In celebration of International Women’s Month, the Embassy of Singapore in Manila hosted a special evening of music on March 6 with “Strings & Keys: A Singapore-Philippines Serenade,” featuring two remarkable women musicians—Singaporean pianist Dr. Ning Hui See and 12 year-old Filipino harpist Vien Ignacio.
Fittingly, the concert repertoire included works by women composers such as “Romance variee, Op 3” and “Romanzen Op. 11 No.2” by Clara Schumann (1819-1896) and “Dreaming, from Four Sketches Op.15” by Amy Beach (1867-1944). The concert also featured compositions that were chosen to represent the Philippine-Singapore cultural exchange namely “Mayon Fantasy” by Filipino composer Francisco Buencamino Sr. (1883-1952) and “Home” by Singapore singer/songwriter/composer and cultural icon Dick Lee (1956-)
In her remarks, Singapore Ambassador Constance See Sin Yuan emphasized the power of music in bringing nations and people closer together: “Music is more than notes on a page. It is a language for storytelling and for creating connections that transcend borders.”
Yoko Tsunekawa, a Japanese music journalist who attended the concert, captured the evening’s highlights: “The Singapore Embassy had the pleasure of welcoming two brilliant and virtuosic female artists, Dr. Ning Hui See (piano) and Vien Ignacio (harp), for a recital celebrating overlooked gems of the Romantic repertoire. Staying within the realm of forgotten composers, Dr. Ning Hui See brought Clara Schumann’s flourishing works to life with a rich palette of colors and striking vitality. Her expressive right-hand phrasing, enhanced by a restrained use of pedal, invited us into an intimate and nuanced musical world. Vien Ignacio, in turn, radiated sheer joy in her performances, capturing the spirit of the pieces with warmth and brilliance.”
Dr. Ning Hui See is an acclaimed Singaporean pianist and musicologist, and laureate of the Citta di Padova and Cesar Franck International Piano Competitions and the Grand Prize Winner of the 2012 Singapore Steinway Youth Competition. A PhD graduate of the Royal College of Music London, she is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Speaking about her selection of works for the evening, Dr. See shared: “I chose four Romantic works that bring a welcoming and celebratory tone to the evening. Each piece stands on its own, but they also work together to create a musical journey.”
Dr. See also said “The friendship between Singapore and the Philippines is something I feel on a personal level when I interact with the people here. In this recital, I am combining the celebrations for International Women’s Day on 8 March 2025 and Singapore-Philippine relations.”
Vien Ignacio, a 12-year-old harpist from the Philippines, began her musical journey in Singapore at just three years old. She has since won top prizes in competitions such as the Vienna Virtuoso Music Competition and Singapore Harpfest. She has performed in major venues, including the Hong Kong Performing Arts Center and Singapore’s Esplanade Theatre.
Vien said “This performance is very special to me because I was born and raised in Singapore. Singapore is my second home.”
As part of the Singapore Embassy’s cultural outreach efforts, the event also welcomed young attendees from Orchestra of the Filipino Youth which is the main performing arm of Ang Misyon, a non-profit supporting musically talented youths; Philippine Youth Symphonic Band, part of the Young Musicians Development Organization; Makati City Youth Orchestra and Quezon City’s Lucresia Kasilag Senior High School Performing Arts students.
Ambassador See emphasized the significance of engaging the next generation in the arts: “I hope tonight’s performance inspires young musicians to continue pursuing their craft, and for all our young guests to appreciate the power of music in bridging communities and cultures.”
The concert concluded with a duet by Dr See and Vien, performing a special arrangement of Singapore cultural icon Dick Lee’s “Home” (1998), a song that has often been described as the unofficial national anthem of Singapore. The song is deeply connected to Singaporean identity and aspirations, evoking themes of longing and national pride. It was a fitting finale to an evening that celebrated the unifying power of music and cultural friendship between Singapore and the Philippines.
