02
FACULTY
2021
RENOWNED INTERNATIONAL PROFESSORS
Pascal Roge
Guest Professor
Pascal Rogé exemplifies the finest in French pianism. Born in Paris, he was a student of the Paris Conservatory and was also mentored by Julius Katchen and the great Nadia Boulanger. Winner of Georges Enesco piano competition and 1st prize of Marguerite Long Piano competition, he became an exclusive Decca recording artist at the age of seventeen. His playing of Poulenc, Satie, Fauré, Saint-Saëns and especially Ravel, is characterized by its elegance, beauty and stylistically perfect phrasing.
Mr. Rogé has performed in almost every major concert hall in the world and with every major orchestra across the globe and has collaborated with the most distinguished conductors in history, including Lorin Maazel, Michael Tilson Thomas, Mariss Jansons, Charles Dutoit, Kurt Masur, Edo de Waart, Alan Gilbert, David Zinman, Marek Janowski, Sir Andrew Davis, Raymond Leppard and others.
One of the world’s most distinguished recording artists, Pascal Rogé has won many prestigious awards, including two Gramophone Awards, a Grand Prix du Disque and an Edison Award for his interpretations of the Ravel and Saint- Saens concerti along with the complete piano works of Ravel, Poulenc and Satie.
Several years ago, Mr. Rogé began a new and ambitious recording project for Onyx called the Rogé Edition. With the Vienna Radio Symphony under Bertrand de Billy, he has recently recorded two CDs of both of the Ravel Piano Concerti and the Gershwin Concerto in F and Rhapsody in Blue. Recently, Pascal
has
enjoyed
playing
recitals
for four-hands/two-pianos with
his
partner
in life and in music Ami Rogé.
Together, they
have travelled
the
world
appearing at
prestigious
festivals and
concert halls and recorded
several
CDs
dedicated
to
the
French
2
piano
and
4
hands repertoire. In 2011 they have given the
premiere
of a
newly commissioned Concerto
for
Two
Pianos
by
the
composer
Matthew
Hindson
with
the Sydney
Symphony
Orchestra
conducted by
Vladimir
Ashkenazy.
Recently chairman of the Geneva Piano competition, Pascal Rogé is also dedicated to teaching and gives regular masterclasses in France, Japan, United States and United Kingdom.
Eliane Reyes
Guest Professor
First trained by her mother, she then went proceeded to study at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels followed by the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Jean-Claude Vanden Eynden’s class. Eliane promoted on to the Hochschule der Künste in Berlin, to the Mozarteum in Salzburg with Hans Leygraf, the Lemmensinstituut with Alan Weiss and there after to the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris under the aegis of Michel Beroff, Brigitte Engerer, Hans Leygraf and Jacques Rouvier. Ensuing her studies, she was appointed professor of complementary piano at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris.
In the spectrum of international competitions, Eliane has won innumerable awards including 1st prize in Ettlingen, Germany and 1st prize at the Cervantes International Piano Competition in Cuba. Finalist at the Montreal International Musical Competition, the Clara Schumann International Piano Competition in Düsseldorf, where she was equally rewarded for chamber music, and at the Maria Canals International Music Competition, to mention but a few. Eliane Reyes devotes herself to a career as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician to the unanimous acclaim of the international press and audiences.
Through her numerous performances, she has attained the absolute support of the Rheinold Blüthner, Nany Philippart, Spes, Solti and Vocatio Foundations. Amongst artists such as Martha Argerich or Vladimir Ashkenazy, Eliane has had the opportunity to be invited to give recitals and to perform alongside Augustin Dumay, Ivry Gitlis, Misha Maisky and José van Dam.
Elena Nesterenko
Guest Professor
In 1985, Helen entered the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music Academy in the studio of famous musician O.A.Pavlova. it was Pavlova, who instilled in Elena’s heart a deep love for classical music and laid the solid foundation for her later technical vituosity. Upon graduating with honors from the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music Academy in 1989, Elena entered the Moscow State Conservatory in the studio of Eugene Mogilevsky, and then transferred to the studio of Professor Elena Richter - both great musicians who studies with the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus. After her brilliant graduation from the Moscow State Conservatory in 1995, Elena received the top prize at the International Piano Competition in the Italian city of Mazzarò del Vallo and entered the post-graduate studies in Groningen (The Netherlands) with Professor A.B.Makarov-Goldfeder. In Groningen, Elena indulged herself into a tireless search for unconventional interpretation solutions, "beautiful overtones", and the rich sound palitra at the piano.
