Biography
Recognised for his musical sensitivity and energised sense of interpretation, Adrian is quickly making his mark among Singaporean conductors for his inspired performances and versatility. Adrian has over 20 years of teaching children and youth and currently serves as the Conductor of numerous top award-winning Wind Ensembles and Orchestra in Singapore, namely in educational institutes such as Singapore Management University, Singapore Polytechnic, Anderson-Serangoon Junior College, Eunoia Junior College, Victoria Junior College, Catholic High School, CHIJ Toa Payoh, Maris Stella High School and Dazhong Primary School. He had also previously led the Philharmonic Youth Winds for a decade, uplifting the group to become one of Singapore's more successful youth wind orchestras.
Besides being an educator, he is also the Music Director of a local orchestra, the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra (ACSO), where he passionately advocates for new music. He has performed and commissioned the works of many living composers during his career and continues to do so with every performance he programs. ACSO prides itself on working with composers to infuse a variety of Chinese, Malay, and Indian instruments into a standard Western symphony orchestra, much like the fabric structure of what Singapore essentially is. His newest endeavours include founding Singapore’s 1st ever wind band academy, the Band Academy Singapore, and the formation of premier wind ensemble, VENTUS.
A recipient of the distinguished National Arts Council and National University of Singapore scholarship, Adrian attained his Master of Music degree at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (NUS) with a major in conducting. He had previously graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore. Increasingly recognised for his committed advocacy of music education and his devotion to the art of conducting, he currently serves as an adjunct faculty member at the YSTCM (NUS), where he teaches conducting.
Before full-time conducting, Adrian was the Orchestra Manager of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He continues to exhibit his broad experience in arts administration as the General Manager of Singapore’s premier chamber orchestra, Resound Collective Ltd.
Adrian has served as President of the National Instructors and Coaches Association (NICA) since 2019. NICA is an NTUC-affiliated association formed following an NTUC announcement to extend its reach to the freelancer community of coaches and instructors in sports, outdoor adventures/learning, fitness, wellness, visual arts, and performing arts. He also previously served as the president of the Band Directors’ Association (Singapore) from 2017 to 2022.
Album recording video
Timeout 'From the living room'
June 30, 2020
National Arts Council
The rewarding job of a conductor
Interview
May 19, 2018
Rousing blend of music
Asia Cultural Symphony Orchestra
July 08, 2017