A Thriving Partnership

This fall marked two “firsts” for the partnership between Peabody and the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music of the National University of Singapore (YSTCM). Although students have been going back and forth for various performance exchanges for several years, this year three YSTCM students were accepted at Peabody Institute in a formal semester exchange program.

“Already, being at Peabody has given me a lot of new ideas about how to think, play, and hear music,” says Dai Yenfei, a percussion student from YSTCM who started playing at the age of 12. “I know I will return to my school in Singapore with much good information and experience to share.” He has been joined by Dai Le and Ye Lin.

“Aligning the aspirations of both institutions, we were very fortunate in this opportunity to attend this exchange program with the finest musicians and to have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience in the process,” says Le, a clarinetist.

Lin, a violinist, adds, “We think the top experience thus far has been to work with the best and most brilliant of artistic directors, conductors, and students. There have been so many ideas and skills learned already through our stay.” One chair, many hats Keng-Yuen Tseng, a member of the Peabody Conservatory violin faculty, was named the inaugural holder of the Singapore Chair in Strings. The chair was established through the collaborative agreement between YSTCM and Peabody Institute. Along with Marian Hahn, holder of the Singapore Chair in Piano, Tseng will participate in annual residencies, which include teaching, mentoring, and performing with the Singapore students.

“As a traveling musician and teacher, I now have the honor to assist in the development of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and to help make the Peabody presence in Asia,” says Tseng, who made his performance debut at age 7 and who now teaches master classes around the world.

“The partnership between these two conservatories is opening many doors. Studying or performing abroad—no matter what country you are from—is eye-opening and hugely rewarding. And then students, faculty, and performers can share their experiences when they return home, which is a huge plus for the global musical community. The chair is exciting. It allows me to help further studies at Yong Siew Toh and to continue to increase Peabody’s international stature.”