MASTERCLASS BY TENGKU IRFAN
10 June 2023, 1pm
Victoria Concert Hall Dance Studio
PROGRAMME
Piano Masterclass with Tengku Irfan
Hosted by Mr. Foo Chen Loong
FONG ZI YING (40 minutes)
FONG ZI YING (40 minutes)
Claude DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918)
Reflets dans l’eau (No 1 from Images, Book 1, L105)
DAVELYN JESINE DJIWANDANA
Sebastian CURRIER (1959) Brainstorm
(40 minutes)
DAVELYN JESINE DJIWANDANA (40 minutes)
TAN YU MU (40 minutes)
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891 - 1953) Four pieces, Op, 4
TAN YU MU
(40 minutes)
TENGKU IRFAN
Malaysian-born Tengku Irfan has appeared around the world as a pianist, conductor, and composer, and has been praised by The New York Times as “eminently cultured” and possessing “sheer incisiveness and power”. Irfan has performed with orchestras worldwide with conductors Claus Peter Flor, Neeme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, David Robertson, Robert Spano, Osmo Vänskä, George Stelluto, Jeffrey Milarsky, among others
Malaysian-born Tengku Irfan has appeared around the world as a pianist, conductor, and composer, and has been praised by The New York Times as “eminently cultured” and possessing “sheer incisiveness and power”. Irfan has performed with orchestras worldwide with conductors Claus Peter Flor, Neeme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, David Robertson, Robert Spano, Osmo Vänskä, George Stelluto, Jeffrey Milarsky, among others.
Other performance highlights include the Juilliard Orchestra, AXIOM, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Sao Paulo State Youth Orchestra, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Chamber Symphony, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Minnesota Orchestra, among others. Irfan won the Aspen Music Festival Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 Competition in 2013, and was resident pianist of the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble for four consecutive years since 2014.
As a composer, Irfan has garnered three ASCAP Morton Gould Awards and a Charlotte Bergen Award with premieres by orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Peoria Symphony Orchestra and the MDR Sinfonieorchester. Ever since his conducting debut with the MusicaNova Orchestra, he has conducted the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for their 20th Anniversary Gala Concert, and was appointed the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra Youth Ambassador. He was the runner-up and audience prize winner of the Los Angeles Conducting Competition in 2021
Irfan was a double major in piano & composition at the Juilliard School, where he studied piano with Yoheved Kaplinsky, and composition with Ira Taxin and Robert Beaser. Currently, he is studying orchestral conducting with David Robertson at Juilliard He is a proud recipient of the Juilliard School Kovner Fellowship Award.
MASTERCLASS PIANISTS
FONG ZI YING
Claude DEBUSSY (1862 – 1918)
Reflets dans l’eau (No. 1 from Images, Book 1, L.105)
Zi Ying is a student on the Diploma in Music course at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), majoring in piano under the tutelage of Dr. Nellie Seng.
Zi Ying began her musical journey in Malaysia at the age of 6 and has since achieved an Associate of the Trinity College London (ATCL) in Piano Performance. She has also participated in the Nanyang International Music Competition 2021 and the UCSI University International Piano Festival and Competition 2020. During her studies at NAFA, she has actively performed as a soloist and collaborative pianist in various concerts. In addition, she has taken part in masterclasses with Daniel Epstein, Christopher Guzman, Brian Hsu, and Foo Mei Yi.
DAVELYN JESINE DJIWANDANA
Sebastian CURRIER (1959)
Brainstorm
Born in Indonesia, Jesine joined the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2021 at age 16, where she began her piano studies with Dr Nicholas Ong on the Diploma in Music programme, and subsequently came under the tutelage of Ms. Lena Ching.
From a young age, Jesine has actively participated in public performances and piano competitions Noteworthy achievements include 1st prizes in the Indonesia Grand Piano Competition in 2019, the La Pianista Competition in 2018, and 3rd prize at Steinway Indonesia Youth Piano Competition in 2018 and in 2022.
