Professor Qian Zhou

Chinese-born American violinist Qian Zhou is recognized internationally as a world-class violinist, recording artist and teacher. After winning the First Grand prize and all five major prizes at Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in 1987, her career took off by extensively performing throughout the North America, Europe, Asia and Africa as soloist with orchestras such as the Baltimore Symphony, BBC Symphony, Radio de France, New Japan Philharmonic, and the Russian Philharmonic. Her performances have been quoted by the critics with comments such as: “a significant world-class artist”, “her performance was an inspired force, accompanied by a technical polish, communicative capacity, and an expressive candor that was absolutely enchanting.” 

Qian Zhou’s ten CDs with the Naxos, Hugo and Hungaraton labels have embraced a wide range of repertoire from Bach to Bartok to also drawn praise of the highest calibre.

Zhou is the founding Head of Strings at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where her past students hold active positions in the profession, performing and teaching throughout the world.

Zhou is also the Chair of the Artist Committee and Jury of Singapore International Violin Competition, as well as the Artistic Director of Singapore Violin Festival.

Qian Zhou plays a 1757 J.B. Guadagnini, generously loaned by the late Mr Rin Kei Mei and Mrs Rin Kei Mei.

Professor Qin Li-Wei

‘Mr. Qin has a great deal going for him, including a meltingly beautiful tone, flawless centred intonation and an ironclad technique’ – New York Times

Renowned Chinese Australian cellist Li-Wei Qin has achieved global acclaim as one of the most sought-after musicians of his generation. Following his Silver Medal win at the 11th Tchaikovsky International Competition, Qin secured First Prize at the esteemed 2001 Naumburg Competition in New York. Described as a “superbly stylish, raptly intuitive performer” by Gramophone Magazine in January 2015, his recording of Elgar and Walton concerti with the London Philharmonic garnered widespread recognition.

Qin, a two-time soloist at the BBC Proms in London’s Royal Albert Hall, has collaborated with leading orchestras worldwide, including the BBC Symphony orchestras, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Vienna Radio Orchestra. Noteworthy conductors he has worked with include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, and Simone Young. His engagements span diverse venues from the Wigmore Hall in London to the Lincoln Centre Chamber Music Society in New York.

In addition to solo performances, Qin has recorded with Universal Music/Decca, Sony Classical, and ABC Classics alongside orchestras like the Singapore Symphony and London Philharmonic Orchestra. Recognized by the BBC’s ‘New Generations’ scheme in 2001, he received the Young Australian of the Year Award in 2002 and has made appearances at significant events like the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Aside from his performing career, Qin is actively involved in education, having taught at institutions such as the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and currently serving as a guest professor in Shanghai and Central Conservatory of Music in China. In demand worldwide for masterclasses and jury roles in international competitions, Qin founded the Qingdao International Cello Festival in 2018. Playing a 1780 Joseph Guadagnini cello on loan from Dr. Wilson Goh, Li-Wei Qin continues to captivate audiences globally with his exceptional artistry.

Associate Professor Zhang Manchin

Zhang Manchin, a prominent figure in the world of music, joined the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in 2005 and currently holds the esteemed position of Principal Viola at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Her musical journey took a significant turn in 1994 when she made history as the first Asian and youngest member to be appointed Assistant Principal Viola by music director Neeme Järvi at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO). 

Zhang’s tenure with the DSO included extensive tours across major European cities and North America, collaborating with renowned conductors and soloists. Actively engaged in chamber music, she served as a resident artist at the Interlochen Center for the Arts and contributed to the DSO Chamber Music Ensemble and String Quartet. Originating from Hunan, China, Zhang began her musical pursuits at the age of 5, achieving early success at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. With accolades from international competitions and migration to the United States in 1990, she continued her studies, earning a scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music under Emanuel Vardi. Beyond her role as Principal Viola, Zhang is a sought-after chamber musician and visiting professor, sharing her wealth of knowledge with students in prominent conservatories across mainland China.

