User:LOW Shao Ying

LOW Shao Ying (Chinese name: 卢绍莹／盧紹瑩) is a professional classical pianist, piano accompanist, composer, songwriter and music arranger from Singapore. She obtained her Licentiate of the Trinity College of London (LTCL), Fellowship of the Trinity College of London (FTCL), and Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) diplomas in piano performance under Madam YEO Bee Choo and the late Mr. ONG Lip Tat respectively. She furthered her musical studies at the famed École Normale de Musique de Paris - Alfred CORTOT in France, under the tutelage of the late Madame Annie d’ARCO and the late Monsieur Julien RIDORET for solo piano, and Madame Chantal DEBUCHY for chamber music. She is a prize-winner at competitions such as 1st prize at the Claude KAHN Competition for piano duet, 2nd prize at the Saint-Nom-la Bretèche Competition and 2nd prize at the International Competition of U.F.A.M. in Paris. Shao Ying has also performed at prestigious concert halls such as Salle Gaveau and Salle Cortot in Paris, and she has also given a week-long piano duet recital at the Hotel Méridien-Montparnasse in Paris for students chosen from her school as well as the Paris Conservatory. Participation in masterclasses enabled her to study under well-known pianists such as Olivier GARDON in Paris and Nelly BEN-OR in London.

Upon her return to Singapore, Shao Ying has performed as soloist numerous times with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) under the baton of Maestros CHOO Hoey, LIM Yau, LÜ Jia, Darrell ANG and Joshua TAN Kang Ming. In February 1999, Shao Ying was invited to perform at the Istana by the late former President of Singapore, Ong Teng Cheong, for his distinguished guests. She gave a Singapore premiere of Bruch's Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra in A-flat minor, Op. 88a with the SSO in March 2002, and she also performed at the Esplanade's Open House in September that same year. In 2006, Shao Ying performed at the Asia Grand Piano Festival in Seoul, Korea, where her joint-composition with her twin sister, Shao Suan, Rondo for 3 pianos, 12 hands, was being showcased. The concert was held at the Seoul Arts Centre Concert Hall and it was broadcasted "live" on national television. She was also soloist with the Hunan Symphony Orchestra (China) under Maestro XIAO Ming in 2009, and the Singapore Festival Orchestra under Maestro Virginia MARTINEZ for the Singapore Arts Festival 2010.

As an active piano accompanist and chamber musician, Shao Ying has collaborated with musicians from all over the world, such as violinist JIN Li, cellists Alexander IVASHKIN, Amit PELED, Nella HUNKINS, SONG Young-Hoon, Erich Oskar HUETTER and Gabriel SCHWABE, flautists Hristo DOBRINOV and Roberto ALVAREZ, oboists Olivier DOISE, CHENG Yue and HSIEH Wan-Chen, clarinetist Jean JOHNSON, bassoonists Magnus NILSSON and Alexandar LENKOV, horn players Olivier DARBELLAY and Daren ROBBINS, saxophonist Christian WIRTH, tuba player Roland SZENTPÁLI, and trombonist Shannon PITTAWAY. In September 2002, Shao Ying was appointed as piano accompanist by the National Arts Council (NAC) for the 2002 National Chinese Music Competition for Erhu Open category. She has also performed in Singapore, France, England, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, China, Inner Mongolia, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and New Zealand.

Besides the piano, Shao Ying also studied harpsichord under well-known harpsichordist, Mr. Ilton WJUNISKI. In 1997, she was invited to take part in a two-week full scholarship music camp in Villecroze, Southern France, for harpsichord students who were highly recommended by well-known musicians of the international level. Three months later, she received another invitation to perform J.S.BACH's Concerto for 2 Harpsichords in C minor, BWV 1060 with the European Baroque Chamber Ensemble in Porto, Portugal, for its Baroque Music Festival.

Shao Ying's recording of Hong Kong contemporary composer, Kawai SHIU's Jade Luster for two pianos, performed with her sister, was featured in his Kawai Shui Streams and Seasons CD, released in December 2010. She also recorded Camille SAINT-SAËNS' Carnival of the Animals with her sister and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Lan SHUI, and this Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals CD was released in July 2012. In September 2014, her debut album with her sister, Romance In The City, featuring their original easy listening instrumental piano compositions, was released. This album received the “2014 Artistic Performance Album of the Year” at the 10th Hi-Fi Album Awards 2014 in Guangzhou, China.

