National Piano & Violin Competition 2025 Competition Programme by Singapore Symphony

20–30 November 2025

Newman Tong Kaihan - First Prize Winner, Piano Junior 2023.

COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Victoria Concert Hall | Streamed live on Singapore Symphony's YouTube Channel.

PIANO COMPETITION

JUNIOR QUARTER-FINALS (10AM)

INTERMEDIATE

QUARTER-FINALS (1.15PM)

SENIOR QUARTER-FINALS (10AM)

ARTIST

QUARTER-FINALS (2.15PM)

VIOLIN COMPETITION

JUNIOR SEMI-FINALS (10AM)

INTERMEDIATE SEMI-FINALS (1.15PM)

SENIOR SEMI-FINALS (9.30AM)

(9.30AM)

JUNIOR QUARTER-FINALS (2PM)

INTERMEDIATE QUARTER-FINALS (4.45PM)

SENIOR QUARTER-FINALS (8.15PM)

JUNIOR SEMI-FINALS (2PM)

INTERMEDIATE SEMI-FINALS (4.15PM)

ARTIST QUARTER-FINALS (7.15PM)

TUE 25 NOV WED 26 NOV THU 27 NOV

JUNIOR FINALS (1.45PM)

INTERMEDIATE FINALS (4.30PM)

SENIOR SEMI-FINALS (10AM)

JUNIOR FINALS (10AM)

INTERMEDIATE FINALS (12.15PM)

ARTIST SEMI-FINALS (3PM)

SENIOR FINALS (10AM)

SENIOR FINALS (6.30PM)

ARTIST FINALS (7.30PM)

This event is ticketed

ARTIST FINALS (2PM)

This event is ticketed

PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY (5.30PM-7PM)

This is a closed door event. Open to fnalists and invited guests.

Catch most of the competition rounds for free – in person at the Victoria Concert Hall or online via livestream on the Singapore Symphony YouTube channel! The Artist Finals for both piano and violin on 29 & 30 November are ticketed at $10 each.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

Organised by the Singapore Symphony Group, the National Piano & Violin Competition 2025 is its 15th edition, tracing its history back to 1997 under the auspices of the National Arts Council. The biennial competition identifes and shines a spotlight on young musical talents in Singapore, providing them the opportunity to perform before a panel of Singapore and international professional adjudicators.

The competition is open to young pianists and violinists aged 25 years and below. Participants will compete in four categories:

• Artist 25 years and below

• Senior 21 years and below

• Intermediate 15 years and below

• Junior 11 years and below

This year, we are also deeply grateful for the generous support of Christopher & Rosy Ho to nurture the next generation of young musicians in Singapore.

Prize winners of the 2023 edition.

AWARDS

The top three winners of each category will receive trophies, certificates, and cash prizes:

1st Prize

2nd Prize

$3,500

$2,000

$1,400

$1,000

3rd Prize

$2,000

$1,500

$1,000

$800

Christopher & Rosy Ho Audience Prize

The Prize aims to recognize outstanding performers, regardless of category. Only one pianist and one violinist from across all categories, who have progressed to the Finals, will be awarded this prestigious prize. Winners will be determined by a combination of public votes and adjudicator votes and each winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000, part of Christopher & Rosy Ho’s generous support towards the entire competition Please refer to sso org sg/npvc for voting mechanics and links.

1 Piano Finalist $5,000

1 Violin Finalist $5,000

All participants will receive certificates based on their performance: Finalists who have not been awarded the top 3 prizes but have shown promise in their performances may receive an Honourable Mention, which comes with a cash award of $500.

CERTIFICATE OF DISTINCTION

Awarded to top three prize winners

CERTIFICATE OF MERIT

Awarded to all Finalists

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION

Awarded to all Quarter-Finalists and Semi-Finalists

PIANO RAN JIA

The Chinese pianist Ran Jia gained international attention for her extraordinary interpretative abilities in the piano works of Franz Schubert. Tan Dun praised her as a “piano poet with dramatic skill in music making.”

A special milestone in the 2016/2017 season was her highly successful debut at the Berlin Philharmonic Chamber Music Hall, where she performed the complete Schubert sonata cycle over four evenings within ten days. During the same period, she released her second Schubert sonata album under the RCA label. Other career highlights include performances with the Orchestra Sinfonica Nazionale RAI in Torino, her debut at the La Roque d’Anthéron International Piano Festival in France, appearances at the Rheingau Music Festival in Germany, and collaborations with the China Philharmonic Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under Chung Myung-Whun.

In the 2018/2019 season, Ran Jia was invited to perform the complete Schubert sonata cycle at the Shanghai Symphony Hall, where the live recording of all eleven sonatas was released in China in October 2019.

