FOUNDER
Khew Yun Zhen LTCL, BMus (Honours)
Khew Yun Zhen began her personal music odyssey at the tender age of three; she was taught to play the piano by pianist Chew Kuan Ni and the violin by her father, Khew Chwee Mun. At age six, Yun Zhen was accepted into the Yamaha Music School’s prestigious Special Talent Piano Course taught by Glory Lim, her music teacher, who made a great impression on her during her formative years. Continuing her music odyssey, in 2009, Yun Zhen furthered her music education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, University of Sydney under the tutelage of acclaimed Dutch-Australian pianist and music educator Gerard Willems AM, to whom she owes much of her holistic musical training and personal growth. In 2013, She graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) and was also awarded the Licentiate of Trinity College London in Piano Performance (LTCL).
Since her return to Singapore, Yun Zhen has been an active advocate and supporter of the local arts scene, specifically in music education and appreciation. While Yun Zhen believes there is no limit to learning and to continuous self-betterment which require grit and tenacity, she is attentive and is sensitive to every student’s needs and allowing her students to discover and grow at their own time and space. She has been creating opportunities to make classical music more accessible to her students because she believes the exposure such as attending concerts, learning the history and culture of music, and given the chance to perform, will inspire a holistic experience. As a result, her students have participated in piano competitions including the Brilliant Talent Discovery Awards International Music Competition, the Steinway Youth Piano Competition, and the Kayserburg International Youth Piano Competition, etc.
Performances
During 2014 through 2017, Yun Zhen performed regularly with the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra of Singapore as principal pianist. Her work as orchestra pianist included major orchestral works such as John Adams’ “The Chairman Dances”, Carl Off’s “Carmina Burana”, Igor Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suites” and Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring (Ballet for Martha) Suite with Amity Chamber Orchestra”.
In 2016, Yun Zhen together with her colleagues was invited by Steinway Serenade (Steinway Gallery) to orchestrate a chamber music recital. In the same year, she also attended the Savonlinna Music Academy’s summer Masterclass and performed the Mendelssohn Piano Trio at the Melartin Hall in Savonlinna, Finland.
In March 2021, Yun Zhen was commissioned and performed a new music “Here, Forward” by Brian Bromberg at 10 Square and at Madison Academy of Music Concert IMAGINE. https://youtu.be/QI3PnSbax1w
Piano Collaboration
Yun Zhen is an active member of the Kodaly Academy of Music (Singapore) and is also their piano accompanist. In 2014, She collaborated with the Odyssey Dance Theatre in their 6th DanzINC Festival in the dance accompaniment in the piece “SomeWhere”.
Professional development and Music management
Yun Zhen completed the Foundation level of the Dalcroze Certificate, an intensive teacher-training program and is currently completing the Intermediate Level.
During the Covid-19 pandemic stay-home period, Yun Zhen had started online recitals to allow her students the opportunities to perform and in 2022, she was able to organize an in-person recital for her students to perform for their families and friends. She will continue to organize regular recitals to provide a platform for her students to show case their piano skills and development.
Yun Zhen’s music odyssey is to continue the music experience for herself and her students. While she continues to perform and teach, she is working to incorporate the Dalcroze approach which uses body movement to provide a multi-dimensional approach to music learning in her studio.
In her free time, Yun Zhen enjoys baking, walking in nature, practicing Pilates and she is also an avid dancer.