Text: | Print|

Singaporean dizi player performs in Shanghai

2014-09-23 09:15 Global Times Web Editor: Qian Ruisha
1
Tan Qing Lun (center) performs with Ghanavenothan Retnam (left) and Zhan Yongming (right). Photo: Liao Fangzhou/GT

Tan Qing Lun (center) performs with Ghanavenothan Retnam (left) and Zhan Yongming (right). Photo: Liao Fangzhou/GT

A concert night entitled "Friends of Singapore," was held Friday at the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Shanghai.

The star of the evening was Tan Qing Lun, an award-winning dizi (Chinese flute) and Indian flute performer from Singapore. He teamed with Shanghai dizi virtuoso and educator Zhan Yongming on a rendition of the Chinese classic "Happy Reunion," as well as fellow Singaporean flutist Ghanavenothan Retnam on an affecting Indian number called "Niravadi Sugatha." Tan has a special relationship with these two luminaries, as it was Zhan who taught him the dizi and Retnam who instructed him on the Indian flute. Along with traditional works, Tan also gave a solo performance of "Moonlight in the City," a 1990s hit from popular Singaporean musician Mavis Hee.

Tan graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under a postgraduate scholarship from Singapore's National Arts Council.

"Studying in an elite conservatory was a wonderful experience for a music student," Tan told the Global Times. "On top of that studying in a city like Shanghai, with its abundance of music performances and resources, was very inspiring."

Tan is currently a dizi soloist and the ensemble manager for Ding Yi Music Company, Singapore's second Chinese chamber music ensemble. The company consists of 20 of Singapore's most talented performers of traditional Chinese instruments.

Tan said the company has reached a wide audience in Singapore. "Among our audience there are kindergarten kids and seniors. We have six performing seasons annually, during which different age groups show up," Tan stated. The goal of the ensemble, he explained, is to share Chinese music with people in Singapore and around the world.

One attendee of Friday's performance was Grace, a Chinese woman who graduated from the National University of Singapore. "I spent the last seven years studying and working in Singapore, and I am happy that tonight's culturally diverse music brought back for me the vibes of Singapore," she said.

Comments (0)
Most popular in 24h
  Archived Content
Media partners:

Copyright ©1999-2018 Chinanews.com. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.