Young Musician's Society



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Sight-Reading Workshop

by Christopher Liddle (ABRSM)
21st to 25th January 2008

Conducted by Christopher Liddle, an examiner from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the workshop presented an opportunity for music teachers to better their students’ grades. Liddle’s 3-step method to successful sight-reading included practical sessions where music teachers could witness the effectiveness of the techniques taught.

With more than 40 years of experience in teaching music, Christopher Liddle has served as Head of Music and Director of Music in numerous music schools across England. An accomplished organist, Liddle has performed on BBC TV as well as having his performances broadcast on BBC Radio. He has spent the last 15 years representing ABRSM in conducting the music examinations worldwide.

Tea with the Master

August to November 2007

The series featured four accomplished musicians who have successfully combined performance, education and research in their professional careers. The Masters are Felix Chang (piano), Charles Hoag (composition), Ong Lip Tat (piano) and Vincent Gnojek (saxophone).

Both Felix Chang and Ong Lip Tat addressed the technical, musical and stylistic approach to playing the piano. They demonstrated skills and techniques to assist the participants in their approach to the keyboard, with a slant to trouble-shooting common mistakes and undesirable habits.

Aimed at the budding composer, Professor Charles Hoag shared his views and ideas on composition techniques and solutions to common problems encountered while composing.

Professor Gnojek imparted to young saxophone players the rudiments of saxophone techniques including correct posture, embouchure, tone production, intonation, articulation, stylistic interpretations, repertoire and reed making.

First Aid for Choirs and Conductors 2007

Clinician: Jonathan Velasco (Philippines)
11th to 16th March 2007

Over the course of the one-week term break in March, Jonathan Velasco, conductor of the Ateneo Chamber Singers, administered to twelve Secondary and JC choirs here. His treatment included warm-up exercises and correction of vocal technique.

Having sung with and subsequently conducted some of the top choirs in the Philippines since 1979, Velasco is surely no stranger to the technical and musical issues that can befall a choir. His keen ear has been put to the test as juror at several notable international and regional choral competitions. More importantly, his vast knowledge and understanding combined with his generous personality allow him to communicate to ready ears, the finer points of choral singing.

SSAA (Female Voices) Repertoire with Kari Turunen

Kari Turunen was educated at the University of Helsinki and the Sibelius Academy where he studied choral conducting with Matti Hyökki. He has complemented his studies with numerous master classes (with Eric Ericson, Anders Eby, Stefan Sköld, The Hilliard Ensemble and Oren Brown).

Mr Turunen is the artistic director of two choirs: Akademiska Damkören Lyran (since 1998) and Näsin Ääni (2002-). He is also a member of Lumen Valo, a vocal ensemble that is one of the driving forces on the Finnish early music scene. He was awarded the conductor prize at the 2003 Marktoberdorf Chamber Choir competition, where Lyran received third prize in the category for female choirs.

Mr Turunen teaches choral conducting at the Tampere Polytechnic School of music and heads its choral activities. He appears regularly as an orchestral conductor, teacher of choral courses and as a journalist specializing in choral music. Mr Turunen acts as chairman of the Finnish Choral Directors’ Association (FCDA).

This March, the Turunen workshop gives special attention to the SSAA (female voice) choirs, introducing repertoire from the Scandinavian and Finno-Baltic region. Over two evenings, participants will be guided through the distinctive sounds and quirky characteristics of music that he has chosen.

This series of First Aid for Choirs & Conductors was designed in two parts: Clinics for school choirs and workshops on conducting and repertoire for conductors.

Workshop A: Masterclass with Ko Matsushita (Japan)

Ko Matsushita conducted a two-part workshop for choral conductors. In the first session, he helped conductors explore ways of distinction of Japanese native sound formation and attempt for fusing with choral music. He also explored the importance of “Choral Solfege” in choral music-making. In the second session, Ko introduced a variety of works by him, and shared the techniques of choral conducting and singing of Japanese traditional tunes.

Workshop B: Masterclass with Malcolm Goldring (UK)

Over the two evenings, Malcolm Goldring took conductors through the warm-ups (physical, mental, musical) that he uses, and discussed about the finer points of singing and conducting of choral music from England. He also discussed his approach to technical conducting issues, and participants had the chance to conduct in the workshops. Questions asked by the participants were also answered by Malcolm Goldring at the end of the workshop.

Conducting Masterclass with Gary Graden

Gary Graden is in demand as conductor, teacher and adjudicator throughout the world. He has conducted the SWR Vocal Ensemble (Stuttgart), the WDR Radio Choir (Köln), Jauna Muzika (Vilnius), and the World Youth Choir, among others. His work as conductor and singer is documented on many CD recordings (BIS, Proprius, Caprice, Phono Suecia, Gehrmans and others) and radio recordings. He is the recipient of the "Johannes Norrbymedal" for his contribution to Swedish choral music.

At the three day afternoon workshop, choral conductors advanced their conducting skills with Gary Graden honing their craft, creating effective musical communication, addressing such issues as tuning and intonation, economy of gesture, encouraging sonority through gesture, while introducing new music from Scandinavia and Baltic countries.

Composition and Conducting with Alberto Grau

Alberto Grau is recognized as one of the finest contemporary musicians and conducting teachers in Venezuela. Grau is a true choral musician well-versed in all aspects of choral music-making: writing music for choirs, conducting music for choirs, conducting choirs and training would-be choral conductors.

Over the three workshops crafted for singing, conducting and composing; choristers, conductors and composers looked forward to learning new concepts to add some spark to the choir as well as skills to heighten the communication between conductor and choir.

This was also the first time that the Young Musicians' Society organised a workshop for composers.

Learn what makes a good work and to write music that choirs love; one would definitely want to sing more than once.