Faculty of Performing arts

SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Welcome to the School of Music, where we are dedicated to helping you unlock your full potential in the world of music. Our faculty comprises two dynamic schools, the School of Music and the School of Mando Pop, each tailored to suit your unique talents and passions.

Our School of Music celebrates the rich diversity of musical styles, providing a comprehensive education that encompasses traditional, Western, and contemporary music. We focus on developing exceptional musicianship skills, theoretical concepts, and professional performance standards, equipping you with the tools you need to become a versatile and accomplished musician.

At the same time, our School of Pop offers an innovative curriculum that empowers you to explore the exciting and ever-evolving world of popular music. Our forward-thinking approach incorporates cutting-edge technologies like AI and IoT, as well as principles of Industry 4.0 and Business 3.0, ensuring that you are well-prepared for success in the digital age.

With a faculty composed of active professionals in the music and entertainment industries, we offer invaluable insights and networking opportunities to guide you on your path to success. Our vibrant community of artists, musicians, composers, and performers provides a supportive and collaborative environment where you can thrive and grow as a musician.

So, if you are looking for a transformative musical experience that will help you achieve your full potential, join us at the School of Music and let us help you realize your dreams.

Mr. Edward Kim

Program Coordinator, School of Music

Edward Kim is an accomplished Korean borned international opera singer and music educator who serves as the Program Coordinator of the School of Music. A distinguished graduate of the David Seligman Opera School at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music in London, his academic excellence was recognized through multiple prestigious scholarships, including the Leverhulme Trust, Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship, and Drake Calleja Trust.

 His exceptional performing career spans major operatic roles across Europe and Asia, including appearances with Opera Holland Park, Welsh National Opera, and Singapore Lyric Opera. As a Samling Artist and Oxford Lieder Young Artist, Edward’s artistic excellence has been acknowledged through numerous competition victories, including the Sir Ian Stoutzker Prize and special recognition at the Antonina Campi Competition.

 Edward’s pedagogical expertise has been shaped by masterclasses with artists such as Thomas Hampson, Barbara Frittoli, and Brindley Sherratt. His teaching experience encompasses prestigious institutions across Seoul, London, and Singapore.

 Edward still maintains an active performance career in Singapore with leading roles in “Don Giovanni” with The Opera People and “Rigoletto” with New Opera Singapore, he remains dedicated to developing forward-thinking curricula and fostering an environment where traditional excellence meets contemporary musical challenges.

 In his current role as Program Coordinator, Edward leads his academic team with a progressive vision for music education in the 21st century, drawing upon his international performance experience and comprehensive understanding of vocal pedagogy. His leadership combines artistic excellence with pedagogical innovation to prepare students for the evolving demands of the music industry.

Aya Sakou

Piano

Aya Sakou is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen School of Music and the Musikhochschule Winterhur-Zurich where she obtained diplomas in teaching and performance on the piano and harpsichord under the guidance of Konstantin Scherbakov.

She has won first prizes in the competitions such as the Pitina Young Pianist Competition, the South Japan Piano Competition, and the National Music Competition of Japan.

As a chamber musician, she has been a member of the Tastro Quartet touring in Europe and Japan. She also participated in festivals such as the Yoshiwa Music Festival in Japan and the Vendyssel International Music Festival in Denmark. She is also frequently performing as a chamber musician with musicians from major orchestras. Among others the NHK symphony orchestra in Japan, the Tonhalle symphony orchestra in Switzerland and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

As a soloist, she has given many recitals in Europe and Japan. She has been invited to perform concertos with the Fontinu chamber orchestra and the Swiss chamber orchestra. In 2004-2005, the BBC radio broadcasted two of her recitals.

She has frequently been invited to perform as an orchestra musician with ensembles such as the Kagoshima chamber orchestra, the Aalborg symphony orchestra, and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Since moving to Singapore in 2007, she regularly performs with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra both in chamber series and in the orchestra. She also works as an accompanist for SSO musicians, Singapore Armed Forces Band, festivals, master classes as well as pursing an active career as an accompanist in Japan.

Josephine Lie

Piano

Josephine Lie is an accomplished pianist and dedicated music educator, Josephine Lie brings over 15 years of teaching experience and international performance acclaim to her work. A Master of Music graduate from the prestigious Artez Conservatorium (Netherlands) and Bachelor of Music from the Royal College of Music (UK), she has garnered numerous awards including prizes at the Singapore National Piano Competition and Asia International Piano Competition. Her students have achieved remarkable success in international competitions, while her own performances have graced renowned venues from Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall to the Netherlands’ Grote Kerk.

Marc-Antoine Robillard

French Horn

Marc-Antoine Robillard is a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec and the MusikHochSchule Winterthur-Zurich.

He has played in several ensembles in North-America and Europe before moving to Denmark where he has been solo horn of the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2007. He has joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as associate principal horn in 2007. 

As a teacher, he has been tutoring the brass section for the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and teaches horn at the School of the Arts (SOTA) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). He is also the author a the Progressive Method for French Horn

helping students learning to play this great instrument.

Jessica Lu Jie

Sanxian

Born in Xi’an China, studied the Sanxian under the tutelage from her father Lu Quan Bao when she was 11 years old and was admitted to the High School Affiliated to Shanghai Conservatory of Music when she was 13 years old. Graduated from China Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor Degree in Performing Arts in 1999 and a Master’s Degree in 2021 under the tutelage of professor Zhao Cheng Wei.

