Singapore Music Festival

The Singapore Music Festival, as well as is an event that is held yearly.

During the Singapore Music Festival, events such as Violin and Piano Competition, Indian Music Competition as well as National Chinese Music Competition will be held.

First organised in 1997, the National Piano and Violin Competition is a biennial event that was held between 5 December and 13 December 2009. With the same aim as the other music competitions, National Piano and Violin Competition aim to discover potential musicians, and to improve music standards. This event also has an international jury. This event consists of 4 different categories which divides competitors into their age group accordingly. The Concerto set list includes pieces from various famous musicians of different musical periods.

National Indian Music Competition was an event that is held biennially. However, it is now held once every three years.  It is organized by the National Arts Council back in 1998. The next Indian Music Competition will be held in June 2011. With an international jury, this event has got many categories in which competitors can compete in. For example, they can compete in an Ensemble, or as in individual in the Solo section. In the Solo section, they can choose to perform the Violin, Flute, Veena, Mridangam, Sitar or the Tabla. They can also perform Carnatic Vocal, in which, they will sing in.

National Chinese Music Competition is held biannually. It will be held during in 2010, in December. With an international jury, this event allows development of performing skills of local musician, and aims to improve music standard, and to discover potential musicians. Musicians are given an opportunity to perform and compete, allowing them to win cash prizes as well as trophies. Competitors can choose to perform Dizi, Erhu, Guzheng, Pipa, Suona, Yangqin, Zhongruan or the Sheng in the Solo section, or they can perform in an ensemble. The three sections in which competitors can compete in are: Junior category for 12 years old and below, Youth category for 18 and below, and lastly, the Open category for competitors aged 30 and below.

These events are held at famous local performing theatres and halls, for example, the Singapore Conference Hall, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, Young Musicians’ Society, Esplanade Recital Studio and Victorian Concert Hall. With these various music competitions open to public, visitors can view these performances just by buying tickets from the ticketing office. If you like music and would like to listen to music produced by various instruments, do remember to watch the Indian Music Competition, or the National Chinese Music Competition. If you like Piano and Violin performances, do drop by when the National Piano and Violin Competition occurs!

Reference: National Arts Council