28 & 29 November 2025

Japan Creative Centre (JCC)

Join us at Japan Creative Centre (JCC) for an exclusive night of beautiful melodies! We welcome back Mr Yunosuke Yamamoto and Ms Kyoko Koyama, together with Singaporean violinist Mr Gabriel Lee. In this pre-event to the Japan‒Singapore Youth International Music Exchange Programme 2026, the three performers will be joined by young musicians in Singapore to participate in experiential string ensemble workshops. After several workshops and rehearsals, they will perform a chamber music performance with selected students from the programme at JCC. You can enjoy classical pieces from Bach and Chopin, to contemporary songs like 'Home' and 'Carrying You' (Castle in the Sky).

There will also be an open rehearsal and workshop on 27 November and a full ensemble concert on 29 November at Yamaha.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

The year 2026 will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Singapore. To commemorate this milestone, the Japan‒Singapore Youth International Music Exchange Programme is scheduled to take place, where young musicians will visit each other's countries to rehearse and perform in joint concerts under the guidance of professional musicians from both Japan and Singapore. Beyond the musical growth that can be expected through this exchange, the project is also anticipated to contribute significantly to the development of character and communication skills in the participating youth. Even those with limited language ability can build friendships with peers from other countries through music. These experiences and the personal connections formed through the project are expected to become a lasting and valuable asset for both nations in the future.

In order to ensure the project will be fruitful and meaningful, a pre-event will be held in Singapore in November 2025 to foster a suitable environment in advance. This pre-event will invite young musicians in Singapore to participate in experiential string ensemble workshops with professional musicians from both Japan and Singapore, and work collaboratively on a selected repertoire. This will enable participants to experience aspects of music that are often less noticeable in individual lessons, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of music. Furthermore, by engaging with overseas musicians through music - an inherently universal medium that transcends language - participants are expected to broaden their perspectives on international exchange.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Born into a family of composers, Yamamoto Yunosuke began studying music at an early age. He graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts and went on to complete his graduate studies there. He won First Prize at the Min-On Chamber Music Competition as a member of the Halle String Quartet and received the Kagawa Prefecture Arts and Culture Award.

After serving as principal cellist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, he has been active both as a solo cellist and conductor. He has held numerous prominent positions, including Music Director of the Myanmar National Symphony Orchestra, jury member for the cello division of the Japan Music Competition, and specialist committee member of the Japan Arts Council’s Arts and Culture Promotion Fund.

He currently serves as Principal Conductor of the Tokyo New Philharmonic Orchestra and as a board member of the Japan Cello Society. He also teaches the next generation of musicians as a lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.

Since then, she has conducted numerous initiatives, including workshops for piano instructors and outreach concerts at local schools. In addition to frequently performing with the Myanmar National Symphony Orchestra, she also served as the orchestra’s Music Advisor, providing training to strengthen the ensemble’s musical foundation. Her Beethoven recital at Suntory Hall’s Blue Rose in 2020 was streamed online and received high acclaim.

Singaporean violinist Gabriel Lee’s multifaceted career spans compelling performances, education, and entrepreneurship.

Equally at home on both baroque and modern violins, his playing has been praised for its “breathtaking intensity” and “a passion and concentration that was hard to surpass” (The Straits Times).

Gabriel has performed as a soloist across the U.S., Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Myanmar, and has appeared with ensembles such as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Red Dot Baroque, and Bachfest Malaysia.

A passionate educator, he is the Managing Director of the SEA Music Academy Online, teaches at YST Conservatory and SOTA, and coaches young musicians whose achievements span international competitions and top conservatories. He frequently conducts masterclasses, adjudicates competitions, and serves on advisory boards, including the ABRSM Music Education Advisory Committee.

As a scholar, he has published and presented research at renowned conferences and in academic journals. Gabriel holds master’s degrees in violin performance and baroque violin performance from the Peabody Conservatory, and graduated as valedictorian from YST Conservatory.

Is this your first time to Japan Creative Centre? Follow the map below to Japan Creative Centre now.

Getting to Japan Creative Centre
4 Nassim Road Singapore 258372
Tel: +65-6737-0434

By Public Bus:
Bus services: 7, 36, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174E, 502, 502A, 502B (Alight in front of Delfi Orchard)
For latest information on bus routes and fares, please refer to SBS Transit.

By the MRT:
You may also take the MRT to the nearest MRT station, Orchard (NS22).
Train fares, travel times and route maps are available on the SMRT website.

Driving to JCC:
Nearest parking is at Orchard Hotel, Delfi Orchard and Orchard Rendezvous Hotel.