In 2023, SCO appointed four new musicians - 曾靖文 Kenny Chan (大阮 Daruan), 梁名慧 Liang Ming-Huei (中阮 Zhongruan), 王思元 Wang Siyuan (琵琶 Pipa) and 黄煒軒 Ng Wei Xuan (梆笛 Bangdi).
Kenny, Wei Xuan and Siyuan are most familiar to the orchestra as they are alumni members of Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). They graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from NAFA in partnership with the Royal College of Music (London) and the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing). To date, SNYCO has nurtured numerous outstanding musicians, and among them, Kenny, Wei Xuan, Siyuan and 6 others have successfully joined SCO as professional full-time musicians. Besides becoming professional musicians and distinguished members of the Singapore Chinese music fraternity, many other SNYCO members have also moved on to become respected professionals in their respective fields, making innumerable contributions to the Singapore arts scene.
A recent graduate of National Taiwan University of Arts (Department of Chinese Music), Ming-Huei won the most popular musician award at 2023 Taoyuan City Chinese Orchestra Instrumental Music Competition in September and relocated to Singapore to join SCO thereafter. In November, she travelled with the orchestra to Shanghai for the China Shanghai International Arts Festival (CSIAF) tour. Huayue warmly welcomes all of them to SCO!
Huayue: You joined Suzhou Chinese Orchestra (SUCO) in 2018 and returned to Singapore this year. What are the cultural differences between SCO and SUCO?
Kenny: After 11 years as a founding member of Ding Yi Music Company, a rare opportunity to relocate overseas for work popped up. A fellow musician road-tested the experience and encouraged me to take the leap of faith before age catches up. The organisational structure of Chinese Orchestras in China and Singapore are different. It is by and large hierarchal and authoritative in China, whereas Singapore adopts a more democratic, consultative and open work culture. Being a melting pot city-state, we often experiment with bold and new music repertoire in Singapore. In China, a music setlist travels far and wide within the mainland tour. As a Singaporean, it is both a pride and calling to serve locally - “National Service”. When SCO had a vacancy, I knew I had to return, support our home orchestra and preserve its unique identity.
Huayue: Favourite genres of music other than Chinese orchestral music?
Kenny: Mandopop especially Stefanie Sun and Indie Instrumental
Huayue: What's currently playing on your Spotify playlist?
Kenny: Original soundtracks of Chinese drama series
Huayue: Which movie/drama series soundtrack would you like to be recorded for and why?
Kenny: Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传 - it is such a fantastic production and an absolute dream to be involved in.
Huayue: What's your non-music related hobby / pastime?
Kenny: I play badminton with meetup groups and I love to experiment with new Chinese cuisine dishes in the kitchen.
Huayue: Who is your number 1 idol status musician? If you had a chance to meet him/her for dinner, who would it be?
Kenny: Stefanie Sun or Dong Xiaolin (Principal Pipa at the China Central Chinese Orchestra)
Huayue: What's your source of inspiration to perform on stage?
Kenny: I'm a simple person, I just like it. I like the vibes of being part of the limelight on stage.
Huayue: What would you have as your career if you were not a musician?
Kenny: Probably a music/Chinese school teacher or a score librarian at SCO. When I interned at SCO marketing, I realised that I could totally do that too.
Huayue: What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, teacher or peer in music that still impacts you till today?
Kenny: Don't panic. Pretty much like the "Keep Calm and Carry On" famous quote, it's about taking a step back to assess the situation from other perspectives, take time to consider before committing to decisions.
Huayue: What is your animal personality?
Kenny: Dog definitely
Huayue: What is the one thing that is most unexpected of musicians beyond usual stereotypes?
Kenny: We are a bunch of jovial jokers offstage and we love our thermos flasks of hot Chinese tea!
Huayue: Is it your first overseas tour travelling to Shanghai with SCO in November 2023? How is it like to tour professionally?
Wei Xuan: No it wasn't. But with SCO, yes! There are always thrilling surprises to anticipate in overseas performances. This time, we were in for an adventurous twist with the extremely cold weather experienced during the outdoor shows. As the wind blew and sent chills through our bodies, it seemed to carry a mysterious charm. The leaves rustled in harmony, almost in sync with our music and shared a magical connection with us. This enchanting experience took place during our second performance of the tour at Xiang Yang Park, Shanghai.
Huayue: Favourite genres of music other than Chinese orchestral music?
Wei Xuan: Western classical, indie electronic and contemporary folk
Huayue: What's currently playing on your spotify playlist?
Wei Xuan: Yesterday's People by C.A.R.
Huayue: Which movie/drama series soundtrack would you like to be recorded for and why?
Wei Xuan: Art films like Wings of Desire. Or any Wong Kar-wai's, I'm a huge fan!
Huayue: What's your non-music related hobby / pastime?
Wei Xuan: Travelling, for sure.
