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FUTURE STUDENTS
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LIFE AT THE CONSERVATORY
Established in 2001 through an agreement between the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music is an autonomous school within the University and Singapore's first conservatory. Currently, 200 of Asia's most talented young musicians come to the Conservatory from sixteen countries, including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Iran, Austria, United States, as well as Singapore. Full scholarships (including fees and living support) are currently provided to all admitted students, following a $50 million gift from the family of the late Dr Yong Loo Lin. The Conservatory offers a four-year, full-time undergraduate Bachelor of Music degree programme, with a strong focus on music performance and composition, supported by a well-balanced and appropriately integrated academic curriculum. All classes are conducted in English by a faculty drawn from over 10 countries. Students major in Performance (Piano and Orchestral Instruments) or Composition. Music theory, history, and ensemble participation are required in each major while Humanities studies and electives allow students to pursue their interests in other disciplines within the University. In addition, there is a small Young Artist Programme (for 10 outstanding teenage students) and a 2-year Graduate Diploma programme (10 students per cohort). Distinguished artists who recently visited the Conservatory include Murray Perahia, Yefim Bronfman, Gabor Takacs-Nagy and Esa-Pekka Salonen while in 2009, the Conservatory will host the legendary pianist, Leon Fleisher. The signing of an agreement between the National University of Singapore and the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University on 26 November 2001 created the first collaboration of its kind between a renowned American conservatory of music and a leading university in the Asia-Pacific region. Ranked among the top music schools in the world, Peabody is an acknowledged leader in the cultural life of the United States and has built a reputation that is truly international. Its graduates occupy the top echelons of the music profession. Collaboration with Peabody ensures that the Conservatory develops high quality tertiary programmes in music, measured against international benchmarks. The agreement with Peabody provides for frequent student and faculty exchanges across all departments. To date, more than 20 Yong Siew Toh Conservatory students have participated in exchange programmes at Peabody allowing them to experience the full breadth of activity at a major American conservatory of music. Faculty members from Peabody also make regular visits to the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory to coach students and conduct masterclasses. Following the renewal of agreement in 2007, provision was made for the two schools to come together with other global partners for international projects and festival activities. The Conservatory's programmes are centred around performances and each semester, students are featured in a broad range of activities. Regular showcase concerts such as Primarily Piano, Double Stops, Cellissimo, chamber music recitals, the Monday Noon and Wednesday SoundBites series at lunchtime, the Asian Civilisations Museum series on Fridays, a wide range of masterclasses and seminars with international visiting artists offer students a spectrum of opportunities for performances. The Conservatory Orchestra and the New Music Ensemble provide training and expose students to the music of the 18th through 21st centuries. 2008 has been particularly exciting as the Conservatory collaborated with the Singapore Sun Festival through IMG Artists enabling students to work with such world-renowned artists as Murray Perahia, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Yefim Bronfman, Gabor Takacs Nagy, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and award-winning actor, Geoffrey Rush. All Conservatory undergraduates are housed in student residences on campus at the NUS. Students have individual rooms with free internet access.There is a wide range of dining options at affordable prices from canteens, cafeterias, cafes, restaurants, fast-food outlets and vending machines throughout the campus.NUS is connected to the public transport network by public buses as well as two Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations located nearby at Clementi and Buona Vista. Shuttle buses provide free transport across the entire university campus.The University Health Service provides free outpatient consultation for all full-time NUS undergraduates.
STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMME
As part of the collaboration with the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, students from Peabody Institute have the opportunity to spend one academic semester doing equivalent studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music as an exchange student. Similarly, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music Degree programme at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory can apply to study at the Peabody Institute for one semester during their third year with substantial financial support from the Conservatory.
Students from other music conservatories may also apply to study at the Conservatory for a semester as exchange students. Arrangements will be made for successful candidates on a case-by-case basis. Applying for the Student Exchange Programme Students from Peabody Institute may apply to the Conservatory as an exchange student through the Singapore Office in Peabody. Students from other music conservatories may also apply to study at the Conservatory for a semester as exchange students and the selection process and required documents for submission are similar to those required for the Bachelor of Music Degree programme. For enquiries, email: CONSERVATORY ADMISSIONS OFFICE |
