La Noche (Spanish for "The Night") presents pieces by Singaporean and Spanish composers especially written for Roberto Alvarez (Flute) and Katryna Tan (Harp).
This CD marks a milestone in the Flute and Harp reperoire, including music by María Dolores Malumbres, Miguel Prida, Chen Zhangyi, Ignacio Rodríguez Guerra, Fernando Agüeria, Ho Chee Kong, Robert Casteels and Jorge Muñiz.
Roberto Alvarez
Flute, Piccolo and Alto Flute
Born in Asturias, on the Northern coast of Spain, Roberto Álvarez began his studies in the Music Conservatory of his birthplace, later he studied under the tutorship of Myra and Peter Pearse, from the Asturias Symphony Orchestra. He progressed to the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, studying under Richard Davis, Peter Lloyd and Patricia Morris.
Throughout his career he has received various international prizes, such as the Diploma of Honor in the Torneo Internazionale di Musica, Concurso Internacional de Música “Paper de Musica” de Capellades, the Angel Muñíz Toca prize and Ciutat de Manresa prize.
Chamber Music and orchestra playing are two of Roberto´s passions. He has performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Asturias Symphony Orchestra, the Oviedo Filarmonía, the Europäisches Musikfest Stuttgart, the Algarve Orchestra, the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra with renowned conductors such as H. Rilling, L. Spierer, M. Valdés, Lan Shui, J.J. Mena, K. Penderecki, J. López Cobos, E. Oue, K. Nagano.
He shows his interest not only in classical formations, but has also participated in several jazz and folk groups, always looking for new sonorities for the flute, and has performed the music of his region all over Europe.
In addition to his performances he is an enthusiastic flute teacher, having given master classes in the Asturias Youth Orchestra, Singapore National Youth Orchestra and several academies and conservatories. He currently teaches at the School of the Arts and Lasalle School of Contemporary Art, both schools in Singapore.
Roberto is the Principal Piccolo and Assistant Flute at Singapore Symphony Orchestra since July 2007.
Katryna Tan
Harp
Katryna Tan, who was awarded the prestigious national Young Artist Award 2005 by the National Arts Council of Singapore, holds a Masters of Music degree in Harp Performance from the University of Michigan, USA. She is based in Singapore and Malaysia and is a very active solo performer in the region and also internationally.
As a soloist, she has performed several recitals in Singapore and Malaysia, was invited by the New South Wales Harp Society to perform in the Government House (2004), and has performed in the Adelaide Harp Festival 2006. She has also performed in Japan, Hong Kong and Macau. Katryna has also appeared as guest soloist with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Armed Forces Band, Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra to mention a few. She was also guest soloist with the renowned King’s College Choir from England.
In a solo recital in 2005, Katryna premieres her own composition—“Water Dance”, inspired by an Ancient Chinese instrument guqin. Her latest works include “Jiang Jin Jiu” and “Sketches”. In 2007, she presented her works internationally in concert in Paris and in Washington under the Embassy Series. “Water Dance” was nominated in the category of Best Original Compositions in the 5th Cameronian Arts Awards in Malaysia. She also performs regularly with her trio group-- I-Sis trio, a unique combination of harp, violin and cello; which has also performed internationally in Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and recently aired on television.
Besides being a very active performer, Katryna is active as an educator. In Singapore, she founded Rave Harpers. She has been appointed as Harp Director to Harp Programme in Sri Cempaka Schools in Malaysia and also holds the position of Director of The Music Stage. Concurrently, Katryna is adjunct harp faculty in Singapore’s School of the Arts (SOTA). In 2006, she was Artistic Director to the first Singapore Harp Festival. Also artistic director to HarpFest 2008 in Singapore, Katryna wore the hats of festival director, harpist (performed a harp concerto) and director for Rave Harpers (student ensemble) performance.
Katryna’s collection of albums includes “Water Dance”, “Harp On”, “Moments” (Harp and Cello) and “A Little Light Music” (Harp and Flute).
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