Bach Perspectives: The Various Ways To Approach An Interpretation
Workshop by Steinway Artist Ning An
Join us as Steinway Artist Ning An discusses the various approaches a pianist must make when approaching the works of J.S. Bach. Ning An is a Chinese-born American pianist. He currently serves as Associate Professor of Piano at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.
WORKSHOP VENUE
Orchestral Hall, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory
UPCOMING WORKSHOP
- 27 February 2024 (Mon), 11.00am – 12.30pm
Fee: $48 (*incl. of lunch reception) (click here for menu)
*admission is free for STEP Teachers & YST Students
Limited seats, on first-come-first-served basis.
PROGRAMME
- 11:00 – 12:00 – Lecture
- 12:00 – 12:30 – Group Discussion
- 12:30 – 12:40 – STEP Conferment Ceremony
- 12:40 onwards – Lunch Reception
Dive into the enchanting world of J.S. Bach’s keyboard music through a captivating workshop led by the Steinway Artist and YST Associate Professor, Ning An. Join us for an immersive exploration where Ning An will unravel the secrets of interpretation, focusing on 7 key approaches: Melody, Harmony, Tempo and Rhythmic Emphasis, Form, Articulation, Pedal, and Imitation/Contrapuntal Writing.
Engage in lively intellectual dialogues, dynamic discussions, and brainstorming sessions that will set your ideas soaring! The workshop promises an interactive exploration of J.S. Bach’s French Suite No.5 in G Major, BWV816, creating an experience of shared musical discovery.
The workshop will conclude with a special appearance by Young Steinway Artist Jessie Meng, followed by a conferment ceremony welcoming the new members of STEP (Steinway Teacher Education and Partners). Join us for a delightful lunch reception following the ceremony.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
- Piano Teachers who wish to level up their teachings of J.S. Bach’s works.
- Conservatory students and emerging artists looking to advance their knowledge.
- Bach practitioners, established artists and faculty members for further studies on Bach’s keyboard music.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
- The interpretive choices based on principles of harmony and counterpoint
- Playing J.S. Bach’s keyboard music on the modern-day piano
- Ornamentations and tempo choices
- How the various approaches lead to a compelling and expressive performance
COACH
Ning An
Associate Professor, Steinway Artist
Pianist Ning An is a rare pianist who has been hailed as a musician who “combines a flawless technique and mastery of the instrument with an expressive power that is fueled by profound and insightful understanding.” (New York Concert Review) His top prizes from the Queen Elizabeth, Cleveland, and William Kapell Piano Competitions led to performances at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Salle Verdi (Milan), and the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. He has been invited to perform at numerous festivals, including the International Chopin Festival in Duszinski, Poland, the Gina Bachauer Piano Festival in Salt Lake City, New Hampshire’s Monadnock Music Festival, the Bourglinster Festival in Luxembourg, and the Interlaken Music Festival in Switzerland. A passionate chamber musician as well as soloist, Mr. An has performed with distinguished groups such as the Ysaye, Daedalus, and Takacs Quartets as well as instrumentalists James Ehnes, Paul Neubauer, and Andres Diaz.
Since making his orchestral debut at the age of 16 with the Cleveland Orchestra, Mr. An has been a featured soloist with orchestras that include the London Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, Tivoli Symphony Orchestra, the Belgian National Symphony, the Flemish Radio Symphony, and many more under the batons of conductors such as Vladimir Fedosseyev, Jorg-Peter Weigle, Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, and others. Mr. An was also a featured soloist on the 100th Anniversary American tour made by the Warsaw Philharmonic under the direction of Maestro Kazimierz Kord.
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In recent years, Mr. An has increased his travels to Asia where he made solo debuts in the National Grand Theatre in Beijing as well the major concert halls of Shanghai, Guanzhou and Shenzhen. Recent concerto appearances have included the National Symphony Orchestra of Taiwan as well as the Guangzhou and Shenzhen Symphony Orchestras.
Ning An has also been a top prize winner of the Paloma O’Shea Santander Competition, the Tivoli International Piano Competition, the Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition, the National Chopin Competition, the American Pianist Association and the Alfred Cortot Prize winner of the International Chopin Piano Competition.
This artist began his musical studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Olga Radosavljevich and Sergei Babayan. Subsequently, Mr. An continued his studies under the tutelage of Russell Sherman at the New England Conservatory of Music.
As a frequent guest lecturer, Mr. An has given masterclasses throughout the United States and Asia. He has served previously on the piano faculty of Lee University and California State University Fullerton. He is currently an Associate Professor at the YONG SIEW TOH Conservatory of Music in Singapore.
