About

Michellina Chan (b. 1992, Singapore) is a saxophonist active in both Singapore and Australia. She has recently graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Performance) with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (MCM).

Michellina studied with Ian Godfrey, Tarko Sibbel and Shannon Ebeling at the MCM. She began her musical journey in Singapore at the tender age of 4 on the piano. At the age of 13, under the baton of Mdm Tan Soh Hwa, she then picked up the saxophone in the Crescent Girls’ School Symphonic Band. Since then, she has received several accolades for her musical endeavours including the First Prize of the Hugo Stockigt Award (Open Unaccompanied Solo) at the CLASAX Performance Competition 2015 and the coveted First Prize of the MCM Chamber Music Competition 2014 as the soprano saxophonist of her quartet, 2.0 Saxophone Quartet.

As an avid traveller Michellina has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses and take lessons from many international saxophonists including Marie-Bernadette Charrier (France), Arno Bornkamp (Netherlands), Christian Wirth (France), Joshua Hyde (Australia), Niels Bijl (Netherlands), Dan Gelok (USA), Joseph Lallo (Australia) and Barry Cockcroft (Australia). Consequently, Michellina has performed in world-renowned concert halls and her playing has been described as delicate and distinctive.

As a passionate chamber musician, she co-founded and plays the soprano saxophone in the 2.0 Saxophone Quartet. The group is dedicated to performing classical saxophone works around Melbourne and premiering new works by young and upcoming composers. They premiered a work by award-winning composer Clare Johnson, entitled The Jive (2013) which was later aired on a local radio station. At the beginning of 2015, she founded the Super 3-o which has the unusual instrumentation: piano, saxophone and violin. In a competition of strings versus winds, this is a combination that pleases both sides. Super 3-o is an active and well-received chamber group in Melbourne. Their performances of contemporary repertoire have led to recitals including the University of Melbourne Open Day 2015 and “The Talent”, a series which is broadcasted on 3MBS Fine Music Melbourne (103.5FM).

With a passion for new works, Michellina has partaken in premiere performances with various different ensembles, including the University of Melbourne Saxophone Ensemble (Polychrome by Thiery Alla) and University of Melbourne New Studio Ensemble (De Stijl by Louis Andriessen). Alongside Leigh Harrold, Michellina performed the Australian premiere of distinguished Singaporean Composer Zechariah Goh’s Suite for Alto Saxophone and Piano. In August 2013, she performed the world premiere of Andrew Ball’s Antikythera Mechanism for saxophone quartet. In May 2014 and December 2015, she was invited back to Singapore to perform as a soloist with the Jurong Junior College Alumni Symphonic Band at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music Concert Hall.

Michellina will continue working with young composers in both Singapore and Australia to write new pieces for the saxophone. Recently, she performed the world premier of a piece written for solo saxophone by up and coming Australian composer Ethan McAlister. Michellina is very grateful to her family’s never-ceasing support of her musical endeavours.

Music

Bach, J. S. – Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BMV 1008 (1917-1923)

Reed, Alfred – Ballade for Solo Eb Saxophone and Band (1956)

Tanada, Fuminori – Mysterious Morning III (1996)

Saint-Saëns, Camille arr. by Michellina Chan – Introduction et rondo capriccioso, Op.28 (1863)

Bozza, Eugene – Aria pour Saxophone Alto et Piano (1936)

Bonneau, Paul – Caprice en Forme de Valse (1950)

McAlister, Ethan – Endless Ocean for solo saxophone (2015)

Noda, Ryo – Improvisation I (1972)
Demersseman, Jules – Fantasie sur un theme original (1860)

Videos

Audio