SNYO BASS DAY 2023

5 September 2023 (Tuesday, School Holiday!)
10am – 5pm lunch is provided!
 
 
The Singapore National Youth Orchestra invites double bass players to join us for a day of music and fun!
 
Organisers
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Mr Julian Li, Ms Chia Ying Yin, Mr Brandon Wong
*refer to bottom of page for Instructors’ Biographies
Programme
  • All activities will be held at SNYO Studios, Level 7, NAFA Tower Block,
  • Participants are encouraged to bring their own instrument, bow and any accessories required
  • Interested participants who do not have their own double bass may borrow an instrument from the SNYO during the session (subject to availability)
 
Time Activity
10am-12pm
Registration, Welcome 
 
Introduction & Presentation about the Double Bass!
 
How to take care of your instrument?
Maintenance Tips, Questions, Games
 
Bass Sectionals #1
Learning Bass Ensemble Pieces together in small groups, designed to help you in ensemble playing and rehearsal
 
12pm-1pm
Lunch (provided)
 
1pm-3pm
Bass Sectionals #2
Continued from session before lunch
 
Individual Masterclasses 
Free participation for active participants
Other participants will observe the masterclasses
 
3pm-5pm
Showcase & Performance
Ensemble Performances by Participants, side-by-side with Instructors
 
5pm End of SNYO Bass Day 2023
 
 
Who may apply?
  • All bass players aged 10 to 18
  • If you’re above 18 and would like to join us, do drop us an email & let us know if you’d like to be placed on the waiting list!
 
Application
  • Free of Charge!
  • Admission will only be allowed for registered persons
  • Masterclass Participation
    • Cost of participation in the individual masterclass is entirely subsidised (free of charge) for all selected participants.
    • There are 3 openings available, of approximately 30-45 minutes for each masterclass participant.
    • Provide details of your chosen piece below including the Title & Composer, and email the sheet music and your audio/video recording of your choice piece to snyo@sso.org.sg before 26 August 2023.
  • Please complete the following online application form and register before 29 August 2023.
  • Remember to bring your bow (& double bass if you can) on the event day!
 
 
 
REGISTER ONLINE HERE!
;Registration Deadline: 29 August 2023; 
 
 
FAQ:
Do I have to prepare any pieces for the SNYO Bass Day?
  • Only those playing at the individual masterclass are required to prepare your choice piece.
 
*
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
 
JULIAN LI
Julian Li Yongrui was appointed as Associate Principal in Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra from 2017 to 2020 and once served as a Principal Bassist in Guiyang Symphony Orchestra from 2015-2017. He graduated in 2015 as a Master student with Distinction from Universität für Musik und Darstellende Graz under the tutelage of Uni. Prof. Ernst Weissensteiner, a Principal Double Bassist in Vienna Symphoniker. His other teachers includes Jacek Mirucki (Singapore Symphony Orchestra), Timothy Dunin (Former Principal Bassist of Vienna Philharmonic/ Vienna State Opera Orchestra), Denton Roberts (Freiburger Barockorchester) and Xu Li (Former Macao Symphony). He is currently learning under Prof. Thomas Martin from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
 
In 2013 he received scholarship from Tan Kah Kee Scholarship and award winner of Goh Soon Tioe Centenary award. He also received scholarship from The Hamish Dyer Young Musicians' Scholarship in the following year. In 2014 he received 'The Gifted Award' from the Mayor of Graz, as well as being invited as a soloist for a recital event in The Rotary Club. At the same year he was chosen as one of the 5 participants for The Pirastro Elites Soloist Camp under Jeff Bradetich in The University of Northern Texas, during the same year he was invited to participate in Atlantic Music Festival Camp. While working in Guiyang Symphony Orchestra he received ‘The Most Improved Musician Award’. In 2017 and 2018 he gave Masterclasses with students of Royal College of Music as well as students in Thailand. In 2019 he won First Place in The Singapore International Double Bass Music Festival Competition, Solo Division Adult Category. In 2021 he also won First Prize in 2021 Classical Music Competition Charleston, and First Prize in 2021 Winter Music Competition International Music Competition. Most recently, he was the Gold Prize Winner of the World Classical Music Award (2022).
 
