A new initiative to promote young Singapore piano talents will be launched this July by leading Japanese multi-national corporation Yamaha.
Called I Play Yamaha, this initiative by Yamaha Music (Asia), aims to showcase and promote young piano talents aged between 13 and 25 years old in Singapore.
This two-year initiative, which comprises the Yamaha Artist and Yamaha Young Artist programmes, will allow young talents to gain access to exclusive local and regional performance opportunities and masterclasses, filling a demand by many budding pianists. They will also be affiliated with the group of Yamaha Artists, which includes renowned pianists such as Hiromi Uehara and Cyprien Katsaris, and are regarded as ambassadors of the brand.
Says Mr Masahiro Ikeda, Managing Director of Yamaha Music (Asia): “Launched for the first time in Singapore, the I Play Yamaha programme aims to provide a meaningful platform to promote and nurture emerging piano talents. We believe that this two-year initiative can provide young talents exposure and hope that through these platforms, the artists can grow together with us.”
The three-month search for Yamaha Artists and Young Artists which lasted from March to May earlier this year culminated in two Yamaha Artists and five Young Artists being selected for the programme.
The Yamaha Artists comprise
- Ashley Chua, 17 and
- Phee Lily, 19.
The Young Artists comprise
- Adrian Tang Zhi Feng, 13;
- Daniel Loo Kang Le, 14;
- Lim Shi Han, 16;
- Nicole Tay Wan Ni, 16; and
- Zhang Yifan Jem, 16.
The assessment was adjudicated by a panel which comprise Madam So Lai Fun, Chief Instructor of Piano Courses at Yamaha Music School, Dr Chang Tou Liang, classical music reviewer for The Straits Times and 2006 Young Artist Award recipient, Mr Lim Yan, who is a full-time faculty member of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
Madam So, Chief Instructor of Piano Courses at Yamaha Music School adds: “The two-year time frame for the programme gives young talent the necessary time for them to present their repertoire within a public occasion and to participate in masterclasses.”
The first music showcase of the I Play Yamaha programme took place on 7 July 2018, Saturday, at Chamber of The Arts House.
