Music Director

Leonard Tan was appointed music director of the Philharmonic Winds in January 2007. He is also music director and resident conductor of several other ensembles, including the National University of Singapore Wind Symphony, Victoria Junior College, Nanyang Polytechnic, and Singapore Polytechnic Symphonic Bands. In January 2007, Mr. Tan was appointed conductor of the Singapore National Youth Sinfonia, a member orchestra of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, a National Project of Excellence.

Professional conducting studies include working with the St. Petersburg Chamber Philharmonic in Russia with Maestro Leif Segerstam (Chief Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic) and Maestro Alexander Polischuk (St. Petersburg State Conservatory), the Academic Orchestra Zürich with Maestro Johannes Schlaefli (Musikhochschule Zürich), the University of Minnesota Symposium Wind Orchestra with Professor Craig Kirchhoff and the University of North Texas Wind Symphony with Professor Eugene Corporon.

Trained in his formative musical years in the violin and tuba, Leonard studied harmony with well-known composer Leong Yoon Pin. Following higher music studies at Raffles Junior College, where he graduated with the prestigious Kripalani Arts Challenge Trophy, he went on to obtain the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music in orchestral tuba, Licentiate of Trinity College London in musical theory, criticism and literature, and Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Music (University of Wales-Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). This is followed by postgraduate studies in music analysis at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, whilst simultaneously pursuing a professional career as conductor and music educator.

Highlights of Mr. Tan's multi-faceted career include conducting Singapore Symphony Orchestra musicians in a Singapore-Japan Composers Exchange Concert and Singapore National Youth Orchestra musicians in the prestigious "Ong Teng Cheong Concert." He served as assistant conductor in a production of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, where he worked with an international cast, choir and orchestra. He has conducted works by Singaporean composers Leong Yoon Pin, Phoon Yew Tien, Goh Toh Chai, and Kelly Tang, and has also promoted the works of younger Singaporean composers. He has led performances in such venues as the Issac Stern auditorium of the Carnegie Hall in New York, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna.

Academic teaching appointments include Lecturer in Conducting at the LASALLE College of the Arts, Lecturer in Concert Band Training and Direction at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, music theory teacher at the Singapore Armed Forces Bands, and music theory and history teacher at the NUS High School of Math and Science.

Awards and prizes include the National Arts Council Geogerette Chen Arts Scholarship, Rotary Club Training Grant, Lee Foundation Scholarship, Raffles Junior College Creative Arts Award, Raffles Parent's Association-Shaw Foundation CCA Scholarship, ABRSM High Scorer's Award, St Margaret's "Partner in Education Award," CHIJ "Certificate of Commendation," and WASBE Conducting Scholarship. Professional affiliations include CBDNA, WASBE, MENC, and The Conductor's Guild.

Ensembles under his direction have achieved Gold and Gold with Honours awards at the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging. Beyond local shores, he has led ensembles to several international awards including Gold Medal at the Pacific Basin Music Festival in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Gold Medal at the Beijing International Band Competition, China, Gold with Distinction at the 21st Century International Band Competition in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, Gold Medal at the New York Wind Band and Orchestra Festival, USA, and First Place with Excellent Success, Winner of the "Summa Cum Laude" award of the city of Vienna at the 2nd Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, Austria.

* profile correct as of 8 August 2008