EDQ

Woodwind Quintet

 

EDQ was formed in December 2011. Its resident members include Jasper Goh (flute), Benjamin Wong (clarinet), Veda Lin (oboe), Emerald Chee (bassoon) and Alan Kartik (french horn). EDQ is more than a woodwind quintet. Besides performing works from the wind quintet genre, the group has also performed works for sextet and smaller chamber works ranging from duos to quartets as well as arrangements of piano music. Recent performances include a successful recital in the Esplanade recital studio in August 2013, and recitals in January and February 2013 as part of the Living With series organized by The Arts House.

In Februrary 2013, EDQ participated in the 7th Henri Tomasi International Woodwind Quintet Competition in Marseille, France and succeeded in the first two rounds against quintets from France, Germany, UK, Austria, USA, Russia and Kazakhstan. EDQ was one of four woodwind quintets to compete in the finals, and was awarded the best interpretation of the commissioned work, Suite Francaise by Tapio Tuomela. At the request of the composer himself, EDQ gave the official world premiere of Suite Francaise on 23 February 2013.

EDQ most recently engaged in a regional partnership with Sawasdee Woodwind Quintet from Thailand during the Singapore Woodwind Festival in April 2014. It was a valuable and fun learning experience performing Emile Bernard’s Divertissement for Double Wind Quintet, and EDQ eagerly looks forward to future partnerships with Sawasdee Woodwind Quintet.

The group's principal coach is clarinetist Marcel Luxen (co-principal, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO)). EDQ continually seeks professional guidance from established and inspiring musicians. Most recently, they have been coached by Monica Ellis (bassoonist, Imani Winds), Joost Flach (co-principal oboe, MPO), Han Chang Chou (principal horn, Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO)), Roberto Alvarez (associate principal piccoloist, SSO) and Christoph Wichert (bassoonist, SSO). EDQ has also been coached by Louis Dunoyer and Isabelle Grandet (professor of chamber music at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse) while they were in France.

EDQ strives to develop to be an established woodwind ensemble in the local scene and beyond; one that brings the colours and diversity of wind music to a wide range of audiences through its fine ensemble and musicianship.