Clarisse Teo in Recital

Join Singaporean pianist Clarisse Teo on a musical journey exploring lesser-known 20th Century solo piano works.

Programme

Medtner Sonata-Skazka in C minor, Op. 25 No. 1
Bax Dream in Exile*
Liebermann Gargolyes, Op. 29
Alexandrov Piano Sonata No. 14 in E major, Op. 97*
Alexandrov Piano Sonata No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Op. 18 (1920, rev. 1956 and 1967)*
*Singapore premiere

An avid advocate for lesser-known music, Singaporean pianist Clarisse Teo frequently showcases such repertoire in her recitals. She has performed in Germany, Scotland and Singapore, and her 2018 recital in Singapore was named by The Straits Times as one of Singapore’s best Classical concerts of that year. Her performance has been described as “display[ing] total confidence and a fearless disregard for their technical complexities, while…[sounding] fresh and natural” (The Straits Times). Recently, she was featured in the album ‘Rarities of Piano Music at “Schloss vor Husum” from the 2019 Festival’ (Danacord Records).

As a chamber musician, Clarisse appears most often in piano duet and duo settings. In a sold-out concert at the Esplanade Recital Studio (Singapore) in 2016, she and her duo partner explored a diverse range of 20th Century piano duo works from Gershwin to Poulenc. Additionally, Clarisse collaborated with professional musicians from the Min-On Ensemble (Japan) to perform a mix of Western Classical and traditional Japanese music for a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Singapore-Japan bilateral relations.

Under the tutelage of Timothy Ku (piano) and Marietta Ku (violin and viola), Clarisse obtained a FRSM in piano, DipABRSM (Distinction) in violin and DipABRSM in viola. Whilst pursuing an undergraduate degree in Law at the National University of Singapore, Clarisse was a performer and Student Music Director with the university’s piano ensemble. Thereafter, she studied with Sinae Lee at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland on a partial scholarship and attained a Master of Music in piano performance.

Clarisse is now pursuing a Doctor of Performing Arts degree with a full scholarship from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Trust and a grant from the Trailblazer Foundation. Under the supervision of Sinae Lee and Dr. Christina Guillaumier, she is researching the fourteen piano sonatas of Anatoly Alexandrov, a 20th Century Russian composer.