Art by Alvin Mark Tan

Advanced Quartet Program 2026

The Singapore Chamber Music Festival (SCMF) 2026 is pleased to announce a new string quartet development course, to be launched in late March 2026.

Designed and conducted by leading chamber music pedagogues, the Advanced Quartet Program (AQP) brings together quartets for a week-long period of coaching, practice, interaction and performance in cosmopolitan Singapore. Running in tandem with the SCMF, participants will embark on learning journeys with counterparts from around the world, to share their love for string quartet.

Dates / Structure

AQP 2026 will run from Monday, 30 March 2026 to Saturday, 4 April 2026. With Good Friday on 3rd April, it will be observed as a quiet day for AQP and SCMF.

The program will include:

  • Four days of intensive coaching, with two individual and/or group sessions per day

  • A program graduation concert featuring all participating groups

  • Sight-reading session with young Singapore musicians

  • Opportunities to perform in community settings

In addition to coaching and practice, there will be options to enjoy the sights and flavours of Singapore.

Faculty

The AQP2026 will be led by faculty members who have immense experience in running chamber music programs around the world:

Programme Directors:

  • Jonathan Ong (Leader, Verona Quartet, Quartet-in-Residence and Artist-Teacher, Oberlin Conservatory of Music)

  • Mervin Beng (Founder, SCMF and Chairman, Resound Collective)

Lead Faculty:

  • Kirsten Docter (Associate Professor of Viola and Chamber Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music)

  • Sandy Yamamoto (Professor of Practice in Violin, Butler School of Music)

  • Leslie Tan (Former cellist, T’ang Quartet)

Artist Faculty:

  • Yang Shuxiang (Concertmaster & Associate Artistic Director, Resound Collective)

  • Wilford Goh (Leader, Concordia Quartet)

  • Members of the Concordia Quartet

FAQ

  • AQP is targetted at formed-up quartets from music conservatories, pre-conservatory or of equivalent level who have worked and performed together for at least one year. Formal application for AQP will be open in early October. Applications should be accompanied with recordings of the group in performance, proposed repertoire (two complete quartets plus two quartet movements).

    It is planned that AQP will accept a maximum of eight quartets in 2026.

  • Quartets (and accompanying teachers or guardians) should plan to be in Singapore throughout the program. The organisers will assist applying groups in seeking financial support from respective country sponsors, but such support cannot be guaranteed.

    Given the local constraints, accommodation will be non-centralised, at hotels, hostels and homestay. Previous SCMF overseas participants were provided some assistance on hotel charges or with homestay arrangements. We will be trying to do the same for 2026, but these can only be on a best effort basis.

    Program fees are expected to be under USD$1,000 per quartet. Groups with financial constraints are encouraged to discuss fee waiver with the organisers.

  • Groups and teachers of groups who are interested to be part of this exciting new Asian string quartet program should contact AQP secretariat Natalie Ng at scmf@resoundcollective.org, providing a brief overview of the group (membrs, history, school affiliation).

    Early expressions of interest will help us understand your key areas of interest and any concerns or constraints regarding joining AQP.

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The Advanced Quartet Program and SCMF 2026 are organised by Resound Collective, Singapore, in partnership with the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, with the support of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.

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