The Philharmonic Winds
Encyclopedia
The Philharmonic Winds is a Singaporean wind orchestra
. Formed in 2000, The Philharmonic Winds has grown from strength to strength, and currently has more than 70 dedicated members.
The Philharmonic Winds has performed a collection of landmark works of the wind band repertoire, ranging from the symphonies of Paul Hindemith
and James Barnes
, to the well-known favourites of Alfred Reed
and Adam Gorb. The wind orchestra is also well-versed in a variety of musical styles, having explored the lush and humorous music of Percy Grainger
, the genius of Mozart
and Varèse
, jazz standards in "All That Jazz", authentic "Sounds of Japan", and an "Absoluut Dutch" affair with highly acclaimed composer, Johan de Meij
.
The Philharmonic Winds has collaborated with renowned musicians from all over the world. Soloists featured include baritone Maarten Koningsberger, cellist Roeland Duijne and trombonist Jörgen van Rijen
from the Netherlands, saxophonist Vincent Gnojek, marimbist Kevin Bobo and brass quintet Boston Brass from USA, euphonium player Kevin Thompson from Canada, saxophonist Shin-ichiro Hikosaka from Japan, trumpeters Dai Zhonghui from China and Yeh Shu-Han from Taiwan, as well as pianist Hae-Jung Kim from Korea. The ensemble has also worked with locally-based soloists such as clarinettist Tang Xiao Ping, yangqin player Qu Jian Qing, and saxophonist Fabian Lim. The ensemble has also performed under the baton of distinguished conductors, both local and international, such as Timothy Reynish, Johan de Meij
, John Boyd, Robert Casteels, Zechariah Goh Toh Chai and Music Director Leonard Tan
.
The Philharmonic Winds staged two concerts dedicated to works of Singaporean and Singapore-based composers, such as Zechariah Goh Toh Chai, Leong Yoon Pin, Phoon Yew Tien and Kelly Tang. The ensemble also regularly performs compositions and arrangements of established Singaporean musicians.
The Philharmonic Winds has also worked with the Penang Arts Council and Singapore Lyric Opera as the accompanying orchestra in Giacomo Puccini
's Madama Butterfly
and Kurt Weill
's Street Scenes
. In 2008, the ensemble collaborated with the Esplanade to present an all-pop concert, with tunes specially arranged for wind orchestra, featuring well-known vocal artists Sebastian Tan and Tay Kewei.
The Philharmonic Winds participates regularly in arts outreach programmes, with the intent to reach out to the masses and build new audiences for wind music. Working with the National Arts Council, the ensemble performed at several installments of the Concert in the Park series and the Singapore Arts Festival
outreach programme. Past engagements also include the Arts In The City series, Beautiful Sunday series at the Esplanade and the Arts For Health programme at the Singapore General Hospital
. Since 2008, The Philharmonic Winds has been part of the SPH Gift of Music series by Singapore Press Holdings
, entertaining thousands at various locations.
In 2002, The Philharmonic Winds initiated the Philharmonic Youth Winds, providing an opportunity for young musicians to further their ensemble experience. In 2008, the young orchestra was named the top Division 1 band at the inaugural Singapore International Band Festival, under the baton of its Resident Conductor Adrian Chiang and the guidance of musicians from The Philharmonic Winds.
In July 2005, The Philharmonic Winds participated in the World Music Contest held in Kerkrade
, the Netherlands, and became the first wind orchestra from Singapore to be awarded a Gold Medal with Distinction in the First Division (Harmony Band). Following that, the ensemble became the first wind orchestra to perform at the 2006 Singapore Arts Festival. In May 2009, the band was invited to perform at the 40th anniversary of the Japan Band Clinic, one of the most prestigious wind conferences in the world, held in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
. Formed in 2000, The Philharmonic Winds has grown from strength to strength, and currently has more than 70 dedicated members.
The Philharmonic Winds has performed a collection of landmark works of the wind band repertoire, ranging from the symphonies of Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith was a German composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.- Biography :Born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, Hindemith was taught the violin as a child...
and James Barnes
James Barnes (composer)
James Charles Barnes is an American composer.Barnes studied composition and music theory at the University of Kansas, earning a Bachelor of Music in 1974, and Master of Music in 1975. He studied conducting privately with Zuohuang Chen...
, to the well-known favourites of Alfred Reed
Alfred Reed
Alfred Reed was one of North America's most prolific and frequently performed composers, with more than two hundred published works for concert band, wind ensemble, orchestra, chorus, and chamber ensemble to his name...
and Adam Gorb. The wind orchestra is also well-versed in a variety of musical styles, having explored the lush and humorous music of Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger
George Percy Aldridge Grainger , known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many...
, the genius of Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
and Varèse
Edgard Varèse
Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse, , whose name was also spelled Edgar Varèse , was an innovative French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States....
