NTUSO MASTERWORKS Programme Booklet

MASTERWORKS 7pm | 27 May 2023 SOTA Concert Hall

Contents

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03

Programme

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Foreword

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About NTUSO

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Our Conductor

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Our Soloist

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Programme Notes

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Our Musicians

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Special Thanks

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Our Partners

Programme SERGEI RACHMANINOFF

Piano Concerto No. 2 38' 1. Moderato - Allegro 2. Adagio Sostenuto 3. Allegro scherzando

Ng Ze Wei, Piano Intermission

ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK

15'

Symphony No. 9 45' "From the New World" 1. Adagio 2. Largo 3. Scherzo - Molto vivace 4. Allegro con fuoco

Concert Duration: 2 hours Chan Wei Shing Conductor NTU Symphony Orchestra

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Foreword Dear esteemed guests, friends and family – a very warm welcome to NTU Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks!

We are a symphony orchestra founded in 2019, with roots dating back to 1994 as the now-defunct NTU String Orchestra. After 25 years, we made a bold decision to expand our soundscape and repertoire. As we continue to build upon our soundscape and musicianship as young musicians, we believe that while our journey to maturity will be a long and perhaps even difficult one, it is undoubtedly a rewarding and fulfilling one. As this year marks the fourth year of NTU Symphony Orchestra since its establishment, we would like to look back and reminisce about our humble beginnings. Our orchestra has grown a lot in the past few years, from having a small string section and only two members in the brass section to a fullfledged orchestra. We are proud to say that we have come a long way. We are incredibly grateful for the efforts of past and present members – from establishing a foundation for our orchestra to the expansion in size that we are now able to enjoy and experiment with.

In taking up the challenge of a demanding and complex repertoire,

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we are once again pushing the limits of our orchestra and our members.

Tonight's repertoire is a testament to what NTUSO has achieved thus far.

We are honoured and grateful to be having our second concert today at the School of the Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall, following from our previous concert, CODA, last year. We are proud to present Masterworks – a concert paying homage to two prominent and talented Romantic era composers who were known to be masterful in classical music.

Our programme tonight features works

by Sergei Rachmaninoff and Antonin Dvorak - two composers that are highly revered in the history of classical music. The first half of our concert features Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, performed by NTU Symphony Orchestra’s very own member, Ng Ze Wei – a dedicated member since our establishment in 2019. Following the concerto will be Dvorak’s 9th Symphony (“From the New World”). For both works, our orchestra has worked tirelessly throughout the semester amidst studies under the tutelage of our conductor, Mr. Chan Wei Shing, to build towards the rich and invigorating sounds of both pieces.

Foreword We would like to extend our gratitude to all the support we have received over the past years, including but not limited to – NTU Students’ Affairs Office and NTU Cultural Activities Club for their continued support towards our programmes; our sponsors for extending a helping hand to make this event possible; NTU Symphonic Band, NTU Piano Ensemble and NTU Chinese Orchestra for their help with logistics and instrument support; SOTA for the concert venue, as well as technical and administrative support; our members and guest players for their hard work, dedication and passion for music-making; and finally, you, the audience for making all of our concerts worth working for.

Tonight, we hope that the iconic and unforgettable melodies performed by our orchestra, as well as their backstories, will take you on an emotional and musical journey – one that reminds us of the inherent powers of music for self-expression and navigating one's life. ............

As we come to the end of another academic year at NTU, we hope to celebrate it on a high note by showing you the wonders of music. We thank you once again for your constant support throughout the years in our journey as a growing student orchestra. Sit back and enjoy the show as we bring you into the New World!

(from left to right) Chen Yijie, Soh Li Lin Anna, Jermayne Lim, Sharmeela Banu D/O Shah Jehan, Justin Teo Jin Yuan

From the NTUSO Committee, AY 22/23

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ABOUT NTUSO NTU CAC Symphony Orchestra (NTUSO) was established in September 2019 after its expansion from a string orchestra with over 20 years of experience. NTUSO aims to promote excellence and enrichment in classical music and to provide a platform for students to learn and perform a wider repertoire of music.

With a combined strength of over 70 active members, NTUSO and its affiliations continue to grow and thrive every year.