Ran Jia gave her European recital debut at age 19 with a Schubert programme at the Klavierfestival Ruhr, earning enthusiastic praise from audiences and critics alike: “With this pianist, the structures and sounds fow naturally on their own.”

She began piano lessons at the age of three and started performing publicly by seven. In November 2005, she made her debut at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York. Ran Jia studied with Gary Graffman at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, at the Hochschule für Musik Köln in Germany, and at the International Piano Academy Lake Como in Italy with William Grant Naboré. Since 2022, she has served as Associate Professor of Piano at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

PIANO NORIKO OGAWA

ADJUDICATORS

Noriko Ogawa has achieved international renown since her success at the Leeds International Piano Competition. Noriko’s “ravishingly poetic playing” (Telegraph) sets her apart from her contemporaries as well as the acclaim for her complete Debussy series with BIS Records, where she is an exclusive recording artist boasting 42 titles in their catalogue.

Ranging from Mozart, Rachmaninov, Satie, Debussy to contemporary composers including Vagn Holmboe and Yoshihiro Kanno, Noriko boasts a prolifc catalogue of over 30 albums. Her discography includes Takemitsu’s Riverrun (Editor’s Choice, Gramophone), Mussorgsky’s Pictures from an Exhibition (Critics’ Choice, BBC Music Magazine), and the complete solo piano music of Debussy and Eric Satie. With the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, she has recorded the complete piano concertos of Alexander Tcherepnin.

As a much sought-after guest educator, Noriko is a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Tokyo College of Music and Music Director of Hamamatsu International Piano Academy. Noriko is a Visiting Professor for Yamaha Masterclasses and at Chetham’s International Piano Summer School. Other teaching commitments this season include the Yeon Cheon Piano Academy in Korea.

Noriko regularly judges at international competitions. This season saw her perform in the Channel Islands, along with adjudication positions at several prestigious competitions including Singapore’s National Piano and Violin Competition, Singapore International Piano Competition, Kawai International Piano Competition and Dublin International Piano Competition. Noriko was the chairperson for the 10th to the 12th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, and a board member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions during her term. In 2025, Noriko performed the world premiere of Yoshihiro Kanno’s Piano Concerto No. 1 ‘Mirror Maze’ with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and also worked with Chief Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic, Kahchun Wong.

Noriko is passionate about charity work, particularly after the earthquake and tsunami which devastated Japan in early 2011, raising over £40,000 for the British Red Cross Japan Tsunami Fund. Noriko also founded Jamie’s Concerts, a series for autistic children and parents, and is a Cultural Ambassador for the National Autistic Society.

PIANO ASHLEY WASS

Described as an ‘endlessly fascinating artist’, Ashley Wass’s musical career is one of unusual creativity and variety. Alongside his work as soloist and chamber musician, he is co-founder of Mash Productions, was Artistic Director of the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival for eleven years, and was formerly Director of Music at the Yehudi Menuhin School (UK) and the Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao. The diverse list of people and organisations with whom he has collaborated include flm festivals, art galleries and animators, children’s television presenters and stars of the stage and screen, illustrators, literary festivals and renowned authors, and mime artists and comedians.

Ashley’s watershed moment came in 1997 when he won the London International Piano Competition, a success that led to a recording contract with Naxos, making him the frst solo artist to obtain an exclusive deal with the label. He was also a prizewinner at the Leeds Piano Competition, and is a former BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist. Since then, he has performed at many of the world’s fnest concert halls and with major orchestras around the globe.

Ashley has received great critical acclaim for his recordings of music from a wide range of styles and eras. He returned to the studio in late 2023 to record a retrospective album called ‘Black and White’ for Blue Cloud, which streamed well over a million times. His most recent recording is an album called 'Meditations', recorded with his wife, the violinist Doriane Gable, in 2025.

Ashley was Professor of Piano at the Royal College of Music from 20082018, Deputy Head of Keyboard Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music from 2018-2020, and was Director of Music of the Yehudi Menuhin School from 2020-2025. He was also the founding Director of Music at the Yehudi Menuhin School in Qingdao. He now teaches at the Maastricht Conservatorium.

Today, Ashley's greatest passion is to fnd ways to support the wellbeing of musicians around the world. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Zenezen, an innovative new platform, due to launch in 2026, that aspires to foster a greater sense of togetherness across the musical community.

VIOLIN ERIK HEIDE ADJUDICATORS

Swedish-born violinist Erik Heide graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen in 1998 after studies with Milan Vitek. He furthered his studies at the Musikhochschule in Cologne with the Alban Berg quartet and in Helsinki with Ralf Gothóni.

