- quick and current -

upon completing her honours in sociology at the national university of singapore in 2004, joanna went on to begin her diverse and multi-faceted career in singing and performing.

joanna is currently working to promote her debut EP "lullaby nomad", which she launched with a sold-out concert at the esplanade recital studio.

- history -

i began singing since the days i mimicked my father as he bellowed pavarotti and domingo around the house. my father's love for european operatic singing, coupled with the karaoke-fever of that era (it was in the 80s) that favoured mandarin oldies/ folk songs, was not altogether odd, but certainly laid the foundations for the diversity of singing styles i was eventually to experiment with.

formal training began intermittently with classical voice teachers. but technique is technique - it was really in the choir where i learnt interpretation and expression (amongst many other precious lessons on friendship, pride and passion). i spent most of my school life as a chorister, in paya lebar methodist girls' primary, raffles' girls school, and victoria junior college. the last of these was definitive in shaping my attitudes towards vocal performance.

thereafter, forming ngam - an a cappella group made up of some of my closest friends from vjc days - started me on the path to paid gigs; my induction into the nus jazz band as a vocalist kept me on my toes as a soloist, and established the genre of music i desired most to perform. it was also here where i realised all over again how much of a novice i still am (and perhaps always will be) to Music.

from the days i was prancing around the house singing jellicle cats (from andrew lloyd webber's 'cats') to trying to put lyrics to a horn solo (and still prancing, somewhat), the learning continues...and continues... you get the idea. it's a voracity. 

- services -

events| weddings | commercial recordings| musical theatre| swing dancing*

* also known as lindy hop

- milestone performances -

2008:

do not disturb - late checkout please, real actors, "joanna" (dir. tan kheng hua)

"esplanade presents da:nsfest - swing along", esplanade forecourt (with broken orange fence)

"esplanade late night series - lullaby nomad", esplanade recital studio

the soldier and his virtuous wife, "meiying" (the theatre practice)

"esplanade presents lunchbox: jazz dimsum", esplanade concert hall

2007:

"singapore prestige brands awards 2007" - guest performer

"western australian chinese chamber of commerce 20th anniversary ball" - guest performer, the burswood casino ballroom, perth, WA

if there're seasons..., "rose" (the theatre practice)

"training ground", on the waterfront, esplanade (with nuentendo)

"swing nights", mosaic music festival, esplanade (with broken orange fence)

2006:

forbidden city: portrait of an empress, ensemble (singapore repertory theatre)

"gongs vinyls electones & voice", esplanade concourse (coll.eff + gamelan asmaradana)

"smooth jammin", esplanade outdoor theatre (with broken orange fence)

"b.e.a.t.s. inc", esplanade outdoor theatre (with coll.eff)

"singapore celebrates vesak 2550", finale item (featured vocalist)

"lounge around", mosaic music festival, esplanade (with coll.eff)

cny "firecrackers" concert, esplanade outdoor