Just a quick shout out....
We're proud to have Nazreen & Kamal onboard to head our new percussion section! Below is their summarized bio. Do feel free to drop by for a chat to find out more on what they have to offer!
--------------------------------------------------------------
Nazreen has been in the Singapore band scene for at least 16 years now. He started his musical training as a trumpeter and drummer/percussionist in Chai Chee Secondary School Military Band where he also served as its Drum Major.
Nazreen has been trainer for the Singapore Youth Festivals (Primary and Secondary divisions) and in overseas music competitions like the 21st CCAD Asian Band Competition held in Genting Highlands, Malaysia and The World Music Contest held in Kerkrade, The Netherlands where he performs and competes at an international level with the Singapore Wind Symphony Percussion Ensemble which clinched them a silver medal.
He has performed extensively with the Nanyang Polytechnic Symphonic Band, Singapore Wind Symphony, Singapore Wind Symphony Percussion Ensemble, National Institute of Education Symphonic Band,Mus Art Wind Orchestra and the Sembawang Wind Orchestra.
Armed with a Specialist Diploma in Band Directing from NIE/NTU, Nazreen has also obtained qualifications from ABRSM, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Brass Band instructor’s training course and the Conductor’s clinic.
Nazreen currently conducts St. Andrew Junior School, St Stephen School, Junior Band in Hua Yi Secondary School and teaches percussion and drumset at various primary and secondary schools.He also sessioned as a drummer in various events and functions.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kamal Singh started learning to play the tabla at the age of 9 under the guidance of Dr Gurcharan Singh. He learnt from Mr Singh for about two years and then enrolled himself at the Temple of Fine Arts Singapore (Kalamandhir), and became a student of Sri Nawaz Mirajkar Mohammed.
Under Sri Nawaz’s able guidance, he progressed quickly in the sphere of classical tabla. Kamal then graduated in September 1998 with a Diploma in Performing Arts (Tabla). During his stint with the Temple of Fine Arts, he participated in numerous concerts with The Temple of Fine Arts International Orchestra, performed solo tabla, and was involved in many other projects such as ‘Dance India, Taste India’.
In 2005, Kamal took part in the National Arts Council Indian Classical Music Competition and emerged champion in the Open Tabla Solo Category. He obtained the first prize and has never looked back since.
The groups/bands Kamal has collaborated with include Jungledelics, E-Tree & Friends, NewAsia, Soul Ethnicity, among others.
Some of the performances, among others, include:
• Played djembe together with Human Rhythms for Gala under the Stars by Singapore Sports Council at the National Stadium to mark the closing of the National Stadium – 28 Mar 2007
• Played djembe together with three other drummers at Ritz-Carlton Singapore for the Bank of China’s 70th Anniversary – 25 Oct 2006
• Accompanied Snatam Kaur, Grammy Award nominee, on her ‘Celebrate Peace Tour’ in Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand) in 2006. Played tabla, djembe, and provided vocal accompaniment.
• Performed for the 15th ASEAN Summit at Shangri-La Hotel in Aug 2005. Played tabla with Soul Ethnicity.
• Presented and perfomed tabla with E-Tree & Friends at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre in June 2004 for Singapore Arts Festival
• Played tabla with Soul Ethnicity for Arts in the City – 7 May till 16 July 2004
• Performed tabla with Soul Ethnicity for Bvlgari Products Launch in June 2003
• Performed tabla for a score at Victoria Concert Hall with Singapore Armed Forces Concert Band annual concert in 2000
• Performed tabla at Istana for Presidential dinner in Apr 2002
• Performed tabla and bass drum at River Drums Festival at Clarke Quay Singapore in 2000
• Performed tabla at Clarke Quay for MTV Asia Meet in 2000
• Performed snare drum and bass drum for the parade contingent during National Day Parade 1999 and 2000 respectively.
• Performed snare drum for the parade contingent for SAF Day Parade in 1999 and 2000
• Performed tabla for North Indian Classical Vocal Bandish sung by senior students taught by the international classical singer and Maestro Shubha Mudgal, from India.