This year, together with fellow saxophonist from the CvA Mateusz Pusiewicz, we started a YouTube channel speaking about topics about music! It has been an exciting and enlightening journey so far!
Here are some of our videos! For more, don’t forget to hit the red subscribe button 🙂
#UNclassicalmusicians
This summer, Merism Duo performed at:
It was a big tour with Merism Duo – we made our mark on 3 continents! Such a joy to collaborate on such a big scale with Mary Osborn! Till next time! Happy last few days of summer everyone!
We started our season rehearsing endlessly in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. After which we flew together to Zagreb, Croatia to perform at the triennial World Saxophone Congress. It is in its 18th edition and was held from the 10th of July to the 14th of July. Our program comprised of 4 pieces, all composed by Singaporean composers. Especially for the congress, we commissioned Sax-Drive! by Daniel Yiau and Transit Sketches II by Xin Saxophone Quartet’s resident composer, Jay Ong. The other two pieces were Homage by Dr. Zechariah Goh and The Serpent by Alexander Oon. What a privilege to present a Singaporean program at an international conference! I have never been more proud to be a Singaporean! #teamsingapore
“Xin saxophone quartet’s recital this afternoon was one of the best performances I have heard so far. They showed musical understanding in their playing. They were incredibly musical and well coordinated as an ensemble. They presented a wide range of tone colours and intricate details in articulations and dynamic contrasts. They were able to bring out different characteristics and styles of each Composer convincingly. We are very proud of you all for the wonderful performance and the wonderful composition!!” – Dr. Zechariah Goh
10-12th August 2018, we now had the opportunity to present the same program for our locals at the annual Singapore Saxophone Symposium. It was held at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. Other international artists include Michael Duke (Australia), Kyle Horch (United Kingdom), Joseph Lallo (Australia), Chien-Kwan Lin (Singapore/United States), Alfonso Padilla (Spain), Mary Osborn (Australia), Kenny Tsai (Taiwan/United States) and Calvin Wong (Hong Kong/United States). We presented our own recital on the 11th August and also closed the entire symposium at the Gala Concert with our showstopping Sax-Drive!
Can’t get enough of Xin Saxophone Quartet?
http://www.thebandpost.com/2018/07/xin-saxophone-quartet-represents-singapore-at-world-saxophone-congress/
http://zagrebsaxcongress.com/index.php/hr/sudionici/umjetnici/item/706-xin-saxophone-quartet
http://singaporesaxophonesymposium.com/2018/programme/recital-by-xin-saxophone-quartet/
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From friends to colleagues! It has been a lot of joy working with these guys over the last semester in Amsterdam. We had the opportunity to play in a masterclass with the famous Apollo Saxophone Quartet . I am looking forward to more projects and choreography;-) to come in the following year!
Line up of MOV.ensemble:
Soprano Saxophone: Deborah Witteveen (The Netherlands)
Alto Saxophone: Michellina Chan (Singapore)
Tenor Saxophone: Jos Baggermans (The Netherlands)
Baritone Saxophone: Mateusz Pusiewicz (Poland)
Dutch – English literal translation: now my clog (dutch wooden shoe) is breaking
Meaning: This is said when suddenly something unexpected happens or is said about which one expresses its utter amazement. (http://www.encyclo.nl/begrip/nu%20breekt%20mijn%20klomp)
This year in Amsterdam has nothing short of amazing. My highlight was studying with Arno Bornkamp, having conversations about his past with saxophone and life, playing Bach, transcriptions and working on pieces that I have referred to umpteen times on his CDs. I have grown not only as a musician but also as a person. I am already looking forward to what next year will bring.
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I have made friends from all over the world, thanks to a very international group of students at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Chamber music was one of my favourite parts of the course, I worked in a saxophone duo with Yuka Sato. Also it was especially rewarding with the MOV.ensemble with Deborah Witteveen, Jos Baggermans, Mateusz Pusiewicz and myself, where we memorized quartet music and had the opportunity to work with Arno as well as the Apollo Saxophone Quartet.
In the experimental Creative Performance Lab (CPL) classes, we collaborated with scenographers at our sister school, the AHK Academy of Film and Danse. We created an approximately 2 storey high structure, projected film through it and of course choreographed movement and music for it. It was an intense 5 months of work, but the end product was very well received.
Carnatic music aka takedimi, commonly associated with the system of music from southern India, were lessons I had quite intensively throughout the year. At the end of the year, we performed the World Premiere of Spanish composer, Silva Lanao’s piece entitled Libèl·lula for soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, pan flute, flute and bass clarinet. The title of the course was called Contemporary Music through Non-Western Techniques, I found it extremely useful and have started applying it to all the music I perform!
I am excited for another year of music in Amsterdam, in the meanwhile do come around for my performances if I will be in your city!:
Melbourne International Saxophone Festival 2018
Take Flight with Merism Duo (Mary Osborn)
28th July 2018, 15h15 – 15h45
Tallis Hall, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
http://www.melbournesaxophone.com/take-flight/
Melbourne Saxophone Ensemble
29th July 2018, 19h
Melba Hall, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music
Merism Duo in Sydney
3rd August 2018, 19h
8th Singapore Saxophone Symposium 2018
Xin Saxophone Quartet
11th August 2018, 15h – 15h30
Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA
http://singaporesaxophonesymposium.com/2018/programme/recital-by-xin-saxophone-quartet/
Merism Duo
12th August 2018, 16h – 16h30
Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA
http://singaporesaxophonesymposium.com/2018/programme/recital-by-merism-duo/
Singapore Saxophone Symposium 2018 Gala Concert (with Xin Saxophone Quartet & Octet combined with NAFA Saxophone Quartet)
12th August 2018, 19h30 – 21h30
Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA
Merism Duo in Singapore
14th August 2018, 19h30 – 21h
Sinfonietta Recital Hall, Forte Musicademy
It’s the last day of my first semester of Masters here at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, Amsterdam University of the Arts. What a journey! From struggling to find accomodation to trying out dutch cheese/cuisine to the many performances with the CvA-Sax ensemble and Creative Performance Lab (CPL) team. I’ve enjoyed every step of the way – especially thankful for the weekly lessons with Arno 🙂 Taking a small festive holiday, then I cannot wait to jump back into practice again!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all🎄 xx
A little peek into our CPL end of semester performance:
Gained so much from the annual Singapore Saxophone Symposium. I can’t believe the symposium is in its 7th edition. An enormous thankyou to Dr Zechariah Goh and NAFA team (Lu Heng & Yiangshan) for the organization! It was my first time playing in a masterclass at this symposium and it was for none other than Maestro Alain Crepin.
Opening the symposium with Xin Saxophone Quartet was an amazing opportunity. We performed the world premiere of Sea Scenes by our resident composer, Jay Ong (who sportingly agreed to emcee for us the night before!)
Our program for the recital:
Pierre Vellones (1889 – 1939) – Prélude et rondo français, Op. 89 (1937)
Jay Ong (1995) – Sea Scenes (2017) *World Premiere*
Gabriel Pierné (1863 – 1937) – Introduction et variations sur une ronde populaire (1936)
Philippe Geiss (1961) – Patchwork (1996)
Bravo also to all the other musicians! I am already looking forward to the 2018 edition of the symposium! Enjoy the photos!