Erik is one of Scandinavia’s most acclaimed chamber musicians and has together with his award-winning piano trio, Trio Ondine, won the Haydn Competition Vienna, the Parkhouse Award London, Audience Prize in both the ARD competition Munchen and the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. The piano trio has performed in concert halls such as: Wigmore Hall, Concerthaus Wien, Pablo Casals Festival. They have also been New Generation Artists for the BBC.

Erik has performed as a soloist with many orchestras and recorded several violin concertos for the Danish label Dacapo. His latest performance together with Lars Anders Tomter and Norrköping Symphony Orchestra was nominated for an American Grammy and was Editor’s Choice in the Gramophone.

Erik was frst concertmaster in Copenhagen Phil between 2004-2018 and in the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra between 2017-2020. He continues to be frst concertmaster of the Danish National Chamber Orchestra and performs regularly as a guest leader with orchestras across Europe. He has been invited to guest lead orchestras such as the Madrid National Symphony Orchestra, Gulbenkian Orchestra Lisbon, Hamburg Staatsoper, Oslo Opera, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic amongst others.

Erik is a very dedicated teacher and has in recent years established himself as an exciting, innovative and energetic teacher in Scandinavia. He is a professor and Head of Strings in the University of Stavanger (Norway) and Academy of Music in Malmö (Sweden). In the coming years, Erik will work together with YOMA (Young Musicians Academy in Sweden) where he will teach the talented violinists in Sweden and around Europe between the ages of thirteen and eighteen.

Erik plays a Joseph Guarnerius violin and loves windsurfng.

VIOLIN KAORU KONDO

©Fukahori Mizuho

Born in Aichi prefecture, in a family of musicians with three generations of violinists. Tomio Kondo, the founding concertmaster of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, is his grandfather.

After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts with the Acanthus Prize, Kondo completed master’s degree at the same university. During his studies, Kondo attended summer courses at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, where he studied under members of the Alban Berg Quartet, Amadeus String Quartet and Hagen String Quartets, and got trained in the feld of chamber music as well. He took part in the Caravan Concerts in 2002 and 2005 and was trained by Mstislav Rostropovich and Seiji Ozawa. His clear and beautiful tone, and dynamic performance with both delicacy and power have been well received not only in Japan, but also in Italy, Germany, Austria, Spain, Canada, China, Taiwan.

Currently, he is a concertmaster of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra since 2015, as well as the Future Orchestra Classics (formerly the Nagano Chamber Orchestra) and the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra. In addition to his performing career, he serves as a Professor at the University of Tokyo from 2025 and leads the Riverrun String Quartet as the Season Program Producer of the Nagano City Arts Center.

Kondo also teaches at the Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology of the University of Tokyo where he played an essential role in the establishment of the Advanced Art Design Laboratory. Kondo writes a series of essays for the Nishinippon Shimbun called “Golden Notes”. He has also produced a music event, a collaboration of the Karuizawa Music Festival and the Karuizawa New Art Museum, and produced the acclaimed YouTube video content, “Children and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra played ‘Destiny’ remotely”, which was widely covered by various media as the world's frst attempt during the Covid pandemic.

VIOLIN MIRA WANG

ADJUDICATORS

Mira Wang has built a remarkable bridge from her time as a child prodigy in Beijing, China to an acclaimed soloist on the world stage today.

Mira has appeared as a soloist with orchestras all over the world including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Staatskapelle Dresden, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Saarbrücken Radio Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and NDR Philharmonic Hannover.

She has premiered many contemporary concertos including the violin concerto Spring in Dresden by Chen Yi with the Staatskapelle Dresden, conducted by Ivan Fischer, John Harbison’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Carlos Kalmar, the double concerto by Wolfgang Rihm, with Jan Vogler and the Orpheus Camber orchestra at Carnegie Hall. In 2018, She premiered a triple concerto “Alisma” by Swiss composer William Blank with Jan Vogler, Daniel Ottensamer and the Philharmonische Staatsorchester Hamburg, conducted by Kent Nagano at Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.

Mira has toured the world with famous Hollywood actor Bill Murray, cellist Jan Vogler, and pianist Vanessa Perez in a project called The “New Worlds.” An innovative programme with unexpected and exciting exploration of the relationship between literature and music. A live documentary movie of the show was premiered in movie theaters around the world in the spring of 2022. The recording of “New Worlds” can be found under the Decca Gold label.

Mira has been Artistic Director of the Model Room Musicales concert series in New York City since 2005 and in 2013, she became Director of the Moritzburg Festival Academy in Germany. Mira joined the faculty at Bard Conservatory in 2022.

SET PIECES KOH CHENG JIN

NPVC participants in the Artist and Senior categories are required to perform a set piece in the semi-fnals. This is in addition to their full solo programme and concertos. The piece is always written by a local composer.

