LANXESS SNYO Mentorship Program

Because news story have been a little slow vocal music wise (or most likely that I haven't been updating as much as I should), here's a press release from the Singapore National Youth Orchestra to keep us informed of what orchestra musicians get up to when not accompanying singers:

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Largest classical music mentorship programme for youths in Singapore

§ French horn virtuoso to mentor more than 150 students
§ LANXESS SNYO Classic concert debuts on 30 November
§ Join online quiz to win 25 pairs of concert tickets
§ 3 SNYO students get close to classical artist in Europe

Singapore, 11 November, 2010 – The Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) is organizing the largest classical music mentorship programme for youths in Singapore from November 24 to 29. Under the invitation of German specialty chemicals company LANXESS, French horn virtuoso Stewart Rose will conduct a lecture demonstration and hold a series of master classes. Significantly, this is the first time the SNYO has offered its mentorship programme to all members of its orchestra and all students from local mainstream secondary schools and junior colleges.

More than 150 students are expected to attend the LANXESS SNYO Classic mentorship programme. At the lecture demonstration, Rose will share how he started on the French horn, how he prepares himself mentally for each concert, his practice regime and tips for those who wish to pursue a career as a performer. Additionally, he will conduct 6 master classes for roughly 30 students and participate in 6 rehearsal sessions with the full orchestra.

The Chairman of the SNYO Management Board, Dr. Kee Kirk Chin, says, “The LANXESS SNYO Classic is the most extensive mentorship programme for the SNYO and classical music scene in Singapore. From the beginning, LANXESS and the SNYO share a common wish to create an inclusive programme that will enable as many young talented musicians as possible to learn from the best. Given the small community of horn players in Singapore, we consider the response to the mentorship programme to be very good.”

For the SNYO, having a French horn artist as its mentor is a prized opportunity since it is easier to engage mentors skilled in more popular instruments, such as the violin.

Dr. Kee adds, “We are very grateful to LANXESS for introducing Rose to the SNYO, as the French horn is known to be the most challenging instrument in the orchestra, and experts in this area are hard to come by. We believe that having Rose as a mentor will go far in helping raise the profile of brass instrumentalists in Singapore and encourage aspiring musicians to adopt these instruments.”

These opportunities are made possible under the LANXESS SNYO Classic, a three-year mentorship and cultural exchange programme jointly developed by LANXESS and the SNYO to nurture Singapore’s young budding classical musicians.

After the week-long mentorship programme, Rose will perform with the SNYO at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 30 November. The guest-of-honour is Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, Minister of State for the Home Affairs and Education Ministries.

Tickets are available at all SISTIC counters at S$9 each. Additionally, the public can take part in an online quiz at http://www.lanxess.sg, where 25 winners will each receive a pair of tickets and all-evening passes to the LANXESS Lounge for dinner and cocktail refreshments.

Ian Wood, Managing Director of LANXESS Pte. Ltd., says, “LANXESS is actively involved in developing young people─in the chemistry field and other areas, such as classical music. We are honored to extend our close relationships with many famous classical musicians to the SNYO, as we work together to nurture greater classical music talent and appreciation in Singapore.”

LANXESS’ support for classical music in Singapore is an extension of its worldwide efforts to nurture young talent through cultural exchange. In addition to the LANXESS SNYO Classic programme, the company has sponsored tours of China by the Young Euro Classic Orchestra, the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra directed by Daniel Barenboim, and numerous other cultural, educational programme and events.

As part of the LANXESS SNYO Classic programme, 3 students will undergo a four-day study immersion trip to Italy in April 2011. They will be tutored by the renowned flautist Andrea Griminelli, visit music schools and attend concerts.
Please refer to Annex A, for a listing of participating schools for the LANXESS SNYO Classic 2010 lecture demonstration by Stewart Rose.

Singapore, 11 November 2010


About LANXESS SNYO Classic
The LANXESS SNYO Classic is a three-year mentorship and cultural exchange programme developed with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. The programme is specially designed to enable young classical musicians to learn from a variety of world class artists skilled in different instruments. Each year,
a celebrated musician will work one-on-one with students in master classes and seminars as well as rehearsals and performances with the full orchestra at a celebratory public concert. In addition, outstanding orchestra members will be selected by the tutors of the SNYO annually to participate in study trips to North America or Europe, where they will receive lessons from leading instructors and top classical musicians.

LANXESS
LANXESS is a leading specialty chemicals company with sales of EUR 5.06 billion in 2009 and currently around 14,500 employees in 23 countries. The company is represented at 42 production sites worldwide. The core business of LANXESS is the development, manufacturing and marketing of plastics, rubber, intermediates and specialty chemicals.


Singapore National Youth Orchestra

The Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) is a National Project of Excellence under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. The orchestra comes under the purview of the Co-Curricular Activities Branch, Education Programmes Division, Ministry of Education. The orchestra is a non-profit organisation and is funded entirely by the Ministry of Education.

Members of the SNYO come from primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, international schools and tertiary institutions. The aim of the SNYO is to provide each student with an exemplary orchestral experience and the highest quality professional music education and training. As part of the holistic approach to the education system, SNYO aims to inspire and nurture career-minded musicians, enthusiastic amateurs and dedicated music lovers.

Forward-Looking Statement

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by LANXESS AG management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.