Abigail Sin

Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, Republic of Singapore

Abstract

Artists involved in project: Loh Jun Hong, violin Jonathan Shin, composer Shoki Lin, filmmaker Timothy Wan, narrator

This presentation details the values, process and techniques used in creating a new composition and video inspired by Murakami’s short story On Seeing The 100% Perfect Girl On One Beautiful April Morning. This piece was conceived and released as a digital project in the middle of the pandemic social restrictions, when traditional modes of performance in a concert hall were (and are still) unavailable. This collaborative project explores the various catalysts that shape the dynamics between creative artists in producing a new work. We re-examine the roles of the performers, and how they contribute to the shaping of the collaborative process, rejecting conventional models of composer-led interactions. The involvement of a filmmaker and spoken narration from the very beginning of the project was also a catalyst that prompted the re-shaping of key concepts. The unique conditions of creating performance outputs during a pandemic heightened these collaborative relationships in ways that would not have arisen in ordinary times. This project might serve as a case study for other collaborating artists and contribute to the discussion of new collaborative strategies in digital media.

Keywords: Collaborative composition, Music and image Outside the concert hall

Biography

Singaporean pianist Abigail Sin has appeared in concert halls across the globe as a soloist and collaborative pianist. A top prize winner of several international piano competitions, she is an alumnus of the prestigious Verbier Festival Academy and is a Young Steinway Artist. Abigail is the co-founder of the More Than Music concert series in Singapore, which aims to bring classical chamber music to new audiences. In 2020, More Than Music recorded and released video performances of the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas, along with educational outreach content. Abigail recently completed a PhD at the Royal Academy of Music, supported by the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship, under the supervision of Dr Briony Cox-Williams. In July 2018, Abigail joined the academic faculty of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music in Singapore.