Programmes > Majors > Strings & Harp

MAJORS

Strings & Harp

YST’s Strings students receive intensive performance training in a connected curriculum of solo studies, chamber music and ensemble activity. Students attend weekly individual lessons and studio classes with faculty members, and benefit from a wider array of course offerings including music studies, pedagogy, community engagement and leadership.

This is complemented by opportunities to hear from and work with top-notch artists and ensembles, which have included Shlomo Mintz; Boris Kuschnir; Nobuko Imai; Gábor Takács-Nagy; and the Endellion, Juilliard and Shanghai Quartets. Our students perform frequently within the Conservatory, as well as in venues and community outreach platforms across Singapore. They regularly participate in major festivals and competitions around the world, and receive support to pursue these opportunities as well as work with organisations in Singapore and the region.

Violin, Viola and Cello students also receive the rare opportunity of access to quality string instruments from the Rin Collection. We are grateful to the late Mr Rin Kei Mei and Mrs Rin Kei Mei for their generosity and passion, which has also enabled the establishment of the Singapore International Violin Competition.

With our deliberately small and highly selective intake, Harp students benefit from close attention and instruction from their teacher, who is Principal Harp at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Our curriculum enables strong engagement in solo, chamber as well as large ensemble music-making, alongside a wider network of courses across areas such as music studies, pedagogy, community engagement and leadership.

Programme Structure

Students work individually with their Major teacher to build performance excellence, which is reinforced through studio classes and online self-reflection, and supported by their community of student-colleagues. The curriculum also builds professional skills and knowledge in orchestral repertoire. These studies are accompanied by regular performance opportunities, including junior and senior recitals, as well as involvement in the YST’s vibrant calendar of events.

All Strings and Harp players perform chamber music, as well as in larger ensemble contexts – the Conservatory Orchestra, and the Conservatory’s contemporary music ensemble OpusNovus. Professional Integration courses further expose our students to music-making in varied communities and contexts.

Elective courses allow student further avenues to develop personal interests and strengths.

Entry Requirements

At YST, our student selection criteria evaluates a range of factors in an application portfolio, including the candidate’s intellectual aptitude, curiosity, energy, artistic drive, relationship with people, linguistic proficiency and personal qualities that will contribute value to the cohort.

In addition to seeking the best emerging musical talents locally and in the region, our audition process is tailored to discover aspiring applicants with potential for developing a viable future professional and artistic identity.

Beyond evident current capacity in the applicant’s Major field, we explore how our programme resonates with them.

Click the following button for our admissions requirements.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Live auditions in Singapore and some overseas locations take place from the immediately-preceding December to February period. View our admissions and academic timeline here.

VIOLIN

One of the following: Wieniawski Caprice, or Paganini Caprice
Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach sonata or partita
Either the 1st OR both 2nd & 3rd movement of a concerto from the standard repertoire

Note: All violin audition repertoire must be performed from memory. An additional short study piece will be given to the candidate on the audition day.

VIOLA

Two contrasting movements of unaccompanied Bach, or one unaccompanied work
One movement from a standard sonata (example: Brahms, Schubert, Schumann, Shostakovich) or comparable work
One movement from Bartok, Walton, Hindemith concertos, or a virtuoso movement from a standard classical concerto

Note: An additional short study piece will be given to the candidate on the audition day.

CELLO

One etude from the Popper High School of Cello Playing or Piatti 12 Caprices (excluding Popper No. 1 and Piatti Caprice No. 1)
Prelude and one other movement from Bach Suite No. 4, 5 or 6
One of the following pieces:
- DVORAK Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, Mvt I
- SCHUMANN Cello Concerto in A minor, Op. 129, Mvt I or Mvt 2 & 3
- TCHAIKOVSKY Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33
- ELGAR Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, Mvt I & II

Note: An additional short study piece will be given to the candidate on the audition day.

DOUBLE BASS

Contrasting movements of a concerto or sonata
Two excerpts from the standard orchestral audition literature
Major and minor scales and arpeggios, minimum two octaves

Note: An additional short study piece will be given to the candidate on the day of audition.

HARP

One movement from a standard harp concerto (example: Handel, Mozart or Debussy’s Dances)
Two contrasting solo works

Note: An additional short study piece will be given to the candidate on the day of audition.

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Major Outline

Major Outline