Associate Professor Zhang Jin Min

Zhang Jin Min, a distinguished musician, graduated from Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music in 1982 under the mentorship of Professor Liu Zhigang. Awarded a French government scholarship, he pursued advanced studies at the Paris Conservatoire, earning a gold medal for chamber music. From 1984 to 1985, he assumed leadership roles at the Central Conservatory in Beijing, concurrently managing the China National Youth Orchestra.

Following a government scholarship, Zhang pursued a Master of Music degree at the Geneva Superior Conservatory and later joined the Orchestra de la Suisse Romande. By 1987, he became the Principal Bassoonist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Notably, he served as Guest Principal at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra from June 2017, teaching woodwinds at the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Academy.

In September 2018, Zhang was appointed Distinguished Professor at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music. As a soloist, he performed with the Singapore Symphony and other renowned orchestras worldwide. Acknowledged for his musical prowess, he has held positions, conducted masterclasses, and received honors globally. A dedicated educator, he joined the faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in 2003 and, after 30 years with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, became a full-time associate professor at YST in 2017. In his role as Head of Woodwinds, he established and coordinated woodwind chamber music programs and contributed significantly to the Conservatory’s orchestral and chamber music endeavors, showcasing his unwavering commitment to Singapore’s musical development.

Artistic Advisor Yin Ke

Mr Yin Ke is currently Director of the Strings Department in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ (NAFA) School of Young Talent. Over his 30 years of teaching career, Mr Yin has formulated a distinctive teaching pedagogy to harness the unique strength and character of each of his students. Through his proven teaching methods, he has nurtured many of his students into outstanding soloists and critically acclaimed musicians worldwide, winning numerous accolades in local and overseas competitions. These include the most competitive and prestigious violin competitions: the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition, the Zhuhai International Mozart Competition for Young Musicians in China, the Singapore Biennial National Piano and Violin Competition, MediaCorp Symphony 92.4’s Young Talents Project, Thailand International String Competition, the Animato International Violin Competition in Australia and the Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Italy. 

Mr Yin is highly sought after and is frequently invited to give overseas masterclasses in countries such as the UK, USA, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China. He is part of the teaching faculty at the Singapore Violin Festival and the New Virtuosi Queenswood Mastercourse in the UK.

Artistic Advisor Wang Wei

Wang Wei is currently the bass trombonist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, artist faculty of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, Artistic Director of CLEF Arts Studio.

He has worked as guest bass trombonist with Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Macau Orchestra and many others. In the summer of 2009, Wei received a scholarship from the Boston Symphony Orchestra Member’s Association to attend the Tanglewood Music Centre. The conductors he worked with included Herbert Blomstedt, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Charles Dutoit, Christoph Eschenbach, James Levine, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur.

Wang Wei has being invited to be on the jury panel for international competitions, auditions. The most recent one was Jeju International Brass Competition in Korea. He can be heard on multiple albums with Singapore Symphony Orchestra, China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra, Frequency Band, Movie sound tracks and many others.

Artistic Advisor Li Xin

Li Xin has been the Associate Principal Clarinetist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since 2009. His professional music experience began in middle school, first at the school affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and later at the school affiliated with the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. At the age of 16, Li Xin won prizes at the National Clarinet Competition in Beijing and the “Shanghai Spring” International Music Festival in 2001. With a full scholarship awarded by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore, Li Xin continued his studies with Ma Yue and was among the first group of the YST Conservatory Fellowship Programme at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, USA. There, he received coaching from Peabody faculty, as well as from clarinetists in the Philadelphia Orchestra and professor at Juilliard School. In 2007, Li Xin furthered his studies in Europe, where he received regular lessons from clarinet professors in Geneva, Zurich, and Lyon. He was accepted as freelance musician in the Orchestra of Zurich Opera and the Orchestra Musikkollegium Winterthur in Switzerland.

Li Xin started his orchestral experience from conservatory orchestras, Asian Youth Orchestra, the Canton International Summer Music Academy, Peabody Symphony Orchestra in the USA, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, as Principal clarinet in Macao Orchestra and currently as Associate Principal clarinet in Singapore Symphony Orchestra. 

Li Xin is also an active chamber music performer and clarinet educator, he is the regular tutor at the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, the School of the Arts Singapore and Singapore Armed Force Band.