T’ang Quartet consists of first violinist Ng Yu-Ying, second violinist Ang Chek Meng, violist Lionel Tan and cellist Leslie Tan. They were members of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra before deciding to come together in 1992 as a chamber music ensemble.[1] The name of the quartet is derived from a combination of the members’ surnames – Tan, Ang and Ng. “T’ang” also symbolises the golden age of cultural expression that flourished during China’s Tang dynasty.[2]
T’ang Quartet began performing professionally only in 1999, and has since staged many concerts both in Singapore and overseas.[3] In March 2005, the quartet performed to critical acclaim at London’s Wigmore Hall as part of the Singapore Season.[4] In the same year, the group released their debut album, The Art of War, to rave reviews.[5] Two years later, in September 2007, the group played to a full house at the Edinburgh International Festival for the Scottish premiere of Optical Identity – a musical theatre production staged in collaboration with Scotland’s musical theatre group, Theatre Cryptic.[6] More recently, in July 2014, T’ang Quartet was one of the local acts invited to perform at the reopening of the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall after a four-year refurbishment.[7]
The quartet have received many awards and accolades over the course of their professional career. In 1999, they took part in the Second Joseph Joachim International Chamber Music Competition held in Weimar, Germany, and clinched the third and special jury prizes for best interpretation of a contemporary work. In 2000, the quartet received the cultural award by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Singapore as well as the Bartok Prize by the Wien-Prague-Budapest Sommerakademie.[8] In 2002, they received the Singapore Youth Award (Arts & Culture) for bringing classical music to the masses.[9] They were also the 2008 recipient of the Artistic Excellence Award (Classical) presented by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore.[10]
From 2001 to 2005, T’ang Quartet served on the faculty of Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute in Massachusetts, United States. They are currently quartet-in-residence at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore.[11]
References
1. Cheong, J. (2006, June 7). The art of fourplay. Today, p. 36. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; T’ang Quartet Limited. (n.d.) T’ang Quartet. Retrieved January 5, 2015, from T’ang Quartet website: http://www.tangquartet.com/about/
2. Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. (2014, July 22).The T’ang Quartet. Retrieved January 5, 2015, from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music website: http://www.nus.edu.sg/music/01d_aboutus_faculty.05_3.html
3. Tan, S. E. (2007, August 30). T’ang Quartet on Europe Tour. The Straits Times, p. 67. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
4. Tan, S. E. (2005, March 29). More than mood musicians. The Straits Times. p. 5. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Cheong, S.-W. (2005, May 20). Stirring the soul strings. The Straits Times, p. 16. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; Yeoman, W. (2005, October 20). The Art of War. Retrieved January 5, 2015, from Classical Source website: http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=2931
6. Tan, S. E. (2007, September 6). T’ang Quartet a hit in Edinburgh. The Straits Times, p. 52. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
7. Huang, L. (2014, July 21). Old Vic wows crowds. The Straits Times. Retrieved from Factiva.
8. T’ang Quartet Limited, T’ang Quartet.
9. Winning youth. (2002, July 4). The Straits Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
10. T’ang Quartet Limited, T’ang Quartet.
11. Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, 22 Jul 2014, The T’ang Quartet.
The information in this article is valid as at 2015 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.