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Director's Message

Masako White

Music is a gift from God

Thank you very much for visiting Virtuosi Music Centre’s new official website. We established our school in 2001 in Singapore and since then, many of students have learnt from us. I am very thankful that I could be part of many of my students’ lives through the violin.

We have students from different backgrounds in our school. Fundamentally, many of our students first embarked on their music journey with us. However, we also have international students who joined us here in Singapore to continue with their violin studies despite already being familiar with it, as well as adults who wished to pick up music. We do provide lessons for instruments besides the violin, however, please allow me to tell you more about my journey with the violin.

On my fourth birthday, my father gave me a small sized violin, telling me that it could become my friend I would be with for life. It was as if his words have casted a spell on my younger self such that it indeed became a friend that I truly treasure till today. Since then, under the guidance of a kind-hearted instructor and a strict father, I began my daily practice of the violin. Despite facing ups and downs while learning the violin, with the support of my parents and teachers who sincerely rooted for my progress, I was able to stand at where I am today. The violin is an instrument that directly reflects one’s sound and feelings. A single sound of the violin produces human’s sensitivity, a variety of tone colours and creativity, which could enrich your lives in such a way where you may meet many people and open up your heart, widening your horizons. The violin will always be by your side, making music with you even when you are happy, sad or lonely. I started and continued this school till today, hoping that learning and performing the violin, a lifelong friend, could be a radiance in your heart and play a huge role in your lives. Regardless of age, music will cultivate your ability to play, listen, think and feel, making a huge impact in both the individual’s and others’ lives. Hence, would you like to join us?


Our Faculty

Masako Suzuki White

Violinist / Principal
ARCM with Honours / The Singapore Music Teachers Association 会員


Master Class instructor

Pursue richness in skill and sensitivity with strict and patient teaching

Born in Japan, Masako Suzuki White started playing the violin at the age of four. At nine years old, she attained an award for solo recital and since then, had continued to participate in several national competitions. She enrolled at Toho Gakuen School of Music and was under the tutelage of Ryo Kubota and Hideo Saito. White performed in a concert held at Tokyo Yamaha Hall where the then prince of Japan had attended and since then, she has been actively performing in many places. In 1996, she earned a scholarship and enrolled at the Royal College of Music. Being the most outstanding performer, she was under the mentor of Leonard Hias during her postgraduate education and at the time of graduation, she was awarded with the highest honours award, Soloist Diploma. Furthermore, she performed for Queen Elizabeth II, sponsor of the college. She had also participated in the master class where Itzhak Perlman, a renowned violinist of the 20th century, had also attended. Through the experiences gained as a soloist and chamber musician in the UK, together with members of BBC Symphony Orchestra, White actively participated and served as a leader of the Suzuki Quartet.In Singapore, she performed a violin concerto such as the " Butterfly Lovers' ". In 2002, together with Braddell Heights Orchestra, she played for Esplanade's opening ceremony where the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew was present. Currently, she does her solo and chamber music activities, together with Alexander Souptel, ex-concertmaster of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), or with other musicians. Some of her recent notable performances include "SAVE THE NORTH POLE", which was attended by Prince Albert of Monaco, charity concert organised by the Singapore Red Cross to raise funds for the victims of 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, "Music for our children, the hope of our future - Luca Stradivari Premier Concert" a concert held at Esplanade Recital Studio, and a children concert held at Fukuoka, "A Gift from Music". On the other hand, as the principal of Virtuosi Music Centre, she has trained and nurtured young musicians. Through her more than 40 years of teaching experience, she has aided in widening her students' learning experiences by inviting world-renowned artists to hold concerts, lessons and master classes. Many of her students from Virtuosi Music Centre has participated and won the honorary prizes in various notable competitions such as the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists, The Paganini Competition and The international Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. As such, the school has contributed to the birth of world-class musicians.





Alexander Souptel

Violinist/ Ex-Concertmaster of SSO(1993-2013）

Guest instructor (Master Class instructor)

A master who emphasises on sound quality, importance of music and expressiveness in the sound

Alexander Souptel was born in Southern Russia in 1948 to a family of musicians in which his father was a conductor. He picked up the violin at the age of five and learnt the piano for seven years. He enrolled at Gnessin State Musical College, completing his high school studies in 1967 and graduated in 1972. In 1980, he served as the leader of USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra (known today as the State Symphony Capella of Russia) for ten years, under the then principal conductor, Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Souptel was recognised as a "rare and excellent concert master and soloist" by Rozhdestvensky. In 1982, he performed for the first time a violin poetry together with the orchestra lead by Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Aman Agajkov. Furthermore, in 1986, he earned a medal as a Russian Honorary Artist. In Moscow, he actively performed as a leader as well as a soloist with various renowned orchestras. He was a leader of Moscow Symphony Orchestra before he served as a concertmaster of Singapore Symphony Orchestra from 1993 to 2013. Today, he holds many performances and nurtures young musicians at Virtuosi Music Centre.




Yumiko Kanda

Cellist

Violin / Cello Instructor

Focuses on the foundation of the violin for beginners

Kanda was born in Japan and was under the tutelage of Mitsuaki Takasu from the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra for her cello studies. After moving to Singapore, she was mentored by Herminia Ilano who had served as a sub-principal cellist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In 2005, she attained a diploma Trinity College London ATCL examinations. She has been part of orchestras in both Singapore and Japan, and has also played in several churches. Furthermore, her two daughters have been under the tutelage of Masako Suzuki White for their violin studies for 16 and 15 years, both attaining a diploma in ATCL. With the experiences as "a mother of two daughters who play the violin", she carries out her lessons earnestly, understanding the feelings of children and the parents.