As composer, she has collaborated with Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra, China Conservatory of Music, Central Conservatory of Music, Chinese Music Ensemble of New York, Bard US-China Music Institute, American Guild of Organists, Talea Ensemble, Verona Quartet, Ding Yi Music Company, among several others.

Most signifcant accolades include the BMI Foundation Composer (William Schuman) Prize, an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award, the Society of New Music Brian Israel Prize, Palmer Dixon Award and Gena Raps Chamber Music Prize (both from The Juilliard School), and the Boston New Music Initiative (BNMI) Prize.

She was also commissioned by the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art for their centennial celebrations and was the commissioned composer for the 2022 Singapore International Violin Competition. Festivals that have featured her music include the Singapore International Festival of Arts and Singapore International Piano Festival.

Having completed her undergraduate (with academic honors) and graduate studies at The Juilliard School, she is currently a PhD MacCracken doctoral fellow and a graduate teaching adjunct at New York University Graduate School of Arts and Science. Her pedagogues include Melinda Wagner, Kelly Tang, Robert Beaser and Louis Karchin.

SET PIECES

Piano Artist - Scat

Scat singing is a vocal improvisation technique in Jazz music where the singer uses wordless syllables to create spontaneous melodies and rhythms. In spirit of such free expression, Scat for solo piano contains two main sections—one that is more of a laid-back, unrestrained character with fragments of jazz-inspired melodies that emerge and dissolve quickly, and another that is more energetic and almost fanatical with a rapid bass groove.

Violin Artist - Falsetto

Falsetto for solo violin is particularly inspired by high-pitched, xiao sang (⼩嗓/small voice) technique sung by female roles (dan) in Peking opera. The clear, penetrating timbre and speech-like, pitch-bending effects, highly characteristic of the genre, serve as the foundation of this work. A brief moment of improvisation in the music heightens the expressivity of such a unique vocal production.

Piano Senior - Melodie

Melodie for solo piano is my musical response to the calm but deeply moving chorale-style movement “Auf einer Burg” from Schuman’s Liederkreis, Op. 39. Melodie possesses a clear homophonic texture throughout with an overarching melody that gradually expands gracefully but not too emphatically or dramatically.

Violin Senior - Coloratura

Borrowing from the vocal tradition of elaborate, virtuosic ornamentation commonly associated with the Baroque period, Coloratura for solo violin mainly explores agility and precision on the violin, anchored by a pedal tone (G). As a player and deep admirer of J.S. Bach’s solo violin music, I also featured some infuences in this work, such as lyricism, string crossing, terraced dynamics and sequences.

Notes by Koh Cheng Jin.

CONDUCTOR JOSHUA TAN

2nd Prize winner of the 2008 Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan’s rise to prominence on the international scene has been marked by successful debuts in Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Mariinsky Hall and Bunkamura.

A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction), he is an awardee of numerous scholarships and awards, such as the Young Artist Award, Singapore, Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, and the SSO/MOE Scholarship. Joshua has conducted orchestras all around the world. He has studied with various eminent conductors – James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman and Kurt Masur – and worked with many others, such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Ingo Metzmacher and George Manahan.

Known as a versatile conductor, Joshua is at home with symphonic, operatic and ballet works. His substantial repertoire for opera includes La Traviata, Rigoletto, Das Rheingold, Der fiegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Carmen, among others. He is also equally adept with music for ballet, flm and multimedia. For the latter, his extensive work include Disney’s Fantasia and Pixar, West Side Story, Jurassic Park and more.

Joshua is presently Music Director of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the Asia Virtuosi. He has served successful stints as Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Resident Conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) Orchestra, and as Principal Conductor of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of this season include debuts with Orchestre National de Bretagne, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra as well as return engagements to Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, and with the Singapore Ballet for Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella.

