RED DOT BAROQUE.
singapore’s Premier Baroque Ensemble
Established in 2018, Red Dot Baroque is Singapore's first professional baroque ensemble and Ensemble-in-Residence at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Led by violinist Alan Choo, the ensemble is dedicated to bringing out the spirit and essence of Baroque music on period instruments, and to present music in fresh perspectives for the modern audience.
The ensemble celebrates its fifth anniversary in 2023 with a presentation of all six of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos in collaboration with guest artists from Europe. This event marks the first-ever complete period performance of the Brandenburg concertos in Singapore.
Internationally, the group embarked on a tour of Malaysia in 2019 in collaboration with guest artists from The Netherlands, and made their virtual debut at the Boston Early Music Festival Fringe Series and the Indianapolis Early Music Festival in 2021. The ensemble is looking forward to resuming a tour to the USA – cancelled due to the pandemic – which would have featured appearances at the Kennedy Center and collaborations with the Grammy Award-winning Apollo’s Fire.
Cross-genre collaboration is also a signature of Red Dot Baroque’s productions. Their performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons included a recitation of “The Lost Seasons” by poet Dr. Sara Florian, specially commissioned for the project. Lighting designs by Alberta Wileo featured alongside classical string quartets by Mozart, Mendelssohn and Arriaga in Child Prodigies, performed in an intimate setting with the audience around the performers. In keeping with the roots of their music, music of Lully and Purcell were presented with baroque dancing by Tan Qin Ying in The Seasons of Love and One Charming Night.
The group also maintains an active digital presence via their YouTube channel and social media platforms, notably with the production of a series of high-quality music videos during the pandemic with support from the National Arts Council’s Digital Presentation Grant. These videos included a commission of “A Barojak Suite” from local composer Phang Kok Jun, and various baroque classics filmed in iconic locations around Singapore.
Other recent notable projects include Handel’s Alcina and Messiah with The Opera People, and Bach’s St. John Passion performed without a conductor in collaboration with the YST Conservatory – “a performance not lacking in conviction and passion.” (The Straits Times, 2022).
Our Musicians
Upper Strings
Alan Choo*# / violin, artistic director
Gabriel Lee* / violin
Brenda Koh* / violin
Placida Ho* / violin, viola
Chen Zhangyi* / viola
Woodwinds
Cheryl Lim* / traverso
Rachel Ho* / traverso
Leow Rui Qing / oboe
Continuo
Leslie Tan* / violoncello
Yeh Tzu-Jou (Zoi) / violoncello
Julian Li / double bass
Edmund Song* / double bass
Aw Yong Tian / bassoon
Christopher Clarke* / theorbo
Gerald Lim* / harpsichord
Mervyn Lee* / harpsichord, viola da gamba, baroque guitar
Guest Artistes
Veda Lin / oboe
Danny Teong / trumpet
Tan Qin Ying* / harpsichord, baroque dance
#Goh Soon Tioe Artistic Director’s Chair
* denotes founding members
Board of Directors.
ALAN CHOO
GOH QIQING
BENJAMIN LOW
RACHEL TAN XI’EN
VALARIE WILSON
Committee Members.
ALAN CHOO / artistic director
GERALD LIM / ensemble manager
BRENDA KOH / administrative manager
PLACIDA HO / administrative assistant