Cindy Yan

– Artistic Director –

Cindy Yan, is a well-sought after violinist for her excellent well-rounded experience in Solo Recital, Orchestra and Chamber works. Ms Yan graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China and obtained her Masters in Music from Massey Conservatorium of Music, New Zealand.

Internationally acclaimed violinist, Ms Cindy Yan is Resident Violin Educator at National University Symphony Orchestra in Singapore, the NAFA School of Young Talent and, String Ensemble Conductor in Fuchun Primary School. Previously, she held appointments as First Violinist in New Zealand Symphony Orchestra;  held the position of Principal First Violin Chair in Orchestra Wellington New Zealand and Concertmaster to Amercian Broadway Touring Orchestra. Ms Yan graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China and obtained her Masters in Music from Massey Conservatorium of Music, New Zealand. Herstudents are regular prize-winners for many competitions including top prize in the 2017 Singapore National Violin Competition, Tainan Cheers Violin Competition, Singapore Raffles International Music Competition and Singapore Youth Festival String Ensemble Competition.

As a member of the NZ Symphony orchestra, Ms  Yan has performed in many esteemed concerts which include performances at the London Royal Albert Hall and the Concertgebouw Hall in Amsterdam, Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts Hall in China,Suntory Concert Hall in Japan, Seoul Arts Centre in Korea.

Ms Yan has also had the great pleasure of working with leading soloists and conductors such as Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Pinchas Zukerman, James Judd, Pietari Inkinen, Lin Cho-liang, Steven Isserlis, Hilary Hann and Lang Lang.

Besides Ms. Cindy’s illustrious career in the orchestra, she is actively involved in performing solo and chamber works too. Cindy debuted in New Zealand the famous “Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto in 2003 with the Wellington Chamber Orchestra. She also formed and led Parata string trio which performed regularly and gave colour to New Zealand’s Chamber music scene. The Parata Ensemble recently performed in the 2008 New Zealand International Arts Festival.

Return to Asia

With Ms. Cindy’s background in both Eastern and Western music culture, her skills were much appreciated. 2007 was a turning point when Cindy was invited by an American Broadway Orchestra as Concertmaster to return to Asia to lead an Asian tour production for one year. This included leading orchestras like the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra in China, Mostly Orchestra in Seoul, Malaysia National Philharmonic Orchestra and Orchestra in Singapore. The success of this tour has led her to be invited to stay on in the Asia Pacific region to lead several other projects in 2008. In these few years she led many musicals like “King and I”, “Cinderella”, “Victor Victoria”, etc. She was also invited to lead and perform with Singapore Lyric Opera and Singapore Pop Orchestra. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, She was invited to represent New Zealand to perform in the Beijing Olympics Music Festival closing ceremony.

Always passionate about Chamber music, Cindy co-founded Singapore I-Sis Harp Trio–a unique classical trio of Harp, Violin and Cello. The concert tours have taken them to Hong Kong, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Australia, Canada, and Malaysia. Their music has been described as a new wave of classical chamber music. I-Sis trio launched their CD album “Passion” in 2011 and a DVD for I-Sis trio in 2008.

As a passionate music educator, Ms Yan is constantly researching and exploring ways to share her music. She has a very successful book that has been published by Shanghai Publishing Company enttitled “String Quartet Selection” which merges her East-West Music expereience.