Graduating the Groningen Academy in 1997, Elena Nesterenko received the Honorary Diploma with a stipend from the Andrea Elkebrandt Fund to continue her further graduate studies abroad. So was able to fulfill the dream of a young pianist - gain valuable knowledge from the representative of the famous German piano school, in the traditions of the outstanding William Kampf, to study in the studio of the brilliant pianist Prof. Gerhard Oppitz. Studying with Prof. Oppitz, Elena learned impeccable sense of style in the works of Viennese classics, fine pedaling, as well as the scope and understanding of the musical structure.
In 1998, Elena completed her post-graduate studies in Munich and received the Master of Arts diploma. Same year, Elena was offered a teaching position in this world-renowned music institution.
Through her numerous performances, she has attained the absolute support of the Rheinold Blüthner, Nany Philippart, Spes, Solti and Vocatio Foundations. Amongst artists such as Martha Argerich or Vladimir Ashkenazy, Eliane has had the opportunity to be invited to give recitals and to perform alongside Augustin Dumay, Ivry Gitlis, Misha Maisky and José van Dam.
Ng Chong Lim
Guest Professor
Hailing from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pianist–composer Ng Chong Lim studied at the Royal College of Music (RCM), London under the tutelage of Professor Frank Wibaut. He continued his piano studies with Professor Elza Kolodin and subsequently with Professor Beat Furrer at the Universitat fur Musik und darstellende Kunst Graz, Austria for music composition. Chong Lim was the Winner of Malaysian National Piano Competition 1993, Prize winner of the Royal Overseas League Competition and The Anthony Saltmarsh Junior Fellowship (RCM).
Chong Lim has performed both as a soloist and chamber musician in many international venues, such as England, USA, Holland, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Ukraine, Macedonia, Brazil and Japan with recent appearances at ‘Beethoven Complete Piano Sonatas Project’ in Singapore and The 3rdAsian Grand Piano Concert in Seoul, Korea. In 2013, he was invited to “Evmelia” International Music Festival, Greece, “Opusfest” Antipolo 2013 International Piano and Chamber Music Festival, Philippines. He performed at 2014 “21st New Music Festival” held in Almaty, Kazakhstan and 2018 International Taipei Piano Maestro Festival.
Chong Lim has served as juror of international competitions, including The 5th& 6thASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition in Malaysia, The Jakarta International Piano Competition held in Indonesia and National Music Competitions for Young Artists in Philippines.
Rena Phua
Guest Professor
Rena was born in Hong Kong where she received her foundation musical training under Professor Lam Hung Hee. She had shown exceptional talents since the young tender age of six and was often found to accompany and improvise for church and school choirs. Further studies took her to the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, University of Toronto. She continued with her postgraduate studies at the University of London, UK and Paris where she studied under renowned pianist Monique Haas. She received her Master Degree from Griffith University, Australia and the Post Graduate Diploma from National Technological University. She was awarded the Licentiate Diploma from the London Royal Academy of Music and the Associate Diploma from the London Royal College of Music. She received a Distinction in Piano Performance for her Licentiate Diploma of Guildhall School of Music.
Rena sits in the Advisory Committee for National Piano & Violin Competition, National Arts Council from 2011-present. She has been Secretary/Treasurer and Committee Member for Singapore Music Teachers Association since 1984. She is the Vice President for the Chopin Society of Singapore since its inception in 2009.
At NAFA (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (新加坡南洋艺术学院) she has held essential roles as Member of the NAFA Scholarship & Financial Aids Panel (2007-2010, 2012-present), Vice Dean at Office of Academic Affairs (2006 – 2010). She has been Head of Keyboard Studies and Senior Lecturer of Piano Studies, Department of Music since 2004 – 2015. She has developed a full progressive Keyboard Studies program which emphasize on the keyboard musicianship skill. This focus has contributed substantially on raising the Piano Performance standard at NAFA.
