Emerging composer Lee Jia Yi, 25, wrote a commissioned piece, Emanate, for the concert. The work was part of Unheard’s inaugural mentorship programme, the only one solely for female composers here.
She was mentored by Koh, who is assistant professor of music composition at the University of Georgia in the US.
Lee says: “The commission gave me a lot of freedom for expression. I got to explore the experimental side of music and play with different textures made by the piano.”
Over the past year, Lee bounced various ideas off Koh in their weekly discussions, the two becoming close friends in the process.
“I’ve never had that kind of female mentor-mentee relationship in my education. I’m very honoured to be an example for a younger female composer,” says Koh, 35.