Jessica was then migrated to Singapore in 1999 right after she was graduated and was invited as an Artiste under New Asia Records Singapore. Here are some of her works:

《JESSICA》 New Asia Records Singapore
《POISON》 New Asia Records Singapore
《Alter Asians》 New Asia Records Singapore
《Matter of Time》 New Asia Records Singapore
《This Way to Nike Beautiful》 Nike Asia
《NOKKO&GO》 New York USA & Japan
《Man Ray》 Milan Music, France
《Liquid Sounds Vol.1》Free Form Records, Germany

In the album “Matter of Time”, both New Asia & Flowing in the Seasons was awarded Top 10 in USA International Songwriting Competition and Best World Music Award in Composers’ Association of Singapore (COMPASS).

In 2007, Warners Music Singapore released her very first album “Beauty of Sanxian” with an overwhelming responds. she was also invited by HOB Asia as a musician and artiste for then trailer video production of “Games Of Thrones” season 6. Jessica was also invited by Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay Singapore to present 2 recital concerts “Strings of Time” at the Huayi Festival 2020 to commemorate her 20 years in Sanxian performing arts. During Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, her band SZINC has produced a music video production “AMALGAMATION” which comprises “Green Savannah”, “Blue Rain” & “Red 2020”.

Jessica is not only active in the local performing scene, she often represents Singapore in many international festivals such as France, Japan, Scotland and USA. Festivals including WOMAD, VOLVO World Music Festival, MIDEM, Chicago Jazz Music Festival, Japan Asia Music Market, Edinburgh International Music Festival.

Her subtle yet flamboyant musical style makes her a beautiful marriage between traditional Chinese classical music and modern western pop music.

Renata Hann

Classical Voice

Renata Hann, an international opera singer, is a highly sought after voice teacher and opera performer with international operatic experience. Based in Singapore and Korea.

Renata has a Master’s degree from Korea, With an additional Master’s degree in Opera from Italy’s renowned ‘National Conservatory of Parma (Conservatorio di Arrigo Boito di Parma).
Renata relocated from Italy to Singapore where she continues to teach a select number of serious voice students. With performances spanning opera, musical theater, and world music, singing soprano, critics have hailed Renata Hann as a “first rate artist
with a fabulous voice,” “passionate and believable” and a “consummate musician”.

As an Opera Soloist she performed internationally with such opera companies as the ARTE OPERA and Gwacheon civic center theater, Kyungwon University Theater, Regio di Parma Theater, Rosetum Theater, Auditorium Theater of Locate, Santa Barbara di Mantova etc.
Renata made her Singapore debut with T.O.P in 2021, as Morgana in ‘Alcina’.Following this successful performance, she performed as Lucia in ‘The rape of Lucretia’ with T.O.P and performed as Rosalinde in ‘Die Fledermaus’ with SLO in 2022.

She is active on variety of performances in Singapore.

He Miya

Traditional Voice

He Miya graduated from China Conservatory of Music,studied under the renowned Chinese vocal educator and musician, Professor Jin Tielin, and the celebrated singer, Ms. Liu Chang.

As a singer, she performed on many TV shows, galas, and concerts organized by CCTV. She has also represented the country on many official visits to the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Belgium, etc. And her performance was widely acclaimed by Ambassadors, Diplomats, Consuls General, leaders and members of overseas Chinese associations. Miya was a vocal lecturer on Traditional Folk Singing at Tianjin Conservatory of Music before moving to Singapore. She is now with the School of the Arts in Singapore (SOTA), lecturing on Chinese folk vocal skills. Many of her students have won national awards in China, and are now celebrated musicians and singers in the country.

Miya is passionate about introducing Chinese Culture and Chinese Music to the world. And she is hoping to contribute more to the community in Singapore, who are interested in Chinese Folk Music and Folk Singing.

Miya is very active in promoting the Chinese folk music in Singapore and involved in many collaborative projects with talented local musicians. She is also making all out to integrate into the local culture and local way of life. It is her hope that she could contribute more in the promotion and development of Chinese culture in and beyond Singapore.

Jayne Lee

Music Education

Jayne Lee is an accomplished leader and arts educator renowned for her innovation in creating impactful music resources, organising concerts, and developing comprehensive learning frameworks for musicians. As a highly prolific violin soloist, she has graced numerous prestigious events, including performances for the heads of state of Singapore.

In addition to her proficiency as a violinist, Jayne is a versatile professional, serving as an author, conductor, songwriter, arranger, and co-founder of the Music Interest Group at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and founder of the SUSS Philharmonic Orchestra.

With over 20 years of teaching experience, Jayne has successfully groomed young students to achieve exceptional results, enabling them to complete their Grade 8 exams at a remarkably young age. The Jayne Lee Violin programme, renowned for its accelerated learning approach, has produced award-winning students in both local and international competitions. Their achievements have been featured in prominent publications such as International Strings magazine The Strad and The Straits Times Newspaper.

Beyond her musical pursuits, Jayne demonstrates a passion for community engagement, leading non-profit organisations, and serving as a policy advisor, consultant specialising in the Arts sector. Recent consultation works include Dadu, Children’s Museum of Qatar and Paganini virtual museum (Italy). Her diverse interests also extend to photography, wine tasting, and experimenting with various musical instruments.

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