Currently under the baton of our passionate conductor, Mr. Chan Wei Shing, the orchestra rehearses symphonic repertoire to perform in our annual concerts and ad-hoc performance opportunities, such as TEDxNTU, NTU and LKC convocations and The Grandeur of .......

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Christmas at Paragon. Additionally, exclusive enrichment opportunities are provided to members, including but not limited to masterclasses and chamber coaching - honing the musicianship and leadership initiative of our zealous members. In 2023, NTUSO had its inaugural Art Symposium which provided members and other NTU students a plethora of enrichment such as a composition workshop from Terrence Wong, industry talks from professionals in arts management from Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and a panel discussion with industry experts such as Dr. Eugene Dairianathan, Dr. Leonard Tan, and Gabriel Lee. NTUSO is committed to a holistic approach to both internal and external networking and collaboration. Through our efforts, we have established partnerships with various organizations such as the National Gallery to provide exclusive performance collaborations for our members, as well as volunteering and networking experience with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in certain events such as the SSO Babies Proms and VCH Open House.

to the University of Music in Graz to study with Prof. Rudolf Leopold. Here in 1996, he was awarded the Master Degree of Arts majoring in Cello Performance.

During his study at Graz University, Wei Shing was appointed principal cellist of the University Orchestra and University Opera Orchestra where he played in many concerts and operas. He was also chosen to represent the university in the exchange program with many different Academies and Universities in Europe.

CHAN WEI SHING Chan Wei Shing, born to a musical family, started learning the piano at the age of eight and the cello at ten, with Mrs. H. Ilano (Former sub-principal, SSO). In 1985, he won the First Prize in two categories of the National Music Competition – the Cello Open and the Chamber Music category. Since then, Wei Shing has been involved in many concerts and opera productions such as Die Fledermaus and La Traviata, and also Young Musicians Concerts. As principal cellist of the Singapore Youth Orchestra then, he was also selected as soloist in 1985 and in 1988 for the orchestra’s tour to Australia.

In 1988, Wei Shing studied at the University of Music in Vienna with Prof. Angelika May for two years, as a result of winning the scholarship from the former Cultural Foundation and the Lee Foundation. Then he went on ........

Besides playing in orchestras, Wei Shing also played in many concerts and festivals such as the Vienna Festival Weeks, Bad Aussee Music Festival Weeks, Holland Music Session, and Brahms Music Weeks, among others.

He has also participated in masterclasses with renowned cellists like William Pleeth, Phillipe Müller, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Wolfgang Bottcher, Valentin Erban, and Ivan Montigetti.

Since his return to Singapore, Wei Shing has been performing regularly.

He has been involved in many chamber concerts in Asia including a trio performance with pianist Pascal Roger in the Singapore Arts Festival with the Singapore Dance Theatre, and CD recordings of works from Tsao Chieh and Poon Yew Tien.

In 2009, Wei Shing was appointed the Music Director of The Millennial Orchestra. The orchestra hopes to feature local talents and composers which will include works by Dr. Kelly Tang, Dr. Er Yenn Chwen, and many more. Among orchestra works, Wei Shing also conducted operas by Donizetti, Purcell, J. Strauss, B. Britten, C. Monteverdi, and is the Music Director of The New Opera Singapore.

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guest pianist for numerous music groups, including the NUS, NTU and VJC Piano Ensembles. He had the privilege of participating in masterclasses with esteemed musicians such as Martin Soderberg, Nicola Benedetti and John Mills from the Tippet Quartet.

NG ZE WEI Ze Wei is a dedicated pianist and musician with a passion for musicmaking. With over twenty years of experience, he has earned numerous accolades and distinctions, including the Fellowship of the Royal Schools of Music (Piano Performance) and Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (Piano Performance) with Distinction, achieved at the ages of 17 and 15, respectively, under the guidance of Mr. Timothy Ku. Ze Wei is known for his versatility as a musician, both as a soloist and accompanist. His sold-out solo piano recital at the Esplanade Recital Studio in 2015 was a testament to his artistry.

He has since performed as a ...........

