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NEWS
August 18th 2022
First prize winner at the Princess Astrid International Conducting Competition in Trondheim, Norway
Alvin was the first prize winner at the 2022 Princess Astrid International Conducting Competition with Trondheim Symphony Orchestra. The prize includes a guest conducting engagement in the season 23/24. During the three rounds of the competition, Alvin conducted a total of 7 standard repertory pieces and Anna Clyne's Masquerade with the Trondheim Symphony Orchestra.
November 23rd, 2021
UK premiere of "Harmoniemusik" from Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier, with Scottish Chamber Orchestra
In face of difficulties performing on stage with large symphonic forces due to pandemic restrictions, Alvin collaborated with Scottish Chamber Orchestra in presenting the UK premiere of "Harmoniemusik", a long selection of musical numbers from Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier. Harmoniemusik is an old form of presenting themes and suites to introduce the public to masterpieces of operas. This successful collaboration, together with the additional forces from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland wind students, was heard in St. Andrews, Glasgow and Edinburgh, and was evident in Edinburgh Music Review's positive review.
September 14th, 2020
Appointed Leverhulme Conducting Fellow and Assistant Conductor at the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
‘I am thrilled to join the family of Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra as the Leverhulme Conducting Fellow. I look forward to being assistant conductor, learning from the musicians of BBCSSO ... I look forward with great anticipation and excitement to enrich the musical life in Glasgow starting this season.’
June 14th, 2019
Concert appearance with North Teplice Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Alvin conducted the North Teplice Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, in the middle movements of Tchaikovsky's Pathetique Symphony. The concert was shared with the conducting students at Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, under the mentorship of Nicolás Pasquet and Ekhart Wycik. Before that he was chosen as exchange student at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar Conducting Class for three weeks.
June 29th 2022
Studying with Riccardo Muti - 21/22 season finale: Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera in Chicago
Alvin was invited to study with Riccardo Muti at his concert performance of Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera with an acclaimed cast, Chicago Symphony Chorus and Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Center, Chicago. This important yearly end-of-season Verdi opera presentation was instigated by Riccardo Muti since the beginning of his tenure as Music Director. Previously, Alvin was selected to study Verdi's Macbeth with Riccardo Muti in his Italian Opera Academy in Ravenna Italy.
September 14th, 2021
Finalist for the Music Director search of Empire State Youth Orchestra, US
Alvin was a finalist in the Music Director position of the Empire State Youth Orchestra in New York, one of the largest in its kind in the United States. Given his experience and passion in nurturing young musicians, he was invited to guest conduct the orchestra and interact with the student body as well as other constituencies of the organization and the community.
November 16th, 2019
Assistant conductor of Wagner's Parsifal at Indiana Opera Theater
Alvin was the assistant conductor of Wagner's Parsifal, a landmark production celebrating Indiana Opera and Ballet Theater's bicentennial season. This new production is the only performance of the work in the US during the 2019-2020 season. Renowned singers Kristinn Sigmundsson and Mark Delavan are casted. This new production was staged by Chris Alexander and conducted by Arthur Fagen, my personal conducting mentor.
March 12th 2022
Assistant Conductor on Dove's contemporary opera Flight in Glasgow
Alvin was invited to assist the opera production on Jonathan Dove's Flight at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, working with stage director James Bonas and conductor Matthew Kofi Waldren. Months of intense musical preparation from the pit resulted in enthusiastic reviews from Bachtrack, a leading source of classical music review. The long awaited event in Glasgow gave birth to a world premiere of the chamber orchestra version, orchestrated by the composer. Pictured is the meeting with Mr. Dove at the end of the final dress rehearsal.
May 30th, 2021
Finalist for the Only Stage International Conducting Competition
Alvin was chosen as a finalist in the first edition of the Only Stage International Conducting Competition, one of the very first virtual conducting competition. Competitors are asked to submit conducting video excerpts for evaluation and judgement.
September 1st, 2019
Appointed fellow at Salzburg Festival and Cabrillo Contemporary Music Festival
Alvin was named Bruno Walter Conducting fellow at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in July, during which he premiered new works. He was also invited by members of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra to attend ,as Ansbacher Conducting Fellow, rehearsals and concerts exclusively at Salzburg Festival during August 2019. Pictured above is vice chairman of Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Alexander Steinberger, who acted as his mentor during the residency.