Besides committing to regular rehearsals and public performances in the setting of a big-group wind orchestra, members of The Philharmonic Winds also take time to play in smaller ensembles. Borne out of our passion and love for their individual instruments, such small-group settings also allow our musicians to experiment with a wide variety of styles and genres, helping us hone our versatility and enhancing our synergy and cohesion as tight-knit ensembles. Find out more about our chamber groups below!
If you are considering engaging our musicians for any events, feel free to get in touch with us at contact@philharmonicwinds.com.sg with your requirements.
Philharmonic Chamber Winds
23 March 2015 saw the debut concert of the Philharmonic Chamber Winds at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Conductor Joost Flach led the musicians in a very well-received concert which featured works such as Arthur Bird’s Suite in D major for Wind Instruments, Four Taiwanese Aboriginal Songs by Zechariah Goh and Dirty Beasts by Martin Butler which featured three Roald Dahl poems, The Pig, The Tummy Beast and The Crocodile, all delightfully presented to the audience by narrator William Ledbetter.
PhilBrass
Phil Brass, short for The Philharmonic Brass, is a brass quintet comprising like-minded brass musicians from The Philharmonic Winds. The word “Philharmonic” translates to a fondness or devotion to music, which is what brought Phil Brass together earlier this year. Equally committed to the promotion of brass chamber music, we endeavour to bring the finest brass playing to the Singaporean audience, and in doing so, celebrate our love for music and our decade of musical friendship. We also aim to share our love for brass music and entertain you through our shows. To date, Phil Brass has enjoyed a number of well received recitals and gigs rendering music ranging from Classical to Pop and Jazz.
Follow PhilBrass on their Facebook page to find out more!
PhilClarinets
PhilClarinets comprises members from the clarinet section of the Philharmonic Winds. Its debut recital – A Picture Book without a Picture – was held at the Esplanade Recital Hall in 2010. Performed to a sold out venue, PhilClarinets wowed the audience with a selection of music that featured versatility of the clarinet in different settings, forms and styles. More recently in 2014, PhilClarinets returned to the same venue with an evening of dance music, including Deux Danses by Masamicz Amano, Scaramouche by Darius Milhaud, and Jocuri Poporale Romanesti by Béla Bartók.
The largest section of the wind orchestra is also a close-knit family, with a strong common mission to bring quality clarinet music to the public. It endeavours to showcase the rich, colourful and flexible sonorities of the highly versatile instrument, and often draws on the full range of clarinets of different sizes and lengths – from the petite piccolo clarinet with its high pitch trills, to the gargantuan contra bass clarinet which is taller than the average adult. Always willing to experiment with different permutations, members of PhilClarinets form quartets, quintets, octets, or even larger ensembles, according to the needs of the composers.
PhilClarinets hopes to continue to explore clarinet ensemble repertoire and present them to a wider audience.
Follow PhilClarinets on their Facebook page to find out more!
PhilSax
PhilSax comprises saxophonists from The Philharmonic Winds (Philwinds), one of Singapore’s premier wind orchestras. In line with Philwinds’ commitment to quality wind music, PhilSax is dedicated to presenting quality saxophone ensemble music to the public.
PhilSax first performed in 2007 to an audience of school children and teachers at the National Arts Council’s National Arts Education Award. The engaging repertoire had the children (and teachers!) singing along, and PhilSax became hooked to bringing smiles to their audiences through their saxophones. Other public and corporate engagements followed, and PhilSax soon made its recital debut at the fully sold out Esplanade Recital Studio in 2010. Covered by TimeOut Singapore and The Flying Inkpot, this successful debut helped introduce PhilSax to an even wider variety of audiences.
Corporate and community partners who have worked with PhilSax include the Esplanade (as part of the Huayi Festival), Starbucks (as part of its Christmas festivities), Lianhe Zaobao (as part of its 90th anniversary celebrations), Goodman Arts Centre (for its Open House), and the People’s Association (as part of its PAssion Arts series of heartland arts presentations).
PhilSax continues to pride itself on delivering music that is catered to a wide variety of audiences. Versatile and adventurous, its goal is to entertain and enthral audiences with its passion for quality saxophone music.
Follow PhilSax on their Facebook page to find out more!