Traditionally Speaking is an all-Singaporean trio comprising Law Chi-Yan (smallpipes, whistles), Pamela Ng (bodhrán, flute) and Bryan Leong (guitar, keys). Join them for a fun evening of Scottish traditional music, featuring beautifully arranged Gaelic waltzes, old pipe jigs, as well as some snazzy modern reels.

About the artists

Although he started learning the piano and violin from a young age, Bryan Leong truly fell in love with music after hearing Tommy Emmanuel's Angelina, which drove him to learn to play the Australian guitarist’s various compositions. He later dove into the world of jazz with the NUS Jazz Band. After chancing upon the classic jig Calliope House, Bryan discovered a genre that spoke to him and decided to broaden his musical horizons to encompass Celtic tunes and playing styles.

Law Chi-Yan has been playing Scottish traditional music for a decade, having started with the Great Highland bagpipe but later moving on to Scottish smallpipes and whistles. His repertoire is rooted in the rich piping traditions of Scotland’s west coast as well as Gaelic songs. He also performs regularly with the Singapore Trad Collective.

A classically trained pianist, Pamela Ng later developed a strong interest in traditional Irish music. This led her to form Celtic Bards, a duo that has been actively performing instrumental Irish music since its formation in 2013. Pamela plays the whistles, the Irish flute as well as the bodhrán.

Tango is considered a very special genre in the world of musical heritage. Originating in cafes and bars, it has transformed into an acclaimed arts movement, amplified by Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese and Astor Piazzolla. Today, tango is performed at the best concert halls across the globe and since 2009, has been included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

Alexander Souptel, Aya Sakou and Guennadi Mouzyka come together to join their hearts and perform their favourite tango tunes for you! These tangos unite the hot vibes of Jelousie, the passion of La Cumparsita, and the calming elegance of El Choclo telling the stories of lifelong love and broken hearts.

About the artists

Alexander Souptel was born in Southern Russia in 1948 to a family of musicians, including his father, who was a conductor. He picked up the violin at the age of five and learnt the piano for seven years. He enrolled at Gnessin State Musical College, completing his high school studies in 1967 before graduating in 1972. In 1980, he served as leader of the USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra (known today as the State Symphony Capella of Russia) for 10 years, under then principal conductor, Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Souptel was recognised as a "rare and excellent concert master and soloist" by Rozhdestvensky. In 1982, he performed for the first time a violin poetry recital together with the orchestra led by Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Aman Agajkov. In 1986, he earned the Russian Honorary Artist medal. In Moscow, he actively performed as a leader as well as a soloist with various renowned orchestras. Souptel led the Moscow Symphony Orchestra before he served as a concertmaster of Singapore Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2013. Today, he holds many performances and nurtures young musicians at Virtuosi Music Centre.

Aya Sakou is a graduate of the Toho Gakuen School Of Music and the Musikhochschule Winterthur-Zurich, where she obtained diplomas in teaching and performance on the piano, and harpsichord under the guidance of Konstantin Scherbakov. She has won first prizes in competitions such as the Pitina Young Pianist Competition, The South Japan Piano Competition and the National Music Competition Of Japan. As a chamber musician, she has been a member of the Tastro Quartet touring in Europe and Japan. She also participated in festivals such as the Yoshiwa Music Festival in Japan and the Vendsyssel International Music Festival in Denmark. She is also frequently performing as a chamber musician with musicians from the NHK symphony Orchestra, the Tonhalle Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, among others. As a soloist, she has given many recitals in Europe and Japan. She has been invited to perform concertos with the Fontinu Chamber Orchestra and the Swiss Chamber Orchestra. In 2004-2005, the BBC radio broadcasted two of her recitals. Since moving to Singapore in 2007, she regularly performs with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) both in chamber and in the orchestra. She also works as an accompanist for SSO musicians, Singapore Armed Forces Band, festivals, master classes and at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, while still pursuing an active career as an accompanist in Japan.

Since 1992, Guennadi Mouzyka has been the one name associated with the double bass in Singapore. He has established himself not only as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Principal Bass, but as a recitalist. His solo repertoire includes works ranging from baroque to contemporary music. He premiered Singapore compositions such as Inner Voice by Anne LeBaron and Natural by Tan Chan Boon for Double Bass solo, Op.47 that was dedicated by the composer to him. As a chamber musician, Guennadi has performed with Yo-Yo Ma Silk Road Ensemble, T'ang Quartet, The Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, and collaborated with Alina Ibragimova, Jeff Bradetich and Nobuko Imai. Guennadi is an Artist Faculty in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Of Music and regularly conducts double bass masterclasses in Europe, Asia and the United States. His past students hold active positions in the profession, performing and teaching throughout the world.

Turkish classical music originated in Istanbul and was later developed in other major Ottoman cities and towns, from the palaces to the Sufi lodges of the Ottoman Empire. It is built upon a system of modes known as makam, with each makam having its unique intervallic structure and melodic development. James Teo and Eugene Toh present Turkish classical music from the 19th century to modern day, featuring the oud - one of the most distinctive musical instruments in the Turkish musical tradition.

About James Teo

James was first introduced to Middle Eastern music in 2014 while studying Ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Much inspired by the sound of the oud, he studied with Italian oud player Francesco Iannuzzelli at SOAS. Particularly drawn towards the Turkish oud, James began studying the Turkish oud tradition and Turkish classical music with Baha Yetkin, a London-based Turkish oud performer. Since his return to Singapore, James has collaborated with several groups including early music ensemble Cappella Martialis and SG Oudist, a community of local oud players. He has also been involved in several cross-cultural projects where he collaborated with artists from the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Siong Leng Musical Association.

About Eugene Toh

Eugene is a percussionist active in the local percussion performance as well as education scene. He has performed under the baton of Tsung Yeh, Lan Shui, Lim Yau, Tan Dun, Chan Tze Law, Quek Ling Kiong, Günther Herbig, among others. Some highlights of his orchestral appearances include the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, Singapore Festival Orchestra and Orchestra of the Music Makers. Eugene holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree conferred by the Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of Mark Suter. From 2015 to 2017, he was a full-time chamber musician with Ding Yi Music Company. He teaches at School of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and currently studies South Indian percussion under the tutelage of Sri D Rajagopal at the Temple of Fine Arts. He has also studied Middle Eastern percussion with Yshai Afterman, and konnakol with Pete Lockett.