Come catch the artistry of Natalia and Christine

Chtchoukina Natalia: Studied under top Russian musicians. - MSM picture.

Christine Lau: Began piano studies at the age of eight. - Methodist School of Music picture.

THE Methodist School of Music (MSM) will be featuring two talented faculty members at an evening of clarinet and piano works at the Esplanade Recital Studio on Oct 29, 2005 at 7.30 pm.


"The Artistry of Natalia and Christine", part of the MSM Concert Series 2005, will see Chtchoukina Natalia and Christine Lau perform works by Beethoven (Sonata in C# minor, Op.27, No. 2 - "The Moonlight"), Debussy (Reflets Dans L'eau from Imàges), Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue), Weber (Grand Duo Concertant, Op. 48), Bloch (Denneriana ) and Shalva Davidov (Concerto).


Chtchoukina Natalia, an Associate Instructor at MSM, is a graduate of the Gnesins Russian Academy of Music, Moscow (1992-97), where she received her Master of Performing Arts. She studied pedagogy, performance, and performed chamber and orchestral music under Prof. I. I. Bytirski, soloist of the "Bolshoi Ballet" Theatre.


From 1980-1987 she studied at the Moscow Special Woodwind and Brass School, and played in her school band which won a number of local and international competitions. From 1987-1991 she studied at the Moscow Music College with major studies in performing arts, teaching, and the clarinet under M. Oblezov, soloist of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, Moscow.


She has performed with leading bands in Moscow and made recordings with conductor Y. Svetlonov. She also studied the saxophone (classical and jazz).
She has been teaching in Singapore since 1997 and has obtained the Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) diploma in clarinet performance with excellent result.


Christine Lau began piano studies at the age of eight in Hong Kong with Ms Qian Man-Er. She went on to an advanced level with Ms Huang Man-Lo. In 1991, she was awarded the Performer's Certificate by Trinity College London. In the same year, she won the consolation prize in the Hong Kong and Macau Piano Competition. Since then she has performed regularly at concert halls in Hong Kong.


After her "A" level examinations in Hong Kong, she went to pursue her first music degree at Roehampton University in London. There, she studied the piano with Mr Edward Moore, a pupil of the late great pianist Claudio Arrau. She was active in performing as a soloist and accompanist. She performed in the concerts, including a concert for six pianos, and as accompanist for the Roehampton Choir.


Her areas of study include the practical and history subjects, African music, music technology, music therapy, and analysis for performer. She then went to the University of Surrey to continue her Master's degree in music where she was coached by Mr Peter Croser. At Surrey, she participated in masterclasses by Mr Croser and Mr Bernard Roberts.


She returned to Hong Kong to pursue her full-time music teaching career after completing her Master's degree. In 2002, she moved to Singapore, and is now a Teaching Associate at MSM.


Tickets are priced at $25 (concessionary tickets for students and senior citizens at $15). Please call MSM at 6767-5258 for tickets.