THE ORCHESTRA

Joshua Tan Conductor

FIRST VIOLIN

Chan Yoong-Han ^ Concertmaster

Erlyn Alexander

Cao Can*

Diana Chen

Joelle Chiam

Jin Li

Kong Xianlong

Lin Yi-Hsuan

Karen Tan

Ye Lin*

SECOND VIOLIN

Sayuri Kuru Principal

Nikolai Koval*

Martin Peh

Margit Saur

Shao Tao Tao

Tian Ye

Wan Fangyuan

Yin Shu Zhan*

VIOLA

Gu Bing Jie Principal

Chen Li

Caitlin Chin

Erlene Koh

Marietta Ku

Shui Bing

Janice Tsai

Dandan Wang

CELLO

Jamshid Saydikarimov Principal

Chan Wei Shing

Chen Youjia

Khachatur Khachatryan

Christopher Mui

Bekhzod Oblayorov

DOUBLE BASS

Yang Zheng Yi Principal

Po-Yu Fang

Karen Yeo

FLUTE

Evgueni Brokmiller Principal

Alvin Chan

PICCOLO

Miao Shanshan

OBOE

Rachel Walker Principal

Carolyn Hollier

CLARINET

Tang Xiao Ping Principal

Liu Yoko

BASSOON

Guo Siping Principal

Liu Chang

HORN

Marc-Antoine Robillard Principal

Ong Hwee Ling

Jared Sanders

Jaben Sim

TRUMPET

Lau Wen Rong Principal

Nuttakamon Supattranont

TROMBONE

Damian Patti Principal

Toh Chang Hui

BASS TROMBONE

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude from English Suite No. 4 in F major, BWV 809

FAURÉ Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor, Op. 26

KAPUSTIN Concert Études Nos. 1 and 6 from Op. 40

Additional Work(s) for Finals

HAYDN Allegro from Sonata in E-fat major, Hob.XVI/49

7 ZHAO ZIWEN

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 875

BEETHOVEN Presto alla tedesca from Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79

MOSZKOWSKI Étincelles, Op. 36, No. 6

Additional Work(s) for Finals

BRAHMS Intermezzo in A major, Op. 118, No. 2

8 YUAN BO XU

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude and Fugue in D minor, BWV 851

HAYDN Allegro from Sonata in E-fat major, Hob.XVI:49

CONSTANTINESCU Joc Dobrogean-Toccata

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHOPIN Waltz in E minor, Op. Posth

9 REBECCA LEONG KAI XIN

Quarter-Finals

HANDEL The Harmonious Blacksmith

Semi-Finals

HAYDN Allegro moderato from Sonata in F major, Hob.XVI:23

GILLOCK Valse Etude

Additional Work(s) for Finals

BERKOVICH Variations on a Theme by Paganini

PIANO JUNIOR

10 GABRIELE ELISE LAUW

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 884

SCARLATTI Sonata in D major, K. 443

Semi-Finals

HAYDN Allegro non troppo from Sonata in E-fat major, Hob.XVI:49

TCHAIKOVSKY Barcarolle from The Seasons

Additional Work(s) for Finals

BARTÓK Nos. 4 and 5 from Six Dances in Bulgarian Rhythm from Mikrokosmos

VILLA-LOBOS O polichinelo

11 SIM AI YING, ELINOR

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 893

MOZART Allegro maestoso from Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310

CHOPIN Nocturne in D-fat major, Op. 27, No. 2

Additional Work(s) for Finals

RAVEL Oiseuax tristes from Miroirs, M. 43

12 LI YOUBO

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

French Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV 817 II. Courante, VI. Bourrée

HAYDN Allegro from Sonata No. 38 in F major, Hob.XVI:23

BERKOVICH Variations on a Theme by Paganini

Additional Work(s) for Finals

HAYDN Sonata no. 38 in F major, Hob.XVI:23 II. Adagio, III. Presto

13 ANGELINA XI YUXI

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816 III. Sarabande, VII. Gigue

MOZART Allegro from Sonata No. 13 in B-fat major, K. 333

SHISHIDO Toccata from Sonata No. 2

Additional Work(s) for Finals

GLINKA Variations on The Nightingale

PIANO JUNIOR

14 THEODORE PENN HUR

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B-fat major, BWV 866

Semi-Finals

HAYDN

Allegro moderato from Sonata in F major, Hob.XVI:23

COPLAND The Cat and The Mouse

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHOPIN Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minor, Op. posth.

CHOPIN Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2

15 HAM JIA LE HARRY

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH Presto from Italian Concerto, BWV 971

Semi-Finals

MOZART Molto allegro from Sonata No. 14 in C minor, K. 457

GLINKA/BALAKIREV The Lark

Additional Work(s) for Finals

LISZT No. 4 from Grandes études de Paganini, S.141

16 ENZIO LIM YUE TONG

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

First movement from Italian Concerto, BWV 971

HAYDN Allegro moderato from Sonata in F major, Hob.XVI:23

CHOPIN Nocturne No. 20 in C-sharp minor, Op. posth.

