“The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) meanwhile, has scheduled for it’s upcoming 2014/15 season a work from conservatory alumnus Chen Zhangyi, 30, and commissions from Emily Koh, 28, as well as Terrence Wong, 25, who has just completed his bachelor’s degree in music under the Nanyang Academy of Fine Art’s joint programme with London’s Royal College of Music…
Yet he and composers such as Koh, a Yong Siew Toh alumnus who is finishing a doctorate at Brandeis University, Massachusetts, say it is still tough to make a living out of writing music full-time…
In contrast, Koh has this year written music for several American ensembles focusing on contemporary music, including Chicago’s Ensemble Dal Niente, the New York New Music Ensemble and the New York-based Talea Ensemble.”