Huayue: Who is your number 1 idol status musician? If you had a chance to meet him/her for dinner, who would it be?
Wei Xuan: I can't decide between Emmanuel Pahud or the late Yu Xunfa. For dinner, it would be the late Mariss Jansons. It would be a humbling experience to have a conversation with him on his music philosophy and deep thoughts about world affairs.
Huayue: What's your source of inspiration to perform on stage?
Wei Xuan: Just the simple love and passion for music.
Huayue: What would you have as your career if you were not a musician?
Wei Xuan: Possibly an arts producer or something related to marketing.
Huayue: What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, teacher or peer in music that still impacts you till today?
Wei Xuan: Stay humble.
Huayue: What is your animal personality?
Wei Xuan: Capybara. I am a capybara person.
Huayue: What is the one thing that is most unexpected of musicians beyond usual stereotypes?
Wei Xuan: That we only listen to Chinese music. My CO friends and I actually listen to a wide range of music from classical to pop to indie! We usually share our playlists too, exposing each other to a wide variety of music.
华乐：这几个月，您第一回到国外居住工作，有什么感想吗？
名慧：新加坡物价和房价都比台湾贵，人们对于处理事务非常有效率，也比较公事公办，程序比较多。对各民族包容力强，大家都很友善，我在新加坡感受到不同的美，美并不单一，我也不喜欢社会把我们的审美框架住或单一化。
华乐：除了华乐，您最喜欢听什么音乐？
名慧：吉他指弹音乐 finger style
华乐：您的 Spotify 播放列表正在播哪些曲？
名慧：贝多芬 悲怆（Beethoven sonata no.8)，莫札特土耳其进行曲（还有爵士版），刘星第二中阮协奏曲， 赵俊毅西班牙舞曲（柳琴是我演奏的)
华乐：您想为哪部电影/电视剧录制原声带？
名慧：神鬼奇航 Pirates of the Carribbean, 他的音乐都写的很有画面及气氛
华乐：除了音乐，还有什么其他爱好或热爱的消闲活动？
名慧：看连续剧、看电影、逛街（只逛街不买东西）、爬简单的山、偶尔慢跑、打撞球
华乐：谁是你心目中排名第一的偶像音乐人（演奏家、指挥等）？如果你有机会与他/她共进晚餐，你会选择谁？
名慧：Marcin Patrzalek (Guitarist）
华乐：您在舞台上表演的灵感来自。。。？
名慧：演出灵感来自作曲家给的谱面讯息，还有自身面对舞台的经验，及老师的教导
华乐：如果你不是演奏家，你会从事什么职业？
名慧：幼儿教育相关的老师，以前想当幼稚园老师，很喜欢小孩
华乐：您从音乐领域的导师、老师或同行那里得到的至今仍然影响着您的最佳建议是什么？
名慧：我的大学和硕士的主修老师对我说过: “为自己弹琴，音乐会带你到任何地方”
华乐： 你的性格最像什么动物？
名慧：猫猫狗狗吧
华乐：说说一般人对演奏家感到最意外的、最打破刻板印象的一个特质或事情。
名慧：学音乐的人都有点固执，有时候钻牛角尖，想像力丰富，也常常听到学音乐的男生很花心这种说法哈哈哈。
华乐：你最怀念家乡的什么？
思元：其实现在生活都这么便利的情况下，家乡的东西其实都可以吃到或者买到，如果说想念的，那应该就是妈妈做的饭了，那有一种家的味道。
华乐：除了华乐，您最喜欢听什么音乐？
思元：流行音乐
华乐：您的 Spotify 播放列表正在播哪些曲？
思元：粤语流行歌
华乐：您想为哪部电影/电视剧录制原声带？
思元：迪士尼的电影
华乐：除了音乐，还有什么其他爱好或热爱的消闲活动？
思元：看电影
华乐：您在舞台上表演的灵感来自。。。？
思元：我在舞台上的演奏完全来自于平时一遍一遍的练习，这样才可以保持比较好的状态在舞台上呈现给观众。
华乐：如果你不是演奏家，你会从事什么职业？
思元：经纪人
华乐：您从音乐领域的导师、老师或同行那里得到的至今仍然影响着您的最佳建议是什么？
思元：我在音乐学习的道路上遇到的每一个老师都给予我很多的音乐启发，老师们给的音乐建议在我每一个年龄阶段对于乐曲的理解都会起到很大的帮助。
华乐：你的性格最像什么动物？
思元：我比较喜欢狗狗。
华乐：说说一般人对演奏家感到最意外的、最打破刻板印象的一个特质或事情。
思元：在没有选择音乐道路之前觉得无论哪个乐团或者从事艺术的演奏家们都是很严肃的，而且感觉相处可能是很有距离感的。但是选择了音乐以后，一直到现在，其实演奏家老师们除了在教学上严肃认真以外，私下都是非常容易相处的，而且都非常的有耐心，给我一种很温暖的感觉。