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Leong Yoon Pin
By Tan, Eleanor A. L. written on 2008-09-02
National Library Board Singapore
Comments on article: InfopediaTalk
Leong Yoon Pin (b. 5 August 1931,
Singapore - ), composer, conductor and educator, is
well known for his choral compositions, many of which have
been locally commissioned and performed by both amateur and
professional choirs.
Early Life and Education
Often described as the doyen of Singapore composers, Leong Yoon
Pin was born in Singapore when it was still under British
colonial rule. He received his primary education at the
People's Free School, XingDao Primary School and XingHua
Primary School. After the Second World War, he studied at
Dong Ling High School for a year before proceeding to St.
Patrick's School. From 1951-53, he studied at the
Teachers' Training College, and upon graduation he taught
music and other subjects in primary schools. In 1954, he became
a specialist teacher in music.
In 1955, Leong was awarded a scholarship to study music at the
Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Whilst in
London, he majored in composition, piano, and voice. On his
return from his studies abroad, he was employed by the
Teachers' Training College as a lecturer in music. Leong
took the opportunity to further his compositional studies with
Nadia Boulanger in Paris from 1966-67, under a French
Government scholarship. Almost a decade later in 1975, Leong
won a British Council Commonwealth Fellowship and undertook
post-graduate studies in music education at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Achievements in Music
Though he wears the many hats of composer, educator and
conductor, Leong is mainly known for his role as a composer.
His compositional oeuvre include two symphonies, the tone poems
Blessing the Seas, Temasekian, and Episodes in
Journey to the West, the opera Bunga Mawar, the
concert overture Dayong Sampan, a piano concerto, choral
and many other instrumental works. But perhaps Leong is best
known for his choral works. These include the popular Street
Calls, Dragon Dance, Pedlars and the Soprano,
Like a Rapid Stream, and Love
Quatrains.
As a conductor, Leong founded and conducted the Rediffusion
Youth Choir in 1951, and later the Metro Philharmonic Society
in 1959, a position which he still holds. He was appointed
Resident Conductor of the National Theatre Orchestra in 1969.
From 1977 until 1979, he was Resident Conductor of the
Singapore National Orchestra, National Theatre. In 2000, he was
appointed as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's first
Composer-in-Residence.
Leong's career path as an educator was charted when he
undertook training at the Teachers' Training College in
1951. He held various positions, as lecturer and then as Head
of Music when the College was renamed the Institute of
Education. Through his roles as Arts Advisor to the National
Arts Council, National Institute of Education, and Nanyang
Academy of Fine Arts, amongst others, he has continually been
involved in charting the course of the local music and music
education scenes.
Awards
Selected Compositions/Choral Works
Author
Eleanor A. L. Tan
References
Chew, D. (2006, December 27). Kampung notes. Today. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
Ee, J. (2000, April 25). GK Goh chief pledges S$60,000 for SSO Scheme. The Business Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
Kong, L. (1990, May 30). Songs for the Folks. The Straits Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
Leong, W. K. (1993, October 4). Composer Leong's CD a first. The Straits Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
National Arts Council (Singapore). (2005). Composers: Leong Yoon Pin. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from http://www.nac.gov.sg/choraldirectory/composers/composer_listing/bio/composer_bio.asp?uid=9
Phan, M. Y. (1994, February 9). Israeli conductor who asked for Singapore music. The Straits Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
Recognition has come a long way. (1993, October 4). The Straits Times. Retrieved March 19, 2008, from Factiva database.
The information in this article is valid as at 2008 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Artists>>Cultural Medallion Recipients
Liang, Rongping
Award winners--Singapore--Biography
Composers--Singapore--Biography
Arts>>Music>>Classical music
>> Leong Yoon Pin, Cultural Medallion Recipient 1982, Music : [interview]
>> Leong Yoon Pin : half-length portrait
>> Story of Mulan = 木兰诗 : [secular cantata for chorus and piano]
>> The peacock's east-southerly flight = 孔雀東南飛 : [secular cantata for voice and piano]
>> Holiday camp = 假日营组歌 : [song cycle]
>> Concerto for harmonica = 口琴協奏曲
>> Like a rapid stream = 我願意是急流 : [choral work]
>> Nine cantos = 九歌 : [song cycle for chorus, piano, and percussion]
>> Leong Yoon Pin
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