BMA String Faculty

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BMA STRING PERFORMANCE CLASS
With Mabel Wong - Head of BMA String Faculty

Free for BMA students
Open to non-BMA students:
Observers RM21.20 inc. | Participants RM31.80 inc.

Register: [email protected]

DON'T MISS THIS!

KEVIN SAW @ BMA
SATURDAY 16th JULY

Register here: [email protected]

BIOGRAPHY

A graduate of the RNCM, Kevin was awarded a full scholarship throughout the duration of his undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He earned the highest qualifications in both his degrees, a Distinction in a Master’s in Music Performance as well as a First Class with Honours as a Bachelor of Music. His studies were kindly supported by the Allan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, Ann Gerrard Award, Donny Knowles Scholarship, Thomas Jellis Bequest Fund and the Emmanuel Bursary. He has been invited back with a full scholarship to pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in September 2022 as a violist, with professors Susie Meszaros and Martin Schaefer.

During his time at the RNCM, he studied with the International Chair of Violin, Prof. Yair Kless and also Leland Chen. Under their tutelage, he was offered to perform the Glazunov Violin Concerto with the Manchester Beethoven Orchestra as well as Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy” with the Burnley Symphony Orchestra. Through the RNCM Strings Festival, he was invited to participate in masterclasses with esteemed violinists such as Ning Feng, Mauricio F**s and Kristof Barati.

After a competitive selection process, Kevin was very fortunate to have been awarded a Postgraduate Award by the HELP Musicians UK in 2019. He also secured the Leverhulme Mentorship Award at the RNCM, where he undertook a year long pedagogue placement with the RNCM Young Strings, and currently works as a Deputy Tutor.

In 2018, he joined the RNCM at the Cantiere Internazionale d’Arte in Montepulciano. His orchestral experience also extends to having performed alongside the Northern Ballet Orchestra and the Hallé Orchestra. After his graduation from the RNCM, he has since been called back to perform as Principal Violist in the opera productions of Ariadne auf Naxos and Menotti’s “The Medium”.

He has taken part in music festivals such as the International Mendelssohn Festival, studying with Prof. Sebastian Schmidt, the Virtuoso & Belconto Festival in Lucca, studying with Prof. Boris Brotsvyn and awarded a full scholarship at the Musikkurswochen in Arosa studying with Prof. Ingolf Turban. He has most recently been invited to take part in the Dartington Festival’s Summer School and Musikkurswochen in Arosa, where he will study as a violist with Max Baillie and Prof. Hariolf Schligtig, having been offered full scholarships at both festivals.

Before his time at the RNCM, Kevin was a scholar at the Wells Cathedral School, where he was he led the Symphony Orchestra and String Chamber Orchestra, studying with Catherine Lord.
He also toured with the Asian Youth Orchestra in 2012 and 2013, performing alongside soloist Steven Isserlis at venues such as the Esplanade Hall, the Tokyo Metropolitan Opera Hall and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

He currently concertises a beautiful violin by Niccolo Gagliano, and a bow by François Peccatte both on loan by the RNCM. His viola, by Federico Busan, is also loaned to him by the RNCM.

SOMETHING NEW ON THE HORIZON!

BMA TRAINING ORCHESTRA - LAUNCHES THIS JULY!

The BMATO will meet on Saturdays from 5.30pm to 7pm under the guidance of J***t Kee, starting in our Term 3.

The orchestra is a vital ‘stepping stone’ orchestra between the BMA Children’s String Orchestra and the BMA Youth Orchestra. It will perform in its own concerts and together, in collaboration, with BMA's other groups.

Register via the QR code. or...

Audition now by sending a link to videos of 2 contrasting works to [email protected], or...

You may prefer to request a free face to face audition at BMA here: [email protected]

All orchestral instrumentalists welcome.

Sign up soon!

T&C apply.

THE VIOLA IS ALWAYS A GOOD OPTION!!

BMA FEATURED TEACHER
CHOW WOEI SIM - VIOLA/VIOLIN
Teaching: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday & BMA Creative Online

Favourite food: Kimchi
Favourite colour: Pink, blue
Hobbies (Other than music): Gardening, swimming
Favourite author: Hayao Miyazaki, Tomoko Ninomiya
Favourite violinist: Hilary Hahn, Maxim Vangerov, Itzhak Perlman
Favourite violist: Nuboko Imai, Yuri Bashmet, Tabea Zimmermann
Favourite Composer: Brahms, Joe Hisaishi, Tchaikovsky, Vieuxtemps

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfwrPua1OOk


Woei Sim started her musical journey at 6 years old, playing the piano. She later decided to learn the violin at 11 years old and viola at 12 years old. She completed her Bachelor degree in music with Honours at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She was studying under the tutelage of head of chamber music Robin Ireland, and head of strings Dr. Louise Lansdown.

She was a member of Malaysia Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Orchestra, Selangor Symphony Orchestra and also a member of Kuala Lumpur String Project, a string ensemble led by MPO musicians.

Woei Sim loves teaching. She is always eager to give her best of her knowledge to her students.

SIGN UP FOR MUSIC BEYOND MCO!

BEYOND LOCKDOWN: CHAMBER MUSIC @ BMA
Get your friends together and register now for our new Chamber Music Program.

..all standards, abilities and ages are welcome.
..for duos, trios, quartets, quintets - or larger groups!
..you can apply as an individual, or as an already formed and established ensemble.

Eight sessions a term - four terms per year
Including shared performance workshops
..and plenty of concert opportunities!

Audition via email to [email protected] with a link of you - or your group - performing no more than 5 minutes of music of two short contrasting works.

Good luck and have fun!