Orchestral Institute: Sounds of Cinema with Boston Brass

VICE DEAN'S MESSAGE

Welcome and thank you for joining us for this special concert in YST’s 202223 Orchestral Institute Series. Sounds of Cinema features longtime friends and collaborators of the Conservatory, Boston Brass, alongside OI’s Principal Conductor Jason Lai – as well as a special appearance of erhu soloist, BMus3 Calista Liaw (on Tan Dun’s enchanting Crouching Tiger Concerto) – in an excitingly diverse program celebrating the expressive multiplicities of film music.

As YST continues its exploration of “Looking Back, Moving Forward” (in anticipation of the Conservatory’s 20th anniversary), it is apropos that we celebrate alongside Boston Brass –a world-renowned ensemble that through its numerous Conservatory visits has significantly contributed to the evolution of the YST’s collaborative music making program. In addition to the pedagogical impacts on the development of YST’s Brass & Percussion Area over the years, Boston Brass’s 2011 collaboration with the

T’ang Quartet, and their contributions to YST’s 2016 Performers(‘) Present symposium, are demonstrative of Boston Brass’s adventuresome collaborative-spirit, one that so well aligns with the core mission of YST’s Orchestral Institute.

This cooperative spirit is also reflected in Boston Brass’s commissioning and creation of new compositions, arrangements, and ensemble settings expanding the possibilities for brass ensemble performance, including Rick DeJonge’s brass-quintet concertante, Sounds of Cinema, which through its exposition of iconic cinematic genres – from drama, adventure, romance, action, thriller, to raucous comedy – serves as a framing entrée for tonight’s entire program.

On the second half of the concert, YST’s percussion students join the Boston Brass in Leonard Bernstein’s Presto Barbaro from On the Waterfront, in an arrangement by the group’s former tubist, the legendary Sam Pilafian (19492019). Professor Pilafian – in addition to being a beloved teacher of thousands of brass players around the globe – was an ebullient inspirational force behind Boston Brass’s evolution, serving the group in multiple guises: tubist, arranger, producer, mentor, and friend.

Professor Sam, always the consummate pedagogue, would have been particularly pleased with the way tonight’s program comes to a rousing close: with Boston Brass embedding themselves in the ranks and files of the Conservatory Orchestra’s brass section for a triumphantly stirring reading of John Williams’s Star Wars Suite.

As I know Sam’s force is with us, May the force be with you!

Associate Professor Brett Stemple Vice Dean (Ensembles, Research & Professional Awareness)

ABOUT YST

Inspirational life-affirming music-making is at the heart of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore. Centred in one of the world’s most dynamic countries, the Conservatory is uniquely placed to offer a distinct and powerful contemporary Asian voice.

Founded in 2003, YST quickly established a reputation as Asia’s most exciting international conservatory by bringing together a worldclass faculty and facility to develop excellence in instrumental performance and composition.

Building on this strong foundation, the Conservatory has evolved over the past two decades to become one of the world’s most distinctive music schools, diversifying its offerings and continually seeking to connect authentically with its surrounding community. Specialisations added subsequently include Voice, Audio Arts & Sciences, Conducting, Music & Society and Music, Collaboration & Production. Alongside students from Singapore, the Conservatory community is internationally diverse, with representation from over 20 countries and five continents.

Keenly focused on nurturing identity as a driver for excellence, YST’s Bachelor of Music programme

offers full financial support for all its undergraduate students, enabled by major gifts from the Yong Loo Lin Trust. The Conservatory’s continuum of offerings further includes Master of Music and Master of Music Leadership degrees, NUSfacing Second Majors, Minors and modules, Continuing Education & Training courses for adult learners, and a Young Artist programme. We host a vibrant performance calendar with around 200 concerts annually, featuring students and faculty alongside international artists and ensembles. Our community engagement and professional integration programme has extensive local, regional and global reach. Students are supported to find their own artistic pathways through exchanges, festivals, competitions and projects. More broadly, our international networks and partnerships further enhance the educational experience and ensure our continued evolution.

