Conductor 'privileged' to teach music

In addition to being an avid chamber musician, Say Ming has also featured as violin soloist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, as well as many other musical establishments in Singapore and the region.

Say Ming works extensively with gifted young musicians at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the National University of Singapore in the capacity of a teacher. He is also music director of "re: mix", a chamber ensemble with a unique take on programming concepts, inter-disciplinary and cross-genre music. The ensemble is made up of some of the island's most talented and dedicated musicians. Say Ming is also assistant conductor of the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Say Ming gives an account of the approach he takes to music and his concert tour of Thailand:

"Music for many is unique, one of the most communicative and powerful of performing arts. To be able to call yourself a 'practitioner' of this art form, to recreate it for another, [not] just appreciate it yourself, is already an immense privilege. This privilege intensifies many fold when it involves introducing and passing this knowledge to youngsters - to be able to see their eyes light up with emotion, moved by the music they play and listen to.

"This collaboration between the Hwa Chong Institution [Junior College section] String Ensemble and the Thailand Youth Orchestra - musicians from Harrow International School - together with our concerts in Bangkok and Chiang Mai, are particularly exciting for us. The orchestra and I are thrilled that we will get to meet our colleagues in Thailand, hold workshops together and share the concert stage with them.

"It will be a special time to share with our Thai friends the music we will be playing, and we particularly look forward to being inspired and learning from those we have heard so much about. For some of us, this will also be our first visit to Thailand, and we're looking forward to enjoying the Kingdom's rich history and culture and, of course, savouring its fine food.

"For our concerts in Thailand, we will be presenting some of our favourite pieces, among them familiar favourites like Grieg's 'Holberg Suite' and Tchaikovsky's 'Serenade'. We will also be playing a piece by the Russian composer Schnittke, his 'Moz-Art a la Haydn'. This tongue-in-cheek work combines elements of theatre, theatrics, movement and a lot of humour."