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Collaboration and musical partnership are a great source of joy and inspiration for Ze Wei. He enjoys playing the viola and violin, having earned the DipARBSM in Violin Performance at the age of 13. He has since performed with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and NUS Symphony Orchestra as a guest violinist and violist, respectively. As the former Music Director of the NTU Symphony Orchestra, Ze Wei played a key role in pivoting the Orchestra's direction to chamber music during the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2021. As an avid chamber musician, Ze Wei has also performed with groups such as the Imperial College Chamber Music Society.

Ze Wei is a sought-after piano accompanist, and notable collaborations include accompanying cellist Joel Tay and soprano Zhou Manqi in their respective solo recitals in 2019 and 2021, respectively. He has since accompanied the proteges of numerous established string musicians including Eric Lim, Loh Jun Hong, Lynette Lim and Marietta Ku. Ze Wei's love for music extends beyond performance. He is a dedicated music educator who teaches piano performance and music theory with great enthusiasm, and delights in arranging music for various ensembles in his free time.

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873 - 1943) Piano Concerto No. 2

A virtuosic pianist and an excellent composer, Rachmaninoff composed for the piano according to his tastes and strengths. His influences are of the romantic period, as evident through the lyrical passages.

His strengths?

Remarkably large hands, allowing him to navigate large chords and wide passages with ease, as well as a monstrous level of pianism.

Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 demonstrates his absolute mastery of the piano with its agile passages and large thunderous chords, both of which demanded techniques of considerable proficiency. It is no wonder that his Second Piano Concerto became widely known to be one of the most challenging piano concertos.

A large portion of Rachmaninoff’s influence in this piano concerto lay in his dark times; Rachmaninoff suffered from a significant depression phase after the premiere of his poorly received Symphony No. 1, which was so severe that he could barely compose.

He agreed to receive treatment from a pioneer in hypnotherapy, Nicolai Dahl, which went successfully and allowed him to complete his Piano Concerto No. 2. Rachmaninoff eventually dedicated the score to Dr. Dahl in gratitude for his efforts through Rachmaninoff’s difficult times.

Pay close attention as the piano opens the first movement (Moderato – Allegro) with a series of gloomy ...........

chords that surge into a fiery roll, that is shortly joined by the orchestra with a rich and passionate melody. The piano enhances the melody with elaborate harmonies, occasionally reinforcing melodic lines throughout the piece, and drives the intensity growth every time the theme repeats.

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The second movement (Adagio sostenuto) brings immense relief to the exciting ending of the first movement, through a very steady and hypnotic accompanying theme from the piano, layered with a warm and graceful melody in the woodwinds. While the piece develops, serenity is briefly interrupted with a slightly more mobile second theme, before it is thrown back to the recapitulation, where it reintroduces the melody in its fullest and most majestic form with the swirling sounds of the string section, accented by a very punchy winds section.

Without much time for a break, a march-like beat paves the way for a virtuosic piano passage in the third movement (Allegro scherzando) that elegantly melds into a flowing melody underlined with an exciting flurry of notes. Occasional interjections of another hypnotic theme which serves as a breath of fresh air. Eventually, the piece fully matures, flourishing into its final form, where the piano steadily but intensely drives the orchestra to the last bars.

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ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK

(1841 - 1904) Symphony No. 9, “From the New World” Dvořák, born in Bohemia (now Czech Republic), made a name for himself composing 19th-century Romantic music heavily inspired from folk music. In 1892, he was invited by Mrs. Jeannette Thurber to become a director for the newly established National Conservatory of Music, which, at the time, was very recently founded by herself, in New York City. Within the first year of his stay in America, Dvořák drew from American (otherwise referred to as “New World”) music and folklore as source material for his composition for the wellknown ninth symphony.

New World Symphony, as it has become known, has maintained as one of Dvořák’s most well-known symphonies, despite it being composed a little over a century ago. Dvořák crafted his ninth symphony in the style of a standard four movements classical symphony. The first movement (Adagio-Allegro Molto) is filled with repetitive use of the theme in a question and response style, which is sure to be etched into your memory by the time the movement ends.

The second movement (Largo) treats you to a pleasant succession of chords before your attention is drawn to the sweet and enchanting tune from the cor anglais (English horn). .