, jazz standards in "All That Jazz", authentic "Sounds of Japan", and an "Absoluut Dutch" affair with highly acclaimed composer, Johan de Meij
Johan de Meij
Johannes Abraham de Meij is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his Symphony No. 1, nicknamed "The Lord of the Rings" symphony.- Biography :...
.
The Philharmonic Winds has collaborated with renowned musicians from all over the world. Soloists featured include baritone Maarten Koningsberger, cellist Roeland Duijne and trombonist Jörgen van Rijen
Jörgen van Rijen
Jörgen van Rijen is Principal Trombone at the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam...
from the Netherlands, saxophonist Vincent Gnojek, marimbist Kevin Bobo and brass quintet Boston Brass from USA, euphonium player Kevin Thompson from Canada, saxophonist Shin-ichiro Hikosaka from Japan, trumpeters Dai Zhonghui from China and Yeh Shu-Han from Taiwan, as well as pianist Hae-Jung Kim from Korea. The ensemble has also worked with locally-based soloists such as clarinettist Tang Xiao Ping, yangqin player Qu Jian Qing, and saxophonist Fabian Lim. The ensemble has also performed under the baton of distinguished conductors, both local and international, such as Timothy Reynish, Johan de Meij
Johan de Meij
Johannes Abraham de Meij is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his Symphony No. 1, nicknamed "The Lord of the Rings" symphony.- Biography :...
, John Boyd, Robert Casteels, Zechariah Goh Toh Chai and Music Director Leonard Tan
Leonard Tan
Leonard Tan was the renowned music director of many well-established bands in Singapore. Leonard Tan has distinguished himself as one of the most promising young conductors of his generation....
.
The Philharmonic Winds staged two concerts dedicated to works of Singaporean and Singapore-based composers, such as Zechariah Goh Toh Chai, Leong Yoon Pin, Phoon Yew Tien and Kelly Tang. The ensemble also regularly performs compositions and arrangements of established Singaporean musicians.
The Philharmonic Winds has also worked with the Penang Arts Council and Singapore Lyric Opera as the accompanying orchestra in Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Puccini
Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini was an Italian composer whose operas, including La bohème, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Turandot, are among the most frequently performed in the standard repertoire...
's Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Puccini based his opera in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" by John Luther Long, which was dramatized by David Belasco...
and Kurt Weill
Kurt Weill
Kurt Julian Weill was a German-Jewish composer, active from the 1920s, and in his later years in the United States. He was a leading composer for the stage who was best known for his fruitful collaborations with Bertolt Brecht...
's Street Scenes
Street Scene (opera)
Street Scene is a Broadway musical or, more precisely, an "American opera" by Kurt Weill , Langston Hughes , and Elmer Rice...
. In 2008, the ensemble collaborated with the Esplanade to present an all-pop concert, with tunes specially arranged for wind orchestra, featuring well-known vocal artists Sebastian Tan and Tay Kewei.
The Philharmonic Winds participates regularly in arts outreach programmes, with the intent to reach out to the masses and build new audiences for wind music. Working with the National Arts Council, the ensemble performed at several installments of the Concert in the Park series and the Singapore Arts Festival
Singapore Arts Festival
The Singapore Arts Festival is an annual arts festival held in Singapore. Organised by the National Arts Council, it is one of the most significant events in the regional arts scene. The festival, usually held in mid-year for a stretch of one month, incorporates theatre arts, dance, music and...
outreach programme. Past engagements also include the Arts In The City series, Beautiful Sunday series at the Esplanade and the Arts For Health programme at the Singapore General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital
The Singapore General Hospital is the largest and oldest hospital in Singapore, of which the foundation of its first building was laid in 1821....
. Since 2008, The Philharmonic Winds has been part of the SPH Gift of Music series by Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings
Singapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
, entertaining thousands at various locations.
In 2002, The Philharmonic Winds initiated the Philharmonic Youth Winds, providing an opportunity for young musicians to further their ensemble experience. In 2008, the young orchestra was named the top Division 1 band at the inaugural Singapore International Band Festival, under the baton of its Resident Conductor Adrian Chiang and the guidance of musicians from The Philharmonic Winds.
In July 2005, The Philharmonic Winds participated in the World Music Contest held in Kerkrade
Kerkrade
Kerkrade is a town and a municipality in the southeastern Netherlands.It is the western half of the divided region and de facto city, taken together with the eastern half, the German town of Herzogenrath...
, the Netherlands, and became the first wind orchestra from Singapore to be awarded a Gold Medal with Distinction in the First Division (Harmony Band). Following that, the ensemble became the first wind orchestra to perform at the 2006 Singapore Arts Festival. In May 2009, the band was invited to perform at the 40th anniversary of the Japan Band Clinic, one of the most prestigious wind conferences in the world, held in Hamamatsu, Japan.