SHOSTAKOVICH Polka from Dances of the Dolls

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHOPIN Waltz in E minor, B. 56

SHOSTAKOVICH Dances of the Dolls 1. Lyrical Waltz, 7. Dance

17 NG JUN YI NATHAN

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807 I. Prelude, IV. Sarabande, VII. Gigue

BEETHOVEN Presto from Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3

GRANADOS Allegro de concierto, Op. 46

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHOPIN Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 10, No. 4

DEBUSSY Feux d'artifce

5 CHEN ZHUOYI

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude and Fugue in B minor, BWV 893

BEETHOVEN Presto from Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3

COPLAND The Cat and The Mouse

Additional Work(s) for Finals

MENDELSSOHN Rondo capriccioso, Op. 14

6 JOVIE LING JIA XIN

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F minor, BWV 857

CHOPIN Étude in E minor, Op. 25, No. 5

GINASTERA Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2

Additional Work(s) for Finals

RAVEL Sonatine, II. Mouvt de menuet, III. Anime

7 KUAH JIUN KAI

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH Toccata in G major, BWV 916

Semi-Finals

BRAHMS Intermezzo in E-fat minor, Op. 118, No. 6

RAVEL Sonatine

Additional Work(s) for Finals

COPLAND Passacaglia

PIANO INTERMEDIATE

8 ZOE AUGUSTO POOK

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Prelude and Fugue in G-sharp minor, BWV 863

J. S. BACH Gigue from French Suite No. 4 in E-fat major, BWV 815

Semi-Finals

CLEMENTI Molto adagio e sustenuto from Sonata No. 2 in B minor, Op. 40, No. 2

CHAMINADE Automne

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHOPIN Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23

9 WONG ZHIXUAN NICOLE

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH Toccata in G major, BWV 916

Semi-Finals

GINASTERA Danzas Argentinas Nos. 2 and 3

HAYDN Allegro from Sonata in C major, Hob.XVI:50

Additional Work(s) for Finals

CHAMINADE Études de concert, Op. 35, No. 2

Additional Work(s) for Finals

SERGEI BORTKIEWICZ Prelude in D-fat major, Op. 33, No. 8

14 CERISE MAH RUI SZE

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

HAYDN

CHOPIN

Partita No. 5 in G major, BWV 829 I. Preambulum, II. Allemande, VII. Gigue

Allegro from Sonata in E-fat major, Hob.XVI:52

Scherzo No. 2 in B-fat minor, Op. 31

Additional Work(s) for Finals

DEBUSSY L'isle joyeuse

15 CHU YUHAN KAYLER

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Semi-Finals

1 CHOW ZI HAO

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Prelude and Fugue in C-sharp major, BWV 848

English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

II. Allemande, IV. Sarabande, VII. Gigue

CHOPIN Étude in C minor, Op. 25, No. 12 “Ocean”

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

MOZART

SCHUMANN

Finals

MOZART

SAINT-SAËNS

2 KAYDEN YAP SHI JIE

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

DEBUSSY

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

BEETHOVEN

RAVEL

Melodie

Allegretto from Piano Sonata No. 18 in D major, K. 576

Abegg Variations, Op. 1

Allegretto from Sonata No. 18 in D major, K. 576

Andante sostenuto from Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22

English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

Pour les degrés chromatiques

Melodie

Allegro con brio from Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”

Ondine

FANNY MENDELSSOHN October

Finals

RAVEL

SCHUMANN

DI DONGTIANHUI

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Ondine

Allegro affettuoso from Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54

Toccata in D major, BWV 912

CHOPIN Étude in C-fat minor, Op. 10, No. 4

Semi-Finals

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Prelude from English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

Prelude and Fugue No. 20 in A minor, BWV 889

CHOPIN Étude in G-fat major, Op. 10, No. 5

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

Melodie

HAYDN Allegro moderato from Sonata in B minor, Hob.XVI:32

BRAHMS Ballade in B minor, Op. 10, No. 3

GUBAIDULINA Chaconne

Finals

MENDELSSOHN First movement from Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25

GUBAIDULINA Chaconne

8 TONG YONG JIAN

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

CHOPIN Étude in A minor, Op. 25, No. 11 “Winter Wind”

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

Melodie

LISZT No. 4 from Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année, S. 163

RAVEL Scarbo

Finals

RAVEL Scarbo

RACHMANINOFF First movement from Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30

9 TONG YONG KANG

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue, BWV 903

CHOPIN Étude in C major, Op. 10, No. 1

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

Melodie

BEETHOVEN Allegro assai from Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, “Appassionata”

CHOPIN Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39

Finals

CHOPIN Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39

RACHMANINOF First movement from Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

PIANO SENIOR

10 YANG ZIXUAN

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Prelude and Fugue in B-fat minor, BWV 891

SCRIABIN Étude in C-sharp minor, Op. 42, No. 5

J. S. BACH

English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807

DEBUSSY Pour les arpèges composés

CHOPIN Étude in G-fat major, Op. 10, No. 5

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2

PROKOFIEV Sarcasms, Op. 17

Finals

BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15

PIANO ARTIST

4 CHAI ZI QING

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

French Overture in B minor, BWV 831

LISZT Transcendental Étude No. 11

KAPUSTIN Concert Etude, Op. 40, No. 2, “Reverie”

