I think that the Young Composers’ Forum is a good opportunity for composers that want to learn more about what composers actually do the hardships and benefits of what it is to be one too. YCF also allows composers to be mentored by professional composers such as my mentor Tan Yuting. Yuting gave me many valuable insights and advice that allowed me to think outside of what I originally had my ideas set on while still being able to capture it. So I feel that YCF was a very valuable opportunity given to me and I hope that more young composers are also able to get these types of opportunities.
The 2nd edition of CSS’ Young Composers Forum took place from October 2023 to March 2024. Under the tutelage of senior CSS composers Joyce Koh, John Sharpley and Yuting Tan, 9 young composers were selected to undergo a 6-month creative period of meet-the-musician sessions, lectures, individual lessons and workshop sessions, in order to develop new pieces for local new music collective Weird Aftertaste. YCF 2023 culminated in a final concert at the Singapore Composers Festival 2024, which took place on 23 March 2024.