The focus for this year’s edition is to restart the WYCW which has been unable to be organised over the last 2 years due to the pandemic. Eventhough the word “Young” is in the the title, it does not restrict more mature participants from taking part. We should always be open to learning opportunities. Each participant will receive a total of 30 minutes of podium time, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. During the sessions, participants will be provided with feedback on how to improve baton technique as a non-verbal communication tool. I will also be sharing with participants ‘conductors warm ups’ which I learned during the University of Minnesota – Twin City Wind Band Conductors Workshops recently. Our guest clinician will also share his insights on score preparation.
Guest Clinician
This year we are honoured to have Dr. Low Chee Meng from the University of Lethbridge (Canada) join us to provide his insights and guidance to participants and to the ensemble.
Low Chee Meng enjoys a diverse career as a conductor, educator, administrator, and performing on saxophone as an orchestral, chamber, and solo musician. Chee Meng is tenured faculty member and Director of Wind Orchestra at the University of Lethbridge, Alberta, where he conducts the Wind Orchestra, teaches saxophone performance, conducting and musicianship skills. He is also involved with the Edmonton Saxophone Quartet, U of L Faculty Wind Sextet, and has performed as a soloist, chamber musician and guest conduct in North America, Europe and Asia. Chee Meng is the co-founder of the SWATCA U of L High School Honour Band since 2015, and the music director for the South-Western Alberta Youth (SWAY) wind ensemble. Under his direction, the U of L Wind Orchestra has performed at prestigious events and venues including Taiwan Chiayi International Band Festival, Edmonton Winspear Centre, Calgary Rozsa Centre, Knox United Church Calgary, Alberta Music Conference, Canadian Cantando Festivals and many outreach concerts in the Southern Alberta. Recent creative activities included performance at the 2019 2nd Asia Saxophone Congress, as the guest conductor for the Ontario Interprovincial Music Camp, concerto performance with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra for their 2018/19 season and at the 2017 North American Saxophone Alliance Region 9 conference.
Before joining U of L, Chee Meng served as the Assistant Communications and Planning Manager for the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, developing the education & outreach programs, as well as implementing the daily operations of the orchestra. In addition to that, he also served as one of the saxophone instructors for the College of Music, Mahidol University, coaching private lessons, saxophone quartet and saxophone ensemble and serving the College as assistant to the Deputy Director for Academic and Research Affairs.
Chee Meng was the host for the 2019 Region 9 North American Saxophone Alliance regional conference, a member of the International Committee, World Saxophone Congress (2006-2009) and the Asia Saxophone Conference (2019 – present), regional representative of the Asia Pacific Band Directors’ Association (2007-2010), and current member of the North American Saxophone Alliance. A strong advocate for music education, he was involved as an executive director and programs chair of the Alberta Band Association for several years and as one of the founding members for the Alberta Music Advocacy Alliance.
Low Chee Meng is an artist-educator for Yamaha Music Ltd.
Details
- Date: 8 September 2022 (Thursday)
- Time: 9:00am to 6:00pm
- Venue: Republic Polytechnic (Woodlands, Singapore)
- Ensemble: RP Wind Symphony
- Fee: Complimentary by Application/Email
- Capacity: 12 Active participants (MAX), Unlimited observers (for Conducting sessions only)
Repertoire:
- Future of Tomorrow by Benjamin Yeo
- Postcard from Singapore by Philip Sparke
- Shenandoah by Frank Ticheli
- Chasing Sunlight by Cait Nishimura
Programme for the day:
9:00am to 9:20am – Introductions and Conductor Warm-ups (Muhamad Yusri)
9:20am to 9:50am – Score preparation (Dr. Low Chee Meng)
10:00am to 1:15pm – Conducting Session 1
1:15pm to 2:15pm – Lunch (Self-catering)
2:30pm to 5:45pm – Conducting Session 2
5:45pm to 6:00pm – Closing remarks
Get in touch!
For more information and to register, please email: founder.wycw@gmail.com
Muhamad Yusri 
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