DIZI/ XIAO/ BAWU

HENG XIANG LE

Heng Xiangle joined Arts Sphere Chamber Ensemble in October 2008 as a Dizi musician and was part of the ensemble that clinched First Prize in the biennial National Chinese Music Competition 2008. He is currently the President as well as the Dizi Principal of the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO), Vice-President of Arts Sphere Chamber Ensemble as well as Music Director of Singapore Management University Chinese Orchestra.

Xiangle started his playing the harmonica at the age of seven and then the cello when he joined the school's chinese orchestra as a cellist and percussionist. In 2001, he went on to learn the dizi under the tutelage of SCO dizi principal Yin Zhi Yang. In the short span of 2 years, Xiangle achieved a Merit for his Grade 9 Dizi examination that was organised jointly by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Central Conservatory of Music in 2003 . Within 3 years of learning the Dizi, he won 3rd prize in the National Chinese Music Competition of the Intermediate Category.

Deeply involved in promoting Chinese music and culture, Xiangle has led orchestras that he has had a part in, being the Chairman of Temasek Secondary School Chinese Orchestra (2003-2004), Vice-President of SYCO (2005-2006), Chairman of VJC Chinese Orchestra (2005-2006), President of SYCO(2006-2007). To recognize his contributions to his alma maters, Xiangle has received numerous awards, including the coveted "Friend of Temasek" Award. Xiangle has also led a delegation of SYCO members in 2006 when the group participated in Tainan International ChiShi Arts Festival in Taiwan and also co-led Arts Sphere Chamber Ensemble in their recent trip to Llangollen,in which the ensemble clinched first prize.

Apart from playing the flute, Xiangle has conducted VJC Chinese Orchestra twice, having led the orchestra as its acting conductor for Vhapsody 2008 at a moment's notice in the absence of its Music Director and conducted along side with Mr Quek Ling Kiong in its annual concert in 2009. Under mentorship of Mr Quek, Xiangle led VJC Chinese Orchestra to clinch the Gold award in the recent Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging 2009, making him one of the youngest conductor of a Gold Award-winning school at the competition at the age of 21. Apart from VJC Chinese Orchestra, Xiangle has conducted many other orchestras including Temasek Secondary School Chinese Orchestra, Temasek Alumni Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Management University Chinese Orchestra among others.