About Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS)
The Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony (RPWS) began its humble musical path on 1st August 2003 as part of the school’s Centre for Culture and Communication’s multi-faceted cultural activities by their own RP students.
Gabriel Song Jiada
Tuba Concerto by Edward Gregson (Symphonie de République II – ‘Transition’ 8th November 2008)
Gabriel picks up the tuba at the age of 14; in his secondary school under the baton of Mr. David Anthony Glosz and Mr. Pan Zhiwen.
At the age of 15, he joined the Singapore Wind Symphony Youth Winds and played with them for 3 years. His interest in tuba grew which brought him into forming the ‘Tuba Powerhouse’, a local amateur euphonium and tuba ensemble.
Gabriel also attended master classes by Øystein Baadsvik (Tuba Soloist), Steve Rosse (Principal Tuba, Sydney Symphony), Richard White (Tuba faculty, University of New Mexico), Andrew Hitz (Tubist, Boston Brass) and Jaeyoung Heo (Professor of Tuba, Chun-An University, South Korea).
He also enjoys attending other brass master classes by Steven Mead (international Euphonium soloist), Joseph Alessi (Principal Trombone, New York Philharmonic), Philip Smith (Principal Trumpet, New York Philharmonic) and Roger Argente (Principal Bass Trombone, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Head of Brass Studies at Trinity College of Music, London) among other brass players around the world.
Gabriel was also given the rare chances to work with renowned conductors like Douglas Bostock, Jan van der Roost, Mitsuo Nonami and Helen Quach.
Currently, he had also took few private lessons under Hidehiro Fujita (Principal Tuba, Singapore Symphony),
Tim Buzbee (Principal Tuba, Iceland Symphony), Mr. Francis Tan and Mr. Aaron Yong among others. As an active brass member, he is also one of the founders for Republican Brass (Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony brass ensemble). Under the baton of CPT Muhamad Yusri, he was also given the opportunity to perform Edward Gregson’s Tuba Concerto with the Republic Polytechnic Wind Symphony. Gabriel hopes to perform more professionally in the near future. During his free time, Gabriel likes finding good food and hunting for CDs.
