“Singapore National Youth Orchestra proves mettle with blockbuster Romantic works”

“…the second half of the programme would pair the orchestra with the Esplanade Concert Hall’s magnificent Klais organ, under the very able hands (and feet) of organist Koh Jia Hwei.”

“The organ came in on the latter parts of each of the symphony’s two movements.

Koh, a highly proficient pianist who took on the organ just 10 years ago, has quickly risen to be a pre-eminent organist in Singapore.

From her first entry, there was a gravitas and conviction of sound that made her performance stand out compared with the several other performances of this symphony that this reviewer has heard on the Esplanade’s Klais organ.

Whereas sometimes it felt as if the organist in the symphony sought to avoid overwhelming the orchestra, Koh’s playing was bold, but never overblown.”

“…the Saint-Saens symphony was a triumph, and Koh gave the young musicians in the orchestra an experience that they would not soon forget.”

This review appeared in The Straits Times on 8th December 2023.