

Its swingtime with the Lorong Boys and Friends.

A duet by Kira Lim and Wim Wasin,
now a singer-songwriter in Bangkok

Michael Tay (The Foundation),
Low Jia Hua (Metropolitan Festival Orchestra)
and pianist-composer Jonathan Shin. 

Appearing in next year's Piano Extravaganza,
Jonathan Shin and Lin Xiangning

Composer Adeline Wong and founding
YST administrator Rachel Tang

Glamorous winds:
flautist Rachel Ho and clarinettist Miao Kaiwen

Qin Li-Wei meets the Batik Brigade:
pianomaniac, composer Ho Chee Kong
and conductor Chan Tze Law

NUS President Tan Eng Chye
and YST Dean Peter Tornquist
pay a visit to the "Pianists Table" 25,
which include Liu Jia, An Ning, Albert Tiu, 
Choi Hye Seon, Lim Yan and piano fanciers.