As an avid composer and songwriter, some of Shao Ying's songs have been sung by various Asian pop singers such as as Jolin TSAI (Taiwan), Suzanne HSIAO (Taiwan) and CHEN Yi Yi (Malaysia). Some of her instrumental works, such as Serenade No. 3 (Runner-up at the 2005 UK Songwriting Contest, Instrumental Category), Scherzino and Happy Birthday Variations for violin and piano, Souvenirs de Paris (finalist at 2005 UKSC) and Valse de Printemps (finalist at 2005 UKSC) for 2 pianos, and A Walk In The Woods for string quartet have been performed in recitals. In 2007, Shao Ying’s instrumental composition, In My Dreams won the Soundtrack Contest on Broadjam, an independent music website, and a year later, Winter Flower won an Honorable Mention Award at the 13th USA Songwriting Competition. Her joint-commissioned works with her sister, Rondo and Danses Joyeuses for orchestra were written for the 4th President's Charity Concert for Young Talents and the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra's (NUSSO) annual concert respectively. In March 2012, Shao Ying's New Age composition, A Drop of Dew entered the Asia Top 10 on Broadjam. Two of her chamber works, Intermezzo for flute and piano, and Dancing By The Stream for flute, oboe and piano were also finalists at the 2012 UK Songwriting Contest, Instrumental Category. In July 2013, Danses Joyeuses was showcased at the Summer Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, Austria, performed by the NUSSO under the baton of Maestro LIM Soon Lee. Shao Ying's Etude In Contrary Motion for solo piano was selected for publishing by SOUNDIFF in their CD anthology for short pieces, Miniatures Vol. 1, which was released in September 2014. Her works have been performed in countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Taiwan, France, Austria, Poland and USA.

Shao Ying is currently a full-time piano accompanist at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (http://www.music.nus.edu.sg) at the National University of Singapore (NUS), as well as a full member of the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS). The sheet music for her compositions are available for download on http://pianoccio.com, and her music can be heard on http://www.broadjam.com/shaoyinglow, http://www.xporadio.com and http://www.youtube.com/user/snoopydoremi/videos.

Besides music, Shao Ying also enjoys photography and travelling. In 2010, two of her photos won 1st prize and Runner-Up (photo name: "Frozen Bicycles") respectively on an online photography competition under "Street Photography" category. The winning photos can be seen at http://www.digital-photo-secrets.com/tip/847/street-photography-competition-winner-and-runners-up/. Her other photos can also be seen on http://www.flickr.com/photos/14393121@N04/.

LIST OF WORKS

Solo and Chamber Works

1. Etude In Contrary Motion for solo piano 2. The Flowergirl for solo piano 3. Preludes I-X for solo piano 4. Hommage à Satie for solo piano 5. A Little Waltz for solo piano 6. Sonata No.1 for solo violin 7. Suite in A minor for solo cello 8. Flowers In The Valley for flute and piano 9. Intermezzo for flute and piano 10. Nostalgia for oboe and piano 11. A Breezy Morning for oboe (or flute) and piano 12. Serenade No.3 for violin (or cello) and piano 13. Happy Birthday Variations for violin and piano 14. Duo in A minor for two violins 15. Allegretto for violin and cello 16. Playtime! for flute and bass trombone 17. Waltz in E minor for piano duet 18. Hide & Seek for piano duet 19. Valse de Printemps for two pianos 20. Souvenirs de Paris for two pianos 21. Rondo for three pianos, twelve hands 22. Dancing By The Stream for flute, oboe and piano 23. A Jolly Good Time for two bassoons and piano 24. Reflections for clarinet, horn and piano 25. A Walk In The Woods for string quartet 26. At The Carnival for string quartet 27. Out At Sea for string quartet 28. By The Fireplace for string quartet 29. Crossroads for cello quartet 30. A Day In Paris for cello choir

Orchestral Works

1. Danses Joyeuses for orchestra 2. In The Horizon for orchestra 3. On Vacation for string orchestra (originally for string quartet)

New Age Solo Piano Works

1. Going Home 2. The Stream 3. A Secret Wish 4. The Ballet Dancer 5. Morning Promenade 6. Tenderness 7. Interlude 8. Summer Vacation 9. Daydream 10. Remembering 11. Winter Flower 12. A Piece Of Cloud 13. When 14. Reunited 15. Sweet Sunday 16. A Sunny Afternoon 17. In My Dreams 18. Miracles 19. A Drop Of Dew 20. Daffodils Of Spring 21. Thinking Of You 22. A Quiet Moment 23. Freeway 24. Heartache 25. I Know It's You 26. Just The Two Of Us

Jazz/Blues/Lounge

1. Lovin' You Over Again for solo piano 2. Baby Kiss Me Goodbye for solo piano

Mandarin Pop Songs

1. 如果不想要 (If You Don't Want) sung by Jolin TSAI (蔡依林) 2. 辛福的形狀 (Shape Of Happiness) sung by Suzanne HSIAO Shu Shen (蕭淑慎) 3. 4.7公尺的吻 (4.7m Kiss) sung by CHEN Yi Yi (陳依依) 4. 天空下起了雨  (Rainy Sky)

English Pop Song

Close To You

Arrangements

1. Hymne à l'Amour arranged for violin and piano 2. Pliers arranged for two pianos 3. Je Crois Entendre Encore by George BIZET arranged for string quartet 4. Carnival Of The Animals by Camille SAINT-SAËNS arranged for piano duet and orchestra 5. Improvisation No.15 by Francis POULENC arranged for horn and piano 6. Rêverie by Claude DEBUSSY arranged for clarinet, cor anglais and piano

Albums

1. Carnival of the Animals - Singapore Symphony Orchestra & Lan SHUI 2. Romance In The City - LOW Shao Suan & LOW Shao Ying