ABOUT THE YST ORCHESTRAL INSTITUTE

The YST Orchestral Institute is a creative musicians’ laboratory, designed as an innovative forum for conservatory-level orchestral training. First conceptualized in 2018 by former YST Dean, Prof. Bernard Lanskey, as a way of revitalizing learning and teaching systems within a large ensemble context, the Orchestral Institute has emerged as a dynamic platform in which aspirational orchestral musicians work collaboratively alongside professionals drawn from Conservatory faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as YST partner institutions, from Southeast Asia and beyond. Pioneering interdisciplinary programming, a unique production style, collaborative-composition creation, musician

health & well-being, and an open-dialogue approach to rehearsing are all hallmarks of the Orchestral Institute approach – a philharmonie philosophy which seeks to create a safe ‘play-space’ emphasizing creativity, mutual learning, and skills development appropriate for large ensemble musicmaking, with the ambition of enabling musicians to be even more open, daring, questioning, collaborative and passionate about the music they make together.

Currently under the leadership of YST Conservatory Principal Conductor, Jason Lai; Vice Dean of Ensembles, Brett Stemple; OpusNovus Conductor (and YST Artist Fellow), Dr Lien Boon Hua, and Orchestral Manager, Yap Zi Qi; and working alongside Conservatory students, faculty, staff, and YST Artist Fellows – the Orchestral Institute has created and curated a number of groundbreaking orchestral productions including Telling Beyond Words (2019), and – despite the global pandemic – Springs of Uncertainty (2020), Lichtbogen (2020), Landscapes of Souls (2021), Transfigurations (2021), Dream for Future (as part of SoundBridge Music Festival 2021) and a special collaborative family concert with the Kids’ Philharmonic, Symphonies Simple and Philharmonic Friends (2021), among others, many of which are available for viewing at the YST Conservatory’s YouTube channel.

JASON LAI

PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR

Jason Lai is the Principal Conductor at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory, Principal Guest Conductor at the Orchestra of the Swan, and former Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He’s been a prominent figure in Singapore’s musical life since his arrival in 2010, but also active internationally giving masterclasses in Europe and China. He has also guest conducted the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Podlasie Opera Philharmonic in Poland, Macao Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, and the Osaka Symphony.

Intent on broadening the appeal of classical music to audiences who would not normally think of going into a concert hall, Jason is also building a unique reputation as a communicator with mass appeal through his television appearances in both the UK and Asia. He has frequently appeared on BBC television as a judge in both the BBC Young

Musician of the Year competition and the classical talent show “Classical Star”. He reached his widest audience when, as a conducting mentor in the series “Maestro”, his celebrity student, the popular comedienne Sue Perkins, won with a nailbiting final in front of the BBC Concert Orchestra and a live studio audience. Other BBC television appearances have include “How a Choir Works” and “The Culture Show”. Jason also starred in “Clash” for the children’s television channel, CBBC.

Since settling in Singapore he has continued with his television work. He was presenter and conductor for “Project Symphony”, an eight part series for Okto where he was filmed setting up a community orchestra. He has recently been involved in filming for a BBC series “Heart of Asia” which explores the contemporary arts and culture scene in Thailand, Indonesia, Korea and the Philippines, and a further series for BBC World called “Tales from Modern China”.

Jason’s roots lie in Hong Kong but he was born in the UK and was a pupil at the prestigious specialist music school in Manchester, Chetham’s, where he studied cello. At Oxford University he studied both cello and composition, and went on to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where he was awarded a Fellowship in Conducting.

Despite having toured as a cellist with the Allegri String Quartet and having been a finalist in the BBC Young Composers Award, Jason gravitated increasingly towards conducting after he won the BBC Young Conductors Workshop in 2002. This led to his appointment as Assistant Conductor to the BBC Philharmonic with whom he made his BBC Proms debut in 2003. Following his work with various British orchestras, he was appointed Artist Associate to the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and became their Associate Conductor in 2009.

Jason most recently had debuts with the Adelaide Symphony and Macau Orchestra and made return visits to conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Swan.

Education is an important part of Jason’s work in Singapore. At the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory he trains the next generation of conductors, many of whom have had many successes both at home and abroad, and with the SSO he spearheaded the education and outreach programme, helping the orchestra reach new audiences notably through his Discovering Music and Children’s concerts.

BOSTON BRASS

For 35 years, Boston Brass has set out to establish a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Performing exciting classical arrangements to burning jazz standards, Boston Brass treats audiences to a unique brand of entertainment captivating all ages. The ensemble's lively repartee, touched with humor and personality, attempts to bridge the ocean of classical formality to delight audiences in an evening of great music and boisterous fun. The philosophy of Boston Brass is to provide audiences with a wide selection of musical styles in unique arrangements, provided in a friendly and fun atmosphere.