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

SCHUMANN Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6, Nos. 1 to 8

RAVEL Gaspard de la nuit

Finals

CHOPIN

5 TYLER YU

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

Partita for Keyboard No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830

LISZT Transcendental Étude No. 4, “Mazeppa”

RACHMANINOFF Études-tableaux, Op. 39, No. 5 in E-fat minor

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

BACH-BUSONI Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004

BEETHOVEN Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, "Appassionata" II. Andante con moto, III. Allegro ma non troppo-Presto

BALAKIREV Islamey

Finals

LISZT

6 CHEN XING-CHI

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-fat major

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH Partita for Keyboard No. 4 in D major, BWV 828

LISZT Waldesrauschen

CHOPIN Étude in C minor, Op. 10, No. 12, “Revolutionary Étude”

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

BEETHOVEN Allegro vivace from Sonata in A major, Op. 2, No. 2

CHOPIN Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1

LISZT Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata

Finals

CHOPIN

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

PIANO ARTIST

7 LUO MEI

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

English Suite No. 5 in E minor, BWV 810

CHOPIN Étude in F major, Op. 10, No. 8

CHOPIN Étude in G-sharp minor, Op. 25, No. 6

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

CHOPIN Ballade No. 3 in A-fat major, Op. 47

GRANADOS Los requiebros from Goyescas, Op. 11

RACHMANINOFF Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 36

Finals

CHOPIN

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

8 TOBY TAN KAI RONG

Quarter-Finals

J. S. BACH

Partita for Keyboard No. 4 in D major, BWV 828

LISZT Transcendental Étude No. 2

LISZT Transcendental Étude No. 5

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Scat

Quarter-Finals

VITALI Chaconne in G minor

Semi-Finals

MOZART Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211

Additional Work(s) for Finals

BRAHMS Scherzo in C minor from the F-A-E Sonata

15 ARISSA GRACE TEO

Quarter-Finals

MOZART Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-fat major, K. 207

Semi-Finals

WIENIAWSKI Allegro con fuoco - Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22

Additional Work(s) for Finals

SZYMANOWSKI Allegro molto, quasi presto from Violin Sonata in D minor, Op. 9

16 WU YIFAN

Quarter-Finals

VITALI Chaconne in G minor

Semi-Finals

SARASATE Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20

Additional Work(s) for Finals

KREISLER Tambourin Chinois, Op. 3

VIOLIN JUNIOR

17

LIM JING YING

Quarter-Finals

5 REBEKAH TAN YIN HUI

Quarter-Finals

MOZART Allegro from Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218

Semi-Finals

POULENC Violin Sonata, FP 119 I. Allegro con fuoco, II. Intermezzo

Additional Work(s) for Finals

TCHAIKOVSKY Valse-Scherzo in C major, Op. 34

6 REBECCA OH YING CHI

Quarter-Finals

MOZART

Semi-Finals

LALO

Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211

Allegro non troppo from Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21

PROKOFIEV Moderato from Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a

Additional Work(s) for Finals

SARASATE Nouvelle fantaisie sur Faust de Gounod, Op. 13

7 TAN YI XIN

Quarter-Finals

MOZART

Semi-Finals

Allegro from Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218

SAINT-SAËNS Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28

YSAŸE Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor, Op. 27, “Jacques Thibaud” I. Obsession; Prelude, IV. Les Furies

Additional Work(s) for Finals

BACEWICZ Caprice No. 1 for Solo Violin

8 CHOO HAN YU AUDREY

Quarter-Finals

1 HEE LE-SHAINE

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Violin Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006 I . Preludio, II. Loure, III. Gavotte

KOH CHENG JIN Coloratura

SARASATE Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20

MOZART Rondo in C major, K. 373

Finals

PROKOFIEV

Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a (Michelle Seah, piano)

2 KALEB TOH YI CHAO

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Violin Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 V. Sarabande, VI. Double, VII. Tempo di Bourrée

KOH CHENG JIN Coloratura

SAINT-SAËNS Havanaise, Op. 83

PAGANINI Caprice No. 24 in A minor

Finals

FRANCK

3

Violin Sonata in A major (Michelle Seah, piano)

ISABEL HENG AI PING

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 I. Allemande, II. Courante, III. Sarabande, IV. Gigue

KOH CHENG JIN Coloratura

SAINT-SAËNS Havanaise, Op. 83

IGUDESMAN Applemania

Finals

PROKOFIEV

Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a (Kseniia Vokhmianina, piano)

VIOLIN SENIOR

Allfinalistswillbeaccompaniedbyacollaborative pianist

LOW PENG YANG

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

TCHAIKOVSKY

Finals

ELGAR

Violin Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005 I. Adagio, III. Largo, IV. Allegro assai

Coloratura

Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

Violin Sonata in E minor, Op. 82 (Cherie Khor, piano)