His orchestra experiences includes Asian Youth Orchestra 2011, Tonkünstler Orchester, Graz Recreational Orchester, Austrian Youth Orchestra, Innvertiel Orchester, Vienna Concert Verein, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Macau Symphony Orchestra, Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestra of Music Makers, The Philharmonic Orchestra, Singapore Lyrical Opera, New Opera Scene and Resound Collective. In 2019 marks the beginning of his Bass Quintet Group 'Bass Around Asia' and had their debut concert on August in Taipei. His recent concert in Singapore consists of celebration of Goh Soon Tioe 110th anniversary recital 2021, Alcina by Handel with The Opera People and Singaporean Baroque chamber group The Red Dot Baroque, concert with The Resound Collective 2021, and also with The Orchestra of Music Makers. He was featured as soloist for The Kids Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023. Julian also started piano when he was 6 and completed his ABRSM Grade 8 practical, ATCL Piano, as well as Grade 5 theory. During his studies in Graz University he also continues his piano from Prof. Zhao Cheng Cheng, pianist of TRIO ALBA.
 
Julian plays on Rudolf Götz Double Bass, 1929.
 
 
CHIA YING YIN
Chia Ying Yin has recently returned from her studies abroad, having completed her Masters in Music at Yale University under the tutelage of Professor Donald Palma. Prior to this, she completed her BMus(Hons) at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, under the tutelage of double bass virtuoso Thomas Martin. Ying Yin first picked up the double bass in her school string ensemble when she was 13, and subsequently studied with Karen Yeo, the fixed chair double bassist in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
 
Actively competing during her school years, some of Ying Yin’s accolades include emerging as finalist in the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Strings Prize in 2017, finalist in the Yale School of Music Woolsey Concerto Competition 2019 and a semi-finalist in the International Socjety of Bassists Solo Competition in the same year. Ying Yin has also had the privilege to participate in a variety of masterclasses conducted by some of the most highly regarded bassists in the industry, a few of which include Giuseppe Ettore, Tim Cobb, Miloslav Gajdos and Hiroshi Ikematsu.
 
Ying Yin is also an active orchestra musician. She was a member of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra from 2010-2013 and was part of the orchestra’s tour to Europe to play in the Young Euro Classics 2011 in Berlin. In the UK, she was a member of the City of Birmingham Symphony (Youth). Her professional engagements include playing with the Oxford Philomusica, performing with soloists like Maxim Vengerov, Igor Pogorelich and Peter Donohoe. She has played with the Sichuan Symphony and also freelances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
 
 
BRANDON WONG
Brandon Wong's name is synonymous with the classical, jazz, pop and musical theatre scene in Singapore. A brilliantly versatile double bassist and electric bassist, he has shared the jazz stage with James Morrison, Mike Stern, Shunzo Ohno, Laura Fygi and artistes Corrinne May, Eric Moo and Jimmy Ye. Brandon toured with six-time Grammy award winner, ukulele virtuoso and multi-instrumentalist, Daniel Ho and the world’s premier pipa virtuoso, Wu Man in summer of 2019. Between 2006 and 2022, encompassing all musical genres, Brandon collaborated with major ensembles including the Singapore Armed Forces Bands, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra. Brandon was also first-call bassist for Singapore’s music man and renown composer the late Iskandar Mirza Ismail in his latter years.
 
Brandon's involvement with major touring shows is prolific; he was the resident bassist for Disney's "The Lion King”, an inaugural and also longest running musical locally for Marina Bay Sands in 2011, and Michael Nyman's "Facing Goya” at the official reopening of Singapore's Victoria Theatre in 2014. Brandon is also often seen on national television in award shows like "Singapore Idol", "Don't Forget The Lyrics", "The Final One", "Anugerah Planet Muzik" and the "President Star Charity". Other theatre performances include "Dim Sum Dollies: History of Singapore Part 1", "December Rains", “Avenue Q”, “The Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress”, “Wicked”, “The Phantom of the Opera” and Disney’s award-winning musical, “Aladdin”. Brandon’s 2022 performances include the best-selling local musical and critically acclaimed “The LKY Musical”, and most recently “End of the Rainbow”.
 
Brandon graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Electronics, Computer and Telecommunications. Following a near-fatal automobile accident in 2005 with multiple broken bones, internal injuries and a dormant left deltoid muscle, Brandon recovered sufficiently to fulfil an earlier aspiration to pursue a professional music degree under tutorage of Singapore Symphony Orchestra principal bassist Guennadi Mouzyka at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. A full scholarship recipient, Brandon graduated in 2017 with B.Mus Honours(Distinction) and is also recipient of the prestigious Steven Baxter Memorial Award for outstanding performance and achievements in the Conservatory. 

A multitalented and naturally inquisitive musician, Brandon extends his talents to being a recording producer and engineer, and video producer with clients extending to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and University of California Irvine, USA, to name a few. 
Brandon also sees himself as an educator and in his quest to nurture young bassists and providing them with the best instruments possible, he created his own bass specialist store in 2008, www.bassloft.com, where he provides service to the string bass community as a luthier a­nd advisor.