Photo: Memphis West Pictures/Joe Nair
New Centre brings together education, artistic practice and cultural exchange to advance Chinese music from a distinctly Singapore perspective.
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), today inaugurated the Centre for Singapore Chinese Music, a dedicated platform to support the continued development of Chinese music in Singapore through talent development, artistic practice, community engagement and cultural exchange. Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation, was Guest-of-Honour at the inauguration.
Singapore has long played a distinctive role in the development of Chinese music in Southeast Asia. Generations of musicians, educators, cultural institutions and communities have shaped the evolution of the art form within Singapore’s multicultural society. As the field continues to evolve, there is a growing need to sustain the talent pipeline, nurture the next generation of musicians and strengthen pathways into professional practice.
NAFA began formal music training, including Chinese Instrumental Studies, in 1984. Today it offers Singapore’s only government-supported tertiary pathway in the field, spanning diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Its conservatoire-level approach combines individual tuition with ensemble and orchestral practice, complemented by competitions, examinations, and partnerships with professional musicians and arts organisations.
The Centre aims to advance Chinese music from a distinctly Singapore perspective while providing a platform for wider participation and appreciation. Building on NAFA’s established strengths in Chinese instrumental training, youth development and artistic partnerships, it will nurture performers and educators through mentorship, masterclasses and wider industry engagement, while enhancing the capabilities of school music teachers, ensemble instructors and community practitioners.
The Centre’s inauguration reflects NAFA’s broader commitment to sustaining cultural heritage while supporting its continued evolution and growth. It seeks to strengthen the ecosystem for Chinese music in Singapore by connecting education, professional practice and community participation, while broadening audiences and deepening connections with artists, educators and institutions across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Mrs Tan-Soh Wai Lan, President of NAFA, said:
“Chinese music has a long and rich tradition in Singapore, shaped over generations by our musicians, educators and communities. Today, it continues to evolve within our distinctive multicultural environment and through the perspectives of each new generation.
The establishment of the Centre for Singapore Chinese Music reflects NAFA’s commitment to nurturing this living tradition for the future by developing talent, strengthening professional pathways and creating new opportunities for artistic exchange and collaboration.
Through the Centre, we will nurture the next generation of musicians and serve as a focal point for Singapore Chinese music, where education, artistic practice and exchange can come together. We want to support a confident and distinctive Singapore voice in Chinese music, while building the Centre into a regional platform for exchange, learning and collaboration that brings together musicians, educators and institutions from Singapore and beyond.”
Shaped by Singapore's multicultural, multilingual and Southeast Asian environment, NAFA’s training provides students with a distinctive context in which to develop their artistic practice.
Professor Wong Sun Tat, the inaugural Centre Director of the NAFA Centre for Singapore Chinese Music, said:
“Singapore Chinese music has developed its own character within our multicultural context and artistic environment. We have the responsibility to continue to nurture musicians who can contribute meaningfully to its future development. The Centre gives us the opportunity to build on these strengths while creating new opportunities for musicians to learn, perform, collaborate and explore how Chinese music can continue to develop and flourish in Singapore and beyond.”
The Centre will build on existing initiatives at NAFA, including Chinese Instrumental Studies, the Central Conservatory of Music graded examinations in Chinese instruments hosted by NAFA in Singapore, the Nanyang International Music Competition and collaborations with professional musicians, educators and arts organisations.
Currently, 13 NAFA alumni hold full-time musician positions with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Other alumni have founded Singapore-based music organisations, including Ding Yi Music Company and Reverberance. Some work with The TENG Ensemble and Siong Leng Musical Association, while many teach in schools and community music settings. Alumni have also established careers with professional Chinese orchestras elsewhere in the region, including the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra, Shanghai Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
Future plans for the Centre include expanding artistic and educational partnerships, developing youth and community initiatives, supporting teacher development and school ensemble programmes, and convening a Chinese Music Symposium that brings together musicians, educators and institutions from Singapore and the region. The Centre also plans to establish an International Advisory Panel comprising distinguished artists, educators and cultural leaders from Singapore and beyond.
Further details on the Centre’s future initiatives and partnerships will be announced progressively.
Media materials, including event images, are available here.