SIEW XUAN YING

Quarter-Finals

J S BACH

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

VIEUXTEMPS

Finals FRANCK

NG SE-EN

Quarter-Finals

J S BACH

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN

TCHAIKOVSKY

Finals

BEETHOVEN

Violin Partita No 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 I Allemande, II Double, V Sarabande, VI Double

Coloratura

Allegro non troppo from Violin Concerto No. 5 in A minor, Op. 37

Violin Sonata in A major (Cherie Khor, piano)

Violin Partita No 1 in B minor, BWV 1002 III. Sarabande - Double, IV. Tempo di Borea - Double

Coloratura

Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto in D major, Op 35

Violin Sonata No 7 in C minor, Op 30, No 2 (Cherie Khor, piano)

AIDAN JAMES KWEK

Quarter-Finals

Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

LOW PENG GUAN

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH Chaconne from Violin Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004

Semi-Finals

KOH CHENG JIN Falsetto

BEETHOVEN

Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2

ERNST The Last Rose of Summer

Finals

SIBELIUS

ERNEST SYU

Quarter-Finals

J.S. BACH

Semi-Finals

Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003

KOH CHENG JIN Falsetto

YSAŸE

Violin Sonata No. 6 in E major, Op. 27

JANÁČEK Violin Sonata

SAINT-SAËNS Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28

Finals

TCHAIKOVSKY

Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

QUALIFYING ROUND PANELISTS

PIANO PANEL

CHNG KAI JIN

Chng Kai Jin is a Singaporean pianist and music industry leader who has helmed Singapore’s classical radio station, Symphony 92.4, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Recording Industry Association Singapore. Since 1981, Kai Jin has dedicated his career to advancing classical music and community initiatives in Singapore.

MARGARET CHEN

Margaret Chen is a distinguished organist, organ-consultant, and lecturer with a doctorate from Indiana University. Margaret had performed and advised internationally across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., before making her return to Singapore. Margaret is presently the Artistic Advisor to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Organ Series.

SHANE THIO

Shane Thio is an illustrious Singaporean pianist trained at the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music in London. Shane was the inaugural recipient of the Young Artist Award, Singapore (1992), and has been répétiteur with the Singapore Dance Theatre and Singapore Lyric Opera. Shane remains active in chamber music, opera, and dance collaborations and is resident pianist of the Singapore Symphony Chorus.

VIOLIN PANEL

DAVID COUCHERON

David Coucheron was the youngest concertmaster at Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. A graduate of The Juilliard School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama, David has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras including the BBC Symphony and Oslo Philharmonic, and in recital at Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and the Kennedy Center. A sought-after chamber musician and recording artist, David currently serves as Artistic Director of the Kon Tiki Chamber Music Festival in Oslo.

QING LI

Qing Li is a renowned soloist, chamber musician and Piatigorsky Foundation Artist, celebrated for her musical warmth, versatility, and technical brilliance. She has performed and taught internationally, appearing with leading orchestras and festivals across the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Qing Li is currently Principal Second Violin of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Professor of Violin at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University.

JOSHUA TAN

Joshua Tan is an internationally acclaimed conductor, at home with symphonic, operatic and ballet works. He has conducted many orchestras internationally, having served key positions in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, National Centre of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. Joshua is presently Music Director of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the Asia Virtuosi.

3 & 4 Apr 2026

Fri & Sat, 7.30pm

Victoria Concert Hall

Yeol Eum Son & Thomas Rösner/ Shostakovich and Mendelssohn

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Thomas Rösner conductor

Yeol Eum Son piano*

Jon Paul Dante trumpet*

Mozart Masonic Funeral Music, K. 477

Shostakovich Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings, Op. 35 *

Mendelssohn Symphony No. 5, Op. 107 “Reformation”

Tickets from $15

9 & 10 Apr 2026

Thu & Fri, 7.30pm

Esplanade Concert Hall

with Leonidas Kavakos & Hannu Lintu

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Hannu Lintu Music Director-designate

Leonidas Kavakos violin*

Shostakovich

Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77*

Shostakovich

Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 “Leningrad”

Tickets from $38

TICKETING & ADMISSIONS

PIANO ARTIST FINALS

SAT, 29 NOV 2025

7.30PM

VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

TICKETS AT $10

Purchase a minimum of one ticket for both the Piano Artist Finals and the Violin Artist Finals to enjoy a 30% discount off a 2-Concert Bundle.

VIOLIN ARTIST FINALS

SUN, 30 NOV 2025 2PM

VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

30% discount for Students

All ticket prices and discounts exclude SISTIC fee.

The public can enjoy free admission to most live competition rounds. Visit sso.org.sg/npvc for more ticketing and admission details.