RECITAL & MASTERCLASS Organized By JPO on 8 & 9 June 2012

RECITAL & MASTERCLASS

SPECIALLY FOR

KIAN KOK MIDDLE SCHOOL

&

JESSELTON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

BY MAESTROS:

ALEXANDER SOUPTEL

LEADER/CONCERTMASTER, SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

ARTIST FACULTY, VIOLIN, UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

YONG SIEW TOH CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

MASAKO SUZUKI WHITE

DIRECTOR, VIOLIN

VIRTUOSI MUSIC CENTER

SINGAPORE

MITRA ALICE THAM

CONCERT PIANIST

LONDON, UK

JUNE 8 2012 RECITAL 7:30PM

JUNE 9 2012 MASTERCLASS 10:AM - 1PM

An insightful forum for students, parents and teachers by renowned maestros/dedicated music teacher/examiner on the profound impact of classical music, encompassing the positive academic, emotional and personal development of a student.

In addition to an enthralling recital, these virtuosos will share their invaluable experiences on classical music as a career as well as its disciplined training for other highly selective career fields.

Having mentored many award-winning proteges and graduates of world-class conservatories in America and Europe, the Masterclass will provide a privileged opportunity for students, parents and teachers to hold dialogues with these celebrated performers on preparation for music examination, audition and competition. 

Organizer: Jesselton Philharmonic Orchestra

Co-organizer: Kian Kok Middle School

Sponsor: Solomon Investment Pte Ltd (H.K.)                        

Mitra Alice Tham’s MM, PGDipRAM, B Mus.(Hons), FLCM, LLCM, LRAM, LMusA, ATCL first public performance was at the age of three and her international debut at the age of eight in Japan. She has won prizes at a variety of international competitions, including the Rosario-Marciano Preis for the most eminent artist personality, the Russischer Musikpreis for the best interpretation of Russian music, the coveted title ‘The Excellent Player Award’ at the prestigious Asia Oceania Festival held in Thailand and won the ‘Young Millennium Pianist’ of Singapore.

She was the recipient of scholarships from the Purcell School, the Singapore Lee Foundation, the Singapore National Arts Council, the Shaw Foundation, and the Chiron Trust and received the ‘Gifted Young Musician’ Bursary. Mitra attended the Purcell School and the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied under Patsy Toh. She went on to study at the Mannes School of Music, New York where she graduated with a Master’s degree, studying with the distinguished Cuban-American pianist Jacob Lateiner.

Mitra was awarded the Blüthner scholarship to study at the International Sommer Musikakademie in Leipzig, during which she performed at the Göhliser Schloßer at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig. For two consecutive years she was awarded a scholarship by the Mozarteum Universität and was selected to perform at the Mozarteum Universität. Mitra was awarded a full scholarship to attend the 33rd International Workshop of the America Institute of Music Society - AIMS held at Graz, Austria.

Her performances in Asia, Europe, United States and Great Britain include solo and chamber music concerts, some in co-operation with Live Music Now Trust and Concordia Foundation. Her performances exhibit her special talent of composing live on stage, and she has been featured extensively on television throughout Asia, as well as such luminary dignitaries as the late President of Singapore in the Singapore President Charity Concert and HRH The Prince of Wales, in a performance at the Purcell School that was aired on national radio later that evening. Prince Charles in an interview described the performance as ‘brilliant and excellent’.

Mitra is a skilled composer and arranger, and recent commissions have included a transcription of ‘The Entertainer’ and other famous works for piano quintet and choir and other various ensembles. She gave a London premiere of Leroy Anderson’s Piano Concerto to a sold-out concert in 2005 with the Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra. The Classical Music wrote “…Tham’s flying about the piano with great bounce and gusto”. Mitra performed the complete Prokofiev Sonatas in a 3-concert series in London in 2010. In May 2011, she was invited to a Reception “A Celebration of Young People in the Performing Arts” given by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

You can see Mitra playing Prokofiev Piano Concerto no.3 with Richmond Orchestra on 17th March 2012.

Masako Suzuki White

Masako was born in Japan and commenced study of the violin at age of 4. Participated in Japanese national music competitions from seven years of age and winning the national competition for solo recital at age 9. She studied at the Toho Junior Music School in Tokyo under Professor Ryosaku Kubota and Professor Hideo Saito. Her performances at the Tokyo Yamaha Hall include a Royal performance before Prince Hironomiya.

She was awarded an exhibition scholarship for study at the Royal College of Music )RCM, London gaining her Associate and Performer?s Diploma with Honors.

Frequent performances were made in the  presence of the RCM patron, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Having won first prize in the RCM performers competition she completed her postgraduate year studying under Professor Leonard Hirsch. She participated in the master class with Itzhak Perlman who is considered greatest performing violinist of the 20th Century. She held various Solo and Chamber music performances in England; Masako became leader of the Suzuki Quartet with members of the BBC Symphonic Orchestra.

In Singapore, Masako’s performances include ?Butterfly Lovers? violin concerto with the Chinese City Orchestra. In 2002, Masako White played with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra for the Pre Opening of the Singapore Esplanade Concert Hall in the presence of the Honourable Mr Lee Kuan Yew the Senior Minister of Singapore.

Currently she is a music director of VIRTUOSI MUSIC CENTRE in Singapore and is intensely involved with teaching young talented students as well as performing solo and ensemble with a concert master of Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Alexander Souptel. An experienced teacher, many of her students are graduates of top music conservatories in America and Europe.

Some of the latest performances were “SAVE THE NORTH POLE” in the presence of the Prince Albert of Monaco, and series of charity concert for the Japanese Tsunami victims raising a substantial donation to the Red Cross, Singapore.

Alexander Souptel

Born in southern Russia in 1948, Alexander Souptel grew up in a musical family where his father was a conductor. He began violin studies at five and also spent seven years on the piano. Under Russian violin master Gnesins, he completed secondary school in 1967 and subsequently graduated in 1972 in Russia. Before joining the SSO as Concert Master in September 1993, Alexander Souptel was Leader of the Moscow Symphony Orchestra.

Alexander Souptel has been an honoured musician of Russia since 1980. In the same year he became Leader of Guennadi Rozhdestvensky's Orchestra, a position he held for 10 years. In 1986 he was conferred the "Honoured Artist of Russia" medal. As Leader and soloist, he has worked with several renowned orchestras in Moscow.

His repertoire has included concertos for violin and orchestra by Gubaidullina, Stravinsky, Schnittke and others. As Leader he has performed solo parts in the symphonies of Tchaikovsky, Dvorák, Martinu, and in Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade. Souptel is also active in chamber works. As Leader he has more than 5,000 minutes of recorded music, including the 11 Symphonies of Bruckner (with the Student Symphony and Symphony No. 0), 15 Symphonies of Shostakovich, Glazunov's Eight Symphonies and five symphonies by Schnittke.

An experienced teacher, many of his students are graduates of top music conservatories in America and Europe.