Poom Prommachart
Artistic Director
Poom Prommachart, a Steinway Artist, was born in Bangkok and is regarded as one of the most accomplished Thai pianist today.
Poom graduated from the Royal College of Music (RCM), London where he earned the prestigious International Artist Diploma in 2014 and a Master's Degree in Performance (Distinction) in 2013, which received an exceptional high distinction for both solo piano and chamber music. Recently, he was awarded the most prestigious Tagore Gold Medal for his great contribution to RCM, which was presented to him by HRH The Prince of Wales on May 2014. He also recieved his Bachelor of Music (Honours) with Hopkinson Gold Medal and the Sarah Mundlak Memorial Prize for Piano from the RCM for the best fourth year Graduation recital in 2011. Other important awards at RCM have included the John Chisell Schumann Award (2009) and 1st prize in RCM Concerto Competition where he performed Prokofiev's Piano Concerto no.2 in G minor, op.16 with RCM Symphony Orchestra conducted by Phillip Ellis (2011).
In addition to an outright win in Novi Sad, Poom also have won many prizes including 1st prize and audience prize at the UK Intercollegiate Sheepdrove Piano Competition (2009), 1st prize at Eastbourne Symphony Orchestra Soloist Competition (2008), 2nd prize and a special prize for the best performance of Liszt at the International Chopin Piano Competition in Budapest (2008), 1st prize of Thailand International Piano Competition (2011). Most recently, he was awarded First Prize in the Grand Final of Sussex International Piano Competition (2013) where he performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no. 3 with the Worthing Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Gibbons in the final round.
Alvaro Siviero
Guest Professor
Alvaro Siviero has been in love with the piano since his childhood. Musician who actively participates in the Brazilian musical scenery as soloist and chamber musician, Siviero has been to Germany, Portugal, Italy, USA, Austria, France, England, Switzerland, Czech Republic, also performing as soloist in several tours throughout Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Chile, The Netherlands, Uruguay, and Peru with a great number orchestras such as the London Festival Orchestra, Sinfonia Rotterdam, Salzburg chamber soloists, Orquesta Academica de Madrid, I Musici of Montreal, among others.
Siviero was the first ever Brazilian pianist worldwide selected to attend the Beethoven Master classes at the Fondazione Wihelm Kempff, Positano, Italy. His touching performance of Rachmaninoff 3rd Piano Concerto was acclaimed by huge audiences and critics during national tour in the main concert halls in Brazil. In 2007, Siviero performed in an exclusive recital to the Pope Benedict XVI, during the visit of the Roman Pontiff to Brazil.
As musician and artistic director, Siviero was responsible for promoting many international symphonic groups, national symphonic orchestras, which toured with him throughout Brazil. In February 2016, in recognition of cultural services rendered, Siviero received the Commendation of the Order of Cultural Merit Carlos Gomes. The pianist has a degree in Multicultural Education at the Lesley College, Cambridge, besides graduating in Physics from Universidade de Sao Paulo. He writes about classical music in the national newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo.
Congyu Wang
Founder - Artistic Director
Hailed as a “complete musician – a sensitive artist and an extremely talented young pianist”, Congyu Wang is an internationally renowned pianist. Born in Singapore, Congyu Wang studied with renowned pianists Jean-Marc Luisada, Gabriel Tacchino, Erick Heidsieck and Francois Weigel.
Ever since youth, Congyu Wang has enjoyed phenomenal success in international piano competitions, ultimately winning the Grand Prize in Berlin and Bordeaux. His other prizes include Vulaines-sur-Seine, Lagny-sur-Marne, Merignac, Paris, ASA Jakarta, Tallinn, and most recently the Cle d'Or in Reunion Island. Wang is a Young Steinway Artist, and records exclusively for the KNS label.
Congyu Wang has made appearances in over 500 recitals in France, England, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Serbia, Sweden, Reunion Island, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries.
He is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Piano Island Festival, Piano Concerto Festival and the Association des Jeunes Musiciens - A foundation which sponsors young talents and organizes numerous concerts throughout the world.