Acclaimed clarinetist Mariam Adam: Nurturing young talent is important

SINGAPORE — In George Benson’s hit song The Greatest Love Of All (which was later made into an even bigger hit by Whitney Houston), he talks about how children are the future of society. “Teach them well and let them show the way,” he croons in the opening verse.

That sentiment could well describe acclaimed clarinetist Mariam Adam’s and German conductor Jonas Alber’s decision to take part in the LANXESS-SNYO Musical Masterpieces concert this year. It takes place next Tuesday at the Esplanade Concert Hall and will feature Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture, Brahms’ Second Symphony, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto In A Major and Krommer’s Rondo From Concerto For Two Clarinets And Orchestra.

This annual concert series is the result of a mentorship and cultural exchange collaboration programme between German speciality chemicals company LANXESS and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO), called the LANXESS SNYO Classic. It is also a co-curricular activity under the Ministry of Education.

Started in May 2010, this platform was conceived to support and nurture young local talents in classical music by creating a platform for Singapore’s young musicians to interact with, learn from and perform with the world’s leading classical musicians via mentorship workshops held in Singapore, overseas study tours and annual public concert performances to maximise the benefit for the SNYO musicians.

The public concerts further enable the SNYO to “showcase and celebrate budding music talents, together with their mentors”, said the company website.

With that in mind, both Adam and Alber said the Music Masterpieces concert is not just another gig. The opportunity to meet — and share ideas with — the players of the SNYO was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“For me, education has always been a big part of my career,” said Adam. “At first, when I started out, I was a little reluctant to give concerts for children because I thought I was going to be a big soloist and didn’t have time for that.

“But about 16 years ago, I felt there was a big need — particularly in the United States — to give back and educate, nurture and provide the audience of tomorrow,” she continued. “When it comes to classical music, it’s an older audience. I wanted to instil that passion for music — and live music, especially, to young people. When I heard about the educational aspect of this visit ... I thought, this falls in line with what I want to do.”

Adam said the ability to positively influence a younger generation of musicians who might be questioning whether they want to get into music as a career was key to continuing an appreciation for, and supporting, classical music.

Students who are studying music now, for example, might not go on to be professional musicians, she said. “But we need (them) to still be part of the arts community … whether they end up being a concert goer or get into arts administration.”

For Alber, this trip gives him the chance to reconnect with some of the young musicians whom he met when LANXESS sponsored two harpists and two bass players from Singapore to work with principal orchestra musicians in Berlin.

“I’m quite used to working with young musicians, so I said, of course,” he said. “I wanted to see and hear what they were up to. I have high expectations of the youth orchestra. I heard a lot about their conductor, Darrell Ang, who has a good career in Europe. I wasn’t disappointed at our first rehearsal. I’ve been very impressed so far.”

Both Adam and Alber hope that the concert will not only be a showcase of good music and musicianship (“the orchestra really is fantastic”, said Alber), but also a chance to show people what a classical performance is all about.

“(We should) break down the barriers of classical music. People think it’s stiff or boring and they’ll fall asleep at such concerts, but it’s much more exciting than that. That’s why the great works have remained.”

She continued: “I think every musician wants to make an impact. You want people to be aware of your message as a musician. Live performances bring something that you can’t get anywhere else. These works — you don’t get to hear them every day; and you don’t get to hear young, very capable musicians coming together as a team every day.

“It’s going to be incredible. I think the audience will be moved.” Christopher Toh

The LANXESS-SNYO Musical Masterpieces concert is on Nov 24, 7.30pm, at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Tickets are S$10 from SISTIC.