Ding Yi Music Company proudly announces its highly anticipated 2025/26 concert season, a visionary lineup that fuses tradition with cutting-edge artistry. Committed to shaping the future of Chinese chamber music, the upcoming season celebrates Singapore’s 60th year by featuring Cultural Medallion and Young Artist Award recipients in every concert—paying tribute to the nation’s most distinguished and emerging talents.

Ding Yi continues its deep dive into Singapore’s cultural landscape with one of the season’s most significant milestones—the culminating edition of the Disappearing… series. Having previously explored fading traditions such as the origins of dragon kilns, joss stick making and traditional Teochew embroidery, this final edition brings the vanishing crafts of lion dance head-making, rattan weaving and songkok-making directly onto the concert stage. Featuring Singaporean composers Eric Watson (Cultural Medallion recipient) and Tan Yu Ting, the multi-disciplinary concert interweaves Chinese chamber music with the spirit and cultural depth of their artisans, brought to life through multimedia presentations.

Another highlight of the season is the return of ECOncert, where music meets environmental consciousness. This third edition will explore Singapore’s natural landscapes, featuring Secondary Forest, a striking work by acclaimed Young Artist Award recipient Robert Zhao Renhui, originally showcased at the Singapore Pavilion at Biennale Arte 2024. Complemented by compositions from Yii Kah Hoe and performed on innovative instruments remade with sustainable materials by Ding Yi musicians, ECOncert reimagines the relationship between music, nature, and sustainability.

Beyond the concert hall, Ding Yi deepens its engagement with young international artists such as composers Hannah Hsieh from Taiwan, Yii Kah Hoe from Malaysia, French-born, Taiwan-based sound artist Yannick Dauby, banhu virtuoso Hu Yu from China, as well as Taiwan-born, Berlin-based violinist William Wei, amongst others.

Weaving cultural connections beyond Singapore, Ding Yi is also proud to be the Resident Ensemble of the Thailand International Composition Festival at Mahidol College of Music. This milestone marks a significant step in the ensemble’s regional presence, showcasing Singaporean compositions while engaging with Thai works in a meaningful exchange of musical ideas.

Additionally, the ensemble continues its digital expansion, bringing Singaporean and Chinese chamber music to global audiences via recordings on platforms like Spotify. As part of this initiative, the ensemble will be recording and sharing works by internationally renowned composers and artists such as Chen Yi, Wang Chenwei and William Wei. Through these efforts, Ding Yi is not only preserving tradition but also shaping the chamber classics of tomorrow, ensuring that the genre continues to evolve and resonate with future generations.

The new 2025/26 season reflects Ding Yi’s commitment to using Chinese chamber music to tell meaningful stories—whether it’s preserving vanishing crafts, exploring environmental themes, or fostering cross-cultural collaborations. It unfolds across two distinctive categories: “Uniquely Ding Yi” and “Ding Yi Chamber Classics”. In the realm of “Uniquely Ding Yi”, the ensemble takes centre stage in pioneering, inventive productions. Collaborating with various art forms, elements, and inspirations, Ding Yi showcases its boundless creativity, virtuosity, and versatility. Conversely, “Ding Yi Chamber Classics” spotlights the ensemble’s pivotal role in championing the finest works within the realm of Chinese chamber music.

The season kicks off with a powerful opening concert featuring commissioned works by renowned composers, including Cultural Medallion recipient Law Wai Lun and Young Artist Award recipient Wang Chenwei. The concert also welcomes internationally acclaimed violinist William Wei, a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, making his Singapore debut, performing on the 1722 ‘Joachim, Elman’ Stradivari violin, generously loaned by the Chimei Culture Foundation. Wei, who has performed with world-renowned orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Niederrheinische Sinfoniker, and Belgian National Orchestra under esteemed conductors like Eliahu Inbal, Marin Alsop, and Edward Gardner, brings his exceptional artistry to this highly anticipated season-opening concert.

On 20th April, audiences will experience an exquisite showcase of chamber music at its most intimate in Earth: Unheard, highlighted by the Singapore premiere of Barong Dance, a mesmerising sheng solo. The concert is curated by Ding Yi concertmaster Fred Chan Hong Wei and features banhu virtuoso Hu Yu from Beijing’s Central Conservatory as Artistic Advisor, bringing a rare and profound musical dialogue to the stage.

On 6th and 7th June, Ding Yi presents Disappearing Series: The Last Episode, with am immersive concert weaving Chinese chamber music with the artistry of three traditional crafts—lion dance head-making, rattan weaving, and Malay songkok crafting—each carrying generations of heritage and meaning. These time-honoured skills embody the spirit and cultural depth of their artisans, brought to life through multimedia presentations. Audiences will witness master artisan Henry Ng bring the intricate art of lion dance head-making to life, while rattan weaving expert Chen Foon Kee showcases his craftsmanship, and the rhythmic grace and historical significance of Malay craftsmanship.

On 18th October, The Symphony of the Five Greats will see a groundbreaking fusion of music and theatre, bringing to life the legendary battle of the Five Greats from Louis Cha’s The Legend of the Condor Heroes, transforming them into a symphonic battle on stage. With stage direction by acclaimed playwright and Young Artist Award recipient Chong Tze Chien and original music by Sulwyn Lok, this concert redefines the possibilities of instrumental theatre.

Finally, on 15th November, ECOncert returns for its third edition, seamlessly blending art and sustainability, featuring instruments crafted from recycled materials. The performance includes compositions by Yii Kah Hoe and works by Biennale-featured artist Robert Zhao Ren Hui, exploring the intersection of ecology and music.

“Our 2025/26 season reflects Ding Yi’s unwavering commitment to artistic growth and collaboration, both locally and internationally,” says Elvia Goh, General Manager of Ding Yi. “Working with artists and creatives who have received the highest arts accolades of the nation is our honour and pleasure. We continue to explore new frontiers in Chinese chamber music through cultural discovery and musical storytelling. We hope these performances will inspire, challenge, and resonate deeply with our audiences.”

Traversing (2025) plays on 14th March 2025 at the Victoria Concert Hall. Tickets and more information available here

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