YST x SYPO
Conductor: Luo Wei
A Young Person’s Guide: Traditions in Bloom
March 8, 2026 • 4:00pm
YST Concert Hall
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
YST Orchestral Pedagogy Students
Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (SYPO)
Conductor: Luo Wei
Mao Yuan (茅沅)
Joy of Spring (新春乐)
Mao Yuan (茅沅) / Liu Tieshan (刘铁⼭)
Dance of the Yao People (瑶族舞曲)
George Enescu (1881–1955)
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 in A major, Op. 11
Benjamin Britten (1913–1976)
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34
Variations and Fugue on a Theme of Henry Purcell
First Violin
Viktoria Ivaylova Marinova*
Concertmaster
Ashley Foong Shu Yan
Chia Min Cher
Myla Ng
Lai Chenyang
Wu Yifan
Chien Hsin*
Deng Bingqian
Deng Kai Ran
Hannah Feng
Kanata Hosokawa
Isaac Wee
Xu Zhuorui*
Zhao Tongzhou*
Preparatory Class Students
Charmaine Wong
Wayne Chow
Nelson Fu
Mirabelle Ong
Diva Qian
Mark Su
Curon Toh
Yu Chen Yang
Ivan Zhao
Second Violin
Chen Shu-Yu* Principal
Tian Zizheng
Sonya Yen
Colin Tan Jia Jie
Wu Sihan Olivia
Anja Nanami Broesecke
Naixuan Chen
Alannah Fourret
Gu Jiatong
Dearn Yeo
Liu Weichen
Peng Yiyang*
Sharlaine Phoon
Edrea Yeoh
Syu Cheng-Yi*
Yan Han
Zhang Hanzhi*
Preparatory Class
Students
Joshua Ng
Hannah Chow
Min Kai
Qian Boyun
Karl Oskar Yang
Sarah Nguyen
Xiao Yunze
Flute
Chen Chih-Ying*
Oh Seonyoung*
Muhammad Afiq Bin
Idris
Piccolo
Simeon Yap Sheng Kiat*
Oboe
Jasper Goh*
Quek Jun Rui*
Clarinet
Hayden Chung-Hei
Butt*
Dominic Koh*
Zhang Liangliang*
Wang Yi Han
S Rohidh
Bassoon
Liu Jiayu*
Wen Xiyu*
YST x SYPO
Conductor: Luo Wei
YST Orchestral Pedagogy Students
YST students on stage today are mostly third-year students enrolled in the course Pedagogy for Orchestral Instruments. Through this programme, they explore teaching, community engagement, and leadership by guiding younger musicians in their instrumental journeys and performing side by side with them.
In recent years, YST Orchestral Pedagogy students have collaborated with the Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (SYPO) in a series of concerts. The first collaboration, Shining in Space, was presented at the Esplanade. The second, Moving Forward, featured works by Brahms and Dvořák at the YST Concert Hall
This afternoon’s concert marks their third collaboration. Titled Traditions in Bloom, the programme celebrates cultural roots in motion and the diverse musical voices that come together to shape the youth symphonic orchestra
Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (SYPO)
The Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (SYPO) is dedicated to nurturing young musicians in Singapore through structured orchestral training, mentorship, and performance opportunities. The orchestra brings together talented student musicians who are committed to developing their ensemble skills, musical expression, and artistic discipline through regular rehearsals and public concerts.
SYPO also runs a Preparatory Class for children from age four, designed to build strong technical foundations while introducing orchestra etiquette, ensemble awareness, and attentive listening from the very beginning While many major performances feature the main orchestra, Preparatory Class students often join selected projects to support the ensemble and gain valuable stage experience
SYPO musicians regularly participate in concerts, cultural exchanges, and collaborative projects Highlights include collaborations with the China Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, performances at diplomatic events with the Argentine and Venezuelan Embassies, and concerts at the Esplanade Concourse. Upcoming performances include a special concert at the Sentosa Oceanarium, offering a unique platform for young musicians to showcase their talents and engage diverse audiences.
Luo Wei Conductor
Luo Wei is a conductor and violinist active in orchestral performance and music education in Singapore. He graduated from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music with degrees in violin performance and a Master of Music in conducting.
As an educator and conductor, Luo Wei is deeply committed to nurturing young musicians and building strong orchestral ensembles. He founded the Singapore Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (SYPO) and co-founded Kids’ Philharmonic@sg, leading numerous performances and educational initiatives. Recognized for his contributions, he was awarded the title of “Excellent Conductor” at the World Orchestra Festival Luo Wei actively promotes the growth of Singapore’s youth musicians, collaborates closely with the Rin Collection of distinguished artists, and has served as guest conductor for the China Philharmonic Youth Orchestra’s 2026 New Year Concert in Beijing
Known for his warm and inspiring leadership, Luo Wei helps young musicians develop strong technique, musical sensitivity, and confidence on stage, guiding the orchestra with both artistic vision and educational dedication.
MAO YUAN (1926–2022)
Joy of Spring
This is is a lively and celebratory work that evokes the freshness of spring and the joy of festive gatherings. Drawing on Chinese folk melodies and pentatonic scales, the piece alternates between gentle, lyrical passages and energetic, rhythmically-driven sections, creating a sense of dialogue between the strings Through its flowing melodies, playful rhythms, and dynamic contrasts, the music conveys renewal, optimism, and communal celebration, making it a bright and uplifting opening for the concert.
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MAO YUAN (1926–2022) | LIU TIESHAN (1919–1984)
Dance of the Yao People
Composed in 1952, this is one of the most representative works of Chinese ethnic orchestral music in the 20th century.
After an immersive folk research trip to ethnic minority regions in Guangxi, composers Liu Tieshan and Mao Yuan were inspired by the traditional music and dances of the Yao people. Blending these influences with Western orchestration techniques, they created a piece that, with its vivid ethnic character, vibrant rhythmic energy, and lyrical melodic lines, has been widely performed both in China and internationally. It has become an important work that showcases the cultural charm of China’s many ethnic groups to the world
The piece features a clear and layered structure. It begins with a fresh, lyrical melody that depicts scenes of Yao girls singing and dancing, before transitioning into an exuberant and spirited dance section characterised by strong, infectious rhythms. Throughout the work, there are multiple instances of emulating the styles of Chinese ethnic instruments. For example, percussion passages mimic the rhythmic patterns of bronze drums, and string sections incorporate melodic elements from Yi and Yao folk traditions, imbuing the piece with a strong sense of ethnic flavor and festive atmosphere.
pizzicatotocreatecontrast.Thepercussionsectionaddsrhythm effectsthroughawidevarietyofinstruments.
Theworkconcludeswithabrilliantfugue,whereinstrumentse thethemeintocomplexcounterpoint.Eventually,thefullorche Purcellthemeinatriumphantandmajesticfinale
Throughthesevariations,thesamemelodytransformsrepeated heartherichcolorsandexpressivepossibilitiesoftheorchestra
