HO Hwee Long (Singapore)

Associate Professor Ho Hwee Long is a widely recognized and respected figure in music circles. He possesses a Masters degree in Music Education from Northwestern University, Illinois, USA, and has studied band conducting under the tutelage of the late Professor John Paynter. In 1967, he assumed the conductor's baton and has since been extensively involved in the evolution of Singapore's band movement. He has an impressive record of achievements in the field of band music.

He was a French Horn player with the National Symphony Orchestra (1967 - 1969), and was the founder and conductor of the Singapore Polytechnic Band and national Theatre Symphonic Band. In the United States, he conducted the Northwestern Wind Symphony and the Palestine High School Band.

He is currently an Associate Professor of the Division of Visual and Performing Arts in the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University. His responsibilities within the Division include conducting its resident symphonic band, research supervision and teaching music education, conducting and instrumental pedagogy. He is also a composer and arranger and has contributed a number of articles related to the symphonic band.

His experience as a conductor includes concerts in Malaysia, Brunei, New Zealand, Taiwan, Australia, Hong Kong, Philippines and Norway. Besides conducting the NIE Symphonic Band, he is also the conductor of the National Junior College Symphonic Band and guest conductor of the Bradell Heights Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of Music Board, Singapore Armed Forces Band. He is heading the cultural subcommittee of Hongkah-Sembawang Community Development Council. His love for music and beliefs in exacting standards has seen his bands make their mark in the local band scene.

Being an experienced and distinguished conductor, he is often invited to participate and adjudicate in prestigious music events both locally and internationally. This includes an appointment as the Advisor to World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) - Singapore 2005 Conference. Over the years, A/P Ho has forged numerous friendships with musicians overseas through the many concert tours and cultural events he has participated in. As such, he has gained international recognition as a band conductor. He is often invited to conduct overseas bands and many have benefited from his invaluable experience.

Richard John Adams (Singapore)

Richard Adams was head of woodwind, Brass & Percussion at the Welsh College of Music & Drama from 1996 to 2000. He studied the trumpet and the piano at Birmingham School of Music where he won several prizes including the Alfred Corfield Trumpet Prize and Birmingham & Midland Institute Brass Prize. He was also presented with the British Bandsman Award in 1996 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to brass music-making.

He was founding member of the Cambrian Brass Quintet and regularly played with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the English Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Touring Opera and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Richard was an adjudicator for the 1999 Singapore Youth Festival Band Competition and had conducted masterclasses and workshops at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, The Tromso School of Music (Norway), the Shanghai Consevatory of Music and the National University of Singapore. His varied and colourful career included work with groups as diverse as English Serenata, Desford Colliery Band and Bangkok Symphony Orchestra. Currently a tutor for the National Youth Wind Orchestra, he is demand as a conductor and a band trainer.

Presently he is the Head of Music Department of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in August 2000. His enormous contribution to the local music scene is keenly anticipated.

Surapol Thanyawibool (Thailand)

· Conductor of Kasetsart University, Wind Symphony

· Participated in the Opening - Closing Ceremony of the University Games in 1999

· Performed at a Royal Opening Ceremony in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn at the 31st Chemistry Olympic 1999

· Performed at the Royal Arrival Ceremony of Her Royal Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on the auspicious occasion of the Opening Ceremony of the Metropolitan Rapid Transit

· Performed to entertain the University Staff Members in the "Pak Pon Gab Don-Tri" (Relax with Music) Program

· Performed regularly at Lumpini Park concerts sponsored by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration

· Performed at the Benjasiri Rotary Club

· Performed at the "Somdet Ya" Memorial Park of Her Late Royal Highness the King's Mother

· Won the 2nd prize in the Symphonic Band Asian Competition in 1999

· Performed at the Thai-Singaporean Cultural Exchange Program