SPAF MUSIC 2023
E-Programme

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BOTH VENUES Location
KAWAI Recital and KMS2

The CentrePoint, 176 Orchard Road, #04-01/13/14/15, Singapore 238843

NICHOLAS KEYWORTH

Nicholas Keyworth has travelled to over 50 countries and is constantly inspired by their individual history, architecture, culture, people, wildlife, and artistic diversity. The former Chief Examiner for Music at Trinity College London, Nicholas was at the forefront of international arts assessment in classical, jazz and popular music. He appeared on a series exploring exam music repertoire for BBC Radio 3 as well as travelling internationally giving talks and presentations relating to music assessments.

In 2012 he developed and launched the successful Trinity Rock & Pop exams at Trinity in collaboration with Faber Music and Peters Edition. As a teacher, he has worked as Director of Music in various schools and as an educational advisor on national music curriculums, classroom planning and mentoring teachers and students.  [Full Biog]

UNA LAUW - (President - Suzuki Talent Education Association Singapore)

At 3½, Una Lauw learned to play the violin from her father, S.C. Lauw, who with his wife, belongs to the only pioneer group of Singaporean Suzuki Teachers trained by Dr Shinichi Suzuki. Una completed the Suzuki Book 8 at 10, and Grade 8 exams at 11. She continued her violin studies with Ms Vivien Goh, Mr Foo Say-Ming, Mr Ng Yu-Ying. She had masterclasses with Ms Takako Nishizaki, Mr Ronald Woodcock, Mr Chua Lik Wuk, Mr Yasuki Nakamura, and Professor Lan Ku Chen. She also holds a certification in violin performance at all three diploma levels from the Trinity College of Music: ATCL, LTCL & FTCL.Una started to give violin lessons at 16 and has more than 30 years of teaching under her belt now.

She strongly believes in the Suzuki Method Philosophy, that “Every Child Can Learn” and that students should be nurtured with love. She has trained under various Suzuki trainers (Mr Yasuki Nakamura, Dr Lan Ku Chen, Prof. Carmencita Arambulo, Ms Chen Wan-Tsai, and Mr Edward Kreitman) since 1995. She received her full Suzuki Violin Teaching Certification in 2005 and still does review training regularly to improve her teaching skills and playing techniques. She is a trained Level 3 Suzuki Early Childhood Education teacher and has done Suzuki piano training out of interest. She has also done courses for Dalcroze Education.

In her interest to understand her young students better, she has also completed 2 diplomas – Childcare & Early Learning and Child Psychology.  [Full Biog]

VIVIEN NGO

Vivien Ngo began her music career with a PSC-ABRSM  scholarship awarded on the strength of her LRSM Diploma.

Her 3 years studying at the Royal College of Music  [London] saw her winning numerous prizes including the Ellen Marie Curtis Prize, Cornelius Fischer Prize and gold medals at several festivals.  On her return to Singapore, she served with the Ministry of Education and was one of the pioneer teachers of the Music Elective Programme.

She continued  to  be actively  performing solo concerts  and  accompanying local  and foreign artistes.  Vivien has also been an instrumental staff member of the LaSalle College of the Arts and for several years, an instrumental teacher at the National Institute of Education.

She is a keen supporter of the Singapore Performing Arts Festival, having both sent many of her students as participants as well as serving as Adjudicator on a few occasions.  [Full Biog]

SHIRLEY CHIN

Shirley has a passionate interest in both Western Classical and Chinese traditional music since young. Her mother was her first piano teacher and she was sent for professional training later on under the guidance of Ms. Hew Siew Chin, Ms. Lim Soon Lee, Ms. Wong Siew Ngan, Ms. Magie Foo and eventually graduated with a Master in Music from University of Tasmania, Australia, majoring in Piano performance under the tutelage of Ms. Beryl Sedivka.

Since young, Shirley has been actively involved in various concerts and performances with western and chinese orchestras as a pianist, violinist and on the Er-hu (chinese violin) in Malaysia and Australia. Apart from playing in many orchestras, she also performed as a soloist and also actively participated in musical performances in various genres. Her flexibility in playing both western and chinese instruments enables her to work well as an accompanist for many instrumental soloists. [Full Biog]

KONG KAR MUN

Kar Mun Kong, a native of Perak, Malaysia studied at University of Malaya under the tutelage of Miss Choi Hee-Jung. Kar Mun was awarded a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music) with first-class honours. Her passion towards music led her to continue her postgraduate studies and had been offered scholarships to pursue postgraduate studies in both the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Birmingham Conservatoire. Kar Mun chose to continue her postgraduate in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and completed her Master Degree under scholarship majoring in Piano Accompaniment at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, UK, studying under Zoe Smith and Benjamin Frith. [Full Biog]

BERNARD LIEW

Bernard began playing the guitar during the kampong days in the 60s.

In 1975, he joined the National Theatre and began formal music learning. Joined Singapore Young Musician's Society in 1976.  Instruments learnt include violin and chronomantic harmonica. But he was deeply attracted to the classical guitar and mainly inspired by the Flamenco guitarist Manita De Plata, classical guitarist Alirio Diaz and Jullian Bream at that time.

Bernard have participated in many concert performances organised by the National Theatre.

In 1978, was the year that he began conducting guitar lessons at community centres and music schools such as simon music school and Barrock music school, to name a few. [Full Biog]

DR. VICKY GOON

She has been trained as a professional pianist in London and Milan, Italy.  After graduating from the Royal Academy of Music London, she has made several recordings/broadcasts.  She has also performed in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Chicago (USA).

Vicky has won prizes in London and has a PhD in Music.  She was awarded with Diplomas in Piano Performances (LRSM, FLCM, Professional Certificate of Royal Academy of Music London)

Apart from teaching at KAWAI Music School for 2 decades, she enjoys watching basketball games, Olympic Sports, cooking shows as well as star-gazing.