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The same tune is later emulated by the strings; yet it fails to complete before the English horn takes over. In its second major theme, a troubling second tune appears in the winds, accompanied by jazz-style pizzicato steps in the basses, and after much development, it brings itself to the sweet sound of the cor anglais for you to enjoy once more.

The Scherzo (Molto vivace) immediately opens with energy-filled bars, fueling the following adrenaline filed bars. Dvořák manages to balance out the piece with a much more relaxed and folkloric development, but not before it returns once again to jolt you out of your seats.

Much like Rachmaninoff’s transition from the second to the third movement, the fourth movement (Allegro con fuoco) also wastes no time in introducing itself. This finale provides an excellent summation of the entire composition, because in addition to its own musical ideas, it also recalls themes from preceding movements. The recollections help to bring the symphony’s four separate movements together into one unified symphony and offers a thrilling finale.

Our Musicians First Violin Raymond Tio ^ Andrea Yee Ang Choong Hean Joshua # Claire Chang Denise Tan # Fu Xuan Cindy Kiersten Yeo Roy Tham Jun Kai # Soh Kai Mun

Flute Joseph Tan Wei En ^ Chang Eugene

Second Violin Caleb Lau Kah Loke ^ Chong Shueh Li Shona * Chwee Yun Hui Faith Yap Yee Fay Lim Chuan Kai Nicholas Matheus Calvin Lokadjaja Sharmeela Banu D/O Shah Jehan * Song Ying Hui Megan Tan Rui Jie Ryan

Clarinet Chua Jay Roon # Natasha Cassandra Cecilia Monteiro

Viola Hooi Yu Leong, Lyon ^ Abigail Antonia Wijaya Angela Liu Qiyu # Eric Lim # Justin Teo Jin Yuan * Lim Li Qian * Lin Fangjia # Soh Li Lin Anna * Cello Hong Yixin ^ Chen Yijie * Chia Wei Rong Eileen Paw Zhang Hui Low Boon How # Tan Anan Tan Yan Chong # Tang Chang Ye Seow Hui * Double Bass Cheng Wentuo # Claire Lim # Kezia Ng Lim Say Hao #

Oboe Chan Chen # Priyadarshini # Cor Anglais Priyadarshini #

Bassoon Wong Khai Heng Horn Topaz Tan ^ Lee Yan Liang # Loh Wan Ping # Roy Ang # Trumpet Timothy Tay # Wei Zhengjie Trombone Jermayne Lim * Kenneth Chong Nicholas Teoh # Tuba Darryl Seow Percussion Martina Umairah Binte Razali ^ Goh Jun Heng Timothy Ellison Janong

Legend: *: Committee members ^: Principals #: Guest players

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Special Thanksto Special Thanks Front-of-House

Chiow Yang Chen Steve Sia Juling

Stage Manager

Koh Horn Ray

Tutors

Editorial & Design

Emcees

House Announcer

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Chan Wei Shing Chikako Sasaki Eric Lim Goh Eng Hong Vincent Jessie Ye Zhi Lau Wen Rong Mark Ignatius De Souza Miao Shan Shan Adele Teng Chong Shueh Li Shona Justin Teo Jin Yuan Caleb Lau Kah Loke Kezia Ng Martina Umairah Binte Razali

Thanks to OurSpecial Partners & Sponsors

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About Dorothy Cheung Memorial Fund The Dorothy Cheung Art Appreciation Series, supported by the Dorothy Cheung Memorial Fund, was established through the generous donation of Assoc. Prof.

John Cheung (School of Mechnanical and Production Engineering) in memory of his loving wife Assoc. Prof. Dorothy Cheung (School of Civil and Structural Engineering). Prof Cheung entrusted a significant portion of his life savings to the NTU community to carry on, in perpetuity, their beliefs in the Arts and the nurturing and transforming of the NTU students in and through their academic and cultural pursuits.

The Memorial Fund supports endeavours that aim to stimulate and intensify creative and critical engagement in the Arts through collaborative arts projects, talks, workshops, guest lecture, visiting artist, exhibitions, and concerts by staff, students as well as international recognized artists in various disciplines of the Arts.

The activities seek to push envelopes of an understanding towards practices of the Arts to enable greater participation from schools and their student community in working towards meaningful outcomes to locate the place of the Arts in their everyday lives.

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