Besides classes, competitions, and concert performances in solo and collaborative roles, which have contributed considerably to her musical development, Jesine is also very grateful for the masterclass experiences with pianists such as Prof. Vanessa Latarche, Prof. Christopher Guzman, and Ms. Foo Mei Yi in the past 2 years.
TAN YU MU
Sergei PROKOFIEV (1891 - 1953)
4 Pieces, Op. 4
Tan Yu Mu is a Year-2 student at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), where he is pursuing a Diploma in Music under the guidance of Dr. Nellie Seng. He studied with Hau Ping Ping in Malaysia, and Pamela Krakauer and Clarence Lee in Singapore prior to his enrollment at NAFA.
Yu Mu has participated in numerous performances, music festivals, and competitions. Noteworthy achievements include the Second Prize in the 2022 Music Singapore International Piano and Violin Competition (Artist Category), and the Gold award in the 2021 Asia Arts Festival (Diploma and above category) held in Singapore. He was also awarded the Gold award in the 2018 Inter-Junior College Piano Ensemble Competition “Vivace” and the 2016 Malaysia National Youth Music Competition Piano Category
Apart from competitions and performances, Yu Mu has had the opportunity to participate in masterclasses led by Brian Hsu, Konstantin Soukhovetski, and Melvyn Tan, all of which were valuable experiences for him.
PARTICIPATING SCHOOL
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Established in 1938, the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) is Singapore’s pioneer arts institution The academy is known for its rigorous and high-quality curriculum, innovative and practitioners-led teaching approach, diverse artistic creations, and community outreach. NAFA is part of the new University of the Arts Singapore (UAS). Supported by the government, UAS will open its doors for its first degree intake in 2024.
NAFA has nurtured 13 recipients of the Cultural Medallion—Singapore’s highest accolade bestowed on art practitioners who have significantly impacted arts and culture. Another 15 alumni have been presented the Young Artist Award. Many of the academy’s alumni have gone on to make their mark in the professional arts scene in Singapore and abroad
The academy offers full-time diploma and degree programmes across three faculties: Faculty of Art & Design comprising the School of Fine Art, School of 3D Design, School of Design & Media, as well as the School of Fashion Studies; Faculty of Performing Arts comprising School of Dance, School of Music, and School of Theatre; Faculty of Interdisciplinary Practices comprising School of Arts Management and School of Interdisciplinary Arts. Diploma courses are aligned with the degree courses offered in partnership with top universities in the world, namely University of the Arts London (ranked 2nd globally for Art and Design since 2019) and Royal College of Music, London (ranked first globally for Performing Arts in 2022).
NAFA’s courses are designed and delivered by experienced art educators and leading industry practitioners. The academic schools regularly review and refine their curriculum to reflect the changing needs of the industry
Since 1999, NAFA has received polytechnic-level funding from Singapore’s Ministry of Education. In 2011, NAFA became the first comprehensive arts education institution in Singapore to be awarded the
four-year EduTrust certificate from the Council for Private Education (now known as Committee for Private Education). It received its third four-year certification in 2019
As an advocate of lifelong learning, NAFA dedicates its effort to developing a greater appreciation of the arts for all ages. The NAFA Arts Preschool (formerly NAFA Arts Kindergarten), is the first arts-themed preschool in Singapore. The School of Young Talents offers weekend courses in art, dance, drama, and music to 4- to 18-year-olds For adults, the Centre for Lifelong Education offers enrichment courses and parttime certificate programmes.
With a rich heritage, established track record and an unwavering dedication to the highest standards of arts education, NAFA strives to live up to its mission of “inspiring learning and growth through the arts”
School of Music
Established in 1984, the School of Music aims to provide a portfolio of music courses, which are both relevant to the Singaporean music performance and education scene, and attractive to talented international students. NAFA is the only education institution in Singapore that offers diploma and degree programmes for both Chinese and Western music instrumentalists; the Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching are offered in collaboration with the Royal College of Music, London (RCM) and supported by the Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing.
Over 200 diploma and degree students are supported by a distinguished international faculty In addition to weekly public performances on campus, our student soloists, ensembles, and orchestra can be heard regularly at performances in Singapore and abroad.
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Organised by Singapore Symphony Group
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