Bangkok--23 May-- The renowned Hwa Chong Institution String Ensemble, top youth chamber orchestra in Singapore, has announced a friendship concert tour in Thailand with 2 special concerts in Bangkok(2 June) and Chiang Mai(3 June), conducted by Singaporean’s famous violinist Mr.Foo Say Ming . Apart from their 37 youth members, there will also be selected 10 Thai young musicians from the Harrow International School Bangkok, Thai Youth Orchestra(TYO) and Bangkok Symphony Music School(BSS). The programme includes 2 master pieces of romantic composers including Tchaikovsky's Serenade, Grieg's Holberg as well as Thai traditional music “Kab Mai”, specially arranged for the orchestra by German renowned conductor Mr. Hans Gunther Mommer. ** FREE OF CHARGE! One-day and one-time workshop “Sight-Reading for Orchestra” for TYO, Harrow Orchestra combined with The HCSE on 1 June 2008, 14:00 hrs, at Thai Youth Orchestra’s Rehearsal Room. Students and music lovers are invited to observe. Limited to 50 interested persons, first-come first-served. Apply through www.bangkokclassical.net On 2 June at the Harrow International School, Bangkok Organized by the Harrow International School Bangkok in collaboration with The Hwa Chong String Ensemble(HCSE). Ticket is not for sale. Performance starts at 14.40 hrs. For more information, call the Harrow International School on 02 503 7000 ext 1236 www.bangkokclassical.net On 3 June at Payab University, Chiang Mai Sponsored by Bank Thai with a truly affordable ticket price at Baht 100 for public and Baht 50 for students, just to cover the cost. Group reservations are most welcomed. 1-hour performance. Starts at 19.00 hrs. at the Auditorium of Faculty of Law, Payab University.About The Hwa Chong Institution String Ensemble (HCSE) Recognized as one of Singapore's foremost youth string orchestras. Founded in the 1970s, HCSE has attained at least Gold Awards at every Singapore Youth Festival Competition (SYF) it has participated in, and Gold with Honors at the recent 2005 and 2007 SYF competitions. HSCE performed in concert at The Esplanade Concert Hall and Victoria Concert Hall, also having an opportunity to participate several National events. Under the baton of Mr. Foo Say Ming, the orchestra consists of 37 gifted young musicians between age 16-18. HCSE continues to maintain a high standard of performance and provides students with the opportunity to come into contact with the glorious world of music. Mr. Foo Say Ming assumed the position of conductor in Hwa Chong Institution (college) String Ensemble in 2005. In addition to being an avid chamber musician, Say Ming has also been featured as violin soloist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on several occasions, as well as many other musical establishments, in Singapore and in the region. In the capacity of a teacher, Foo Say Ming works extensively with gifted young musicians at the Nayang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is also Music Director of "re: mix", a chamber ensemble with a unique take on programming concepts, inter-disciplinary and cross-genre music. re:mix is made up of some of the island's most talented and dedicated musicians. Say Ming is also Assistant Conductor of the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO).About Concert Programme Holberg Suite, Op.40 is a suite of five movements based on eighteenth century dance forms, written by Edvard Grieg in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Danish-Norwegian playwright Ludvig Holberg. It was originally composed for the piano, the version most well known today is the arrangement by the composer for string orchestra. Serenade for Strings in C major, Opus 48 was written in 1880 at the same time as the "1812 Overture". While composing the overture, Tchaikovsky decided to write a serenade in admiration for Mozart’s serenades. Quoting his letters to his patroness, he wrote "But the Serenade, on the contrary, I wrote from inner compulsion. This is a piece from the heart. I am violently in love with this work and cannot wait for it to be played." The serenade was premiered in 1881 in St Petersburg and it was an immense success. Tchaikovsky was said to have written in the score, "the larger the string orchestra, the better will the composer's desires be fulfilled." There are four movements in this work and they reflect a conventional style with an array of moods. Kab Mai, orchestrated by Mr. H.G Mommer, was written for Thai fiddle during the Ayudhya period. The composer is unknown. This music was played by ancient Thai classical ensemble. “Saw” (Thai Fiddle, 3 strings) will solo this melody line together with Thai ensemble. The melody is very graceful and full with spiritual. After the second world war (1941), the first Thai movie for public was produced. This melody was scored as the soundtrack to the film namely “The King of the White Elephant”. Pra Jenduriyang was the arranger, played by Fine Arts Symphony Orchestra. Later on, it was orchestrated again by H.G. Mommer and has become BSO’s favorite version for full orchestra. For more information and tickets, call Del Gesu Violin Shop on 053 218 335, 086 921 2413 , 086 767 9600 www.bangkokclassical.net For more information please contact: Witaya Tumornsoontorn Executive Advisor Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Tel : 086 767 9600 Email : witaya_bso@hotmail.com www.bangkokclassical.