• Say-Foo Ming, violin

    Say-Ming Foo, violin


    Say-Ming FOO is the Head Of Strings at the NAFA School Of Music in Singapore, where he oversees and teaches the strings’ tertiary Diploma and Degree studies, the latter of which is in partnership with The Royal College Of Music (RCM) in London (UK). Say-Ming is a graduate of the Conservatoire de Lausanne (Switzerland), conferred the “Virtuosité - Premier Prix avec Félicitations du Jury” under the tutelage of Pierre Amoyal. He is also a graduate of the Royal College Of Music (London, UK) where he studied with Rodney Friend, ex-concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.

    As a Leader/Concertmaster, Say-Ming has also been invited to lead the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra on numerous occasions for their opera productions, as well as partnering with visiting artistes such as the Bolshoi Ballet, the Paris National Opera Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet, and the English National Ballet for the major ballet repertoire and productions.

    Say-Ming also leads and directs a unique crossover chamber ensemble from Singapore – “re: mix” (www.remix.com.sg) which boasts of an eclectic repertoire ranging from John Adams to ABBA, Bach to Beatles, Mozart to movies, Schoenberg to Salsa! Their debut CD, “Introducing re: mix” and their 2nd, “Wild And In Love” both garnered the title “CD Of The Year” from Singapore Straits Times in 2012 and 2018 respectively. re: mix’s unique voice has now gained attention from audiences at home and beyond, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

    In the capacity of a soloist, Say Ming has performed on many occasions with orchestras of the region. Of note, these include Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (Switzerland), and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), the latter with whom he has performed concertos by Lalo, Glazunov, Elgar, Saint-Saëns, Walton, Rozsa, as well as works by contemporary Singaporean composers.

    His performance of the “Butterfly Lovers Concerto” with the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO) on its successful tour to Scotland at the Aberdeen International Youth Festival in 2005 was described as:

    "... never faltered in his interpretation, weaving through the dramatic score like a beautiful silken thread." (The Press And Journal, Aberdeen, Scotland, Aug 2005)

    "... supreme tenderness from soloist Foo Say Ming." (Evening Express, Aberdeen, Scotland, Aug 2005)

    “… Director (re: mix) Foo at full flight, helming its virtuosic solo, is one of Singapore’s most exciting artists. One really feels his driving passion, and his charges responded with similar verve and ebullience for a spirited close.” (The Straits Times, 17 December 2012)

    “… To say that Foo plunged into its (Butterfly Lover’s Concerto) Romantic excesses with real relish would be to put it mildly. He owned the piece, colouring it with judiciously placed portamenti, or slides, which simulated the erhu’s plaint and vocal inflections of Beijing Opera.” (The Straits Times, 12 March 2013)