Through over 100 performances each year, the members of Boston Brass play to audiences at concerts, educational venues and jazz festivals. In addition to solo performances, Boston Brass regularly performs with orchestras, wind ensemble, brass bands, marching bands and a variety of other ensembles. They have performed in all 50 states and 32 countries and have conducted master classes around the world including sessions and residencies at the Eastman School of Music, The Juilliard School, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, University of North Texas, Royal Academy of Music in London, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at the National University of Singapore, Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts and Mahidol University in Bangkok. Boston Brass is a Yamaha Performing Group and has been featured educators and performers at the Mid West Band and Orchestra Clinic, World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Japan Band Clinic, Music Educators National Conferences, American Bandmaster Association Conference, The American Band College, Western International Band Clinic and Texas Bandmasters Association Convention.

Boston Brass has been featured on The CBS Early Show, National Public Radio's Performance Today,

The Great American Brass Band Festival and has recorded many diverse albums. Their latest recording “Concerto Grosso” is a collaboration with Eric Rombach-Kendall and University of New Mexico Wind Ensemble, “Reminiscing” is a tribute to Rolf Smedvig of the Empire Brass, “Rewired” features new arrangements by the members of Boston Brass, Latin Nights, features a collection of some of the greatest classical and jazz works by Latin composers and performers and features the legendary drummer Steve Gadd, the beautiful voice of Talita Real, percussion and guitar. Other albums include Ya Gotta Try, featuring music from Horace Silver, Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie, produced by legendary jazz recording genius Rudy van Gelder andWithin Earshot, featuring classical works by Shostakovich, Ginastera, Dvorak, Liszt and others.

Boston Brass has two holiday recordings, Christmas Bells are Swingin', and The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols, featuring the Boston Brass All-Stars Big Band playing the truly phenomenal charts made popular by the Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Boston Brass tours a vibrant holiday show each year featuring many of the charts from these two albums, combined with a variety of solo and combo selections and some fun surprises, which has quickly established the show as a perennial audience favorite.

2011 marked the 25th Anniversary of Boston Brass and was celebrated with the "25 Fanfares Project," wherein 25 fanfares were premiered by composers from all over the country. Boston Brass also premiered a new major commission by noted wind ensemble composer Brian Balmages and new arrangements by the legendary Sam Pilafian. Additionally, Boston Brass was very excited to have the opportunity to collaborate in the 2010/2011 season with the fabulous Imani Winds in a program entitled "Sketches of Spain," featuring the music of Miles Davis and Gil Evans. In the 2012/2013 season the quintet began touring their "Notes from the Balcony" program with the Enso String Quartet. The program features music based on "Romeo and Juliet".

CALISTA LIAW

ERHU

With a vision to reimagine traditional Chinese music in a contemporary Singapore, Calista Liaw’s first foray into Chinese music began at the age of 8 where she studied the Erhu with renowned first class Erhu musician — Mr Zhang Yu Ming, and later, Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s concertmaster — Mr Li Bao Shun. Bringing the Erhu into unchartered realms of explorations, she has been featured on The Straits Times and Zaobao for her distinctive artistic identity. In 2021, Calista premiered a sold-out ‘Oriental Strings’ programme with the Candlelight Concert Series at the Victoria Theatre. From concert halls to digital platforms, Calista curates music content under the moniker ‘calyourerhupal’ including Youtube and Instagram music videos. This garnered traction and paved the way for Hollywood recording opportunities amongst others, such as Michael Bay’s pandemic thriller — “Songbird” and

Amazon Prime TV Series “Wheel of Time”, which received widespread national media recognition. ‘Chance Encounters’ marked her inaugural multidisciplinary collaboration, with Chinese ink-artist Yeo Shih Yun bringing together fine art, Chinese music and technology. Her commissioned Erhu solo composition was recorded and exhibited at the Esplanade between January-April 2021 also as part of Singapore Art Week. These collaborations have extended to haute couture shows with Lontessa and movement art with Gin Lam.

Calista is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music (Hons) in Music & Society at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, with a Minor in Southeast Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. Elected as the President of the 5th Student Management Committee, she is also recognised as one of the 30 under 30 Music Leaders by the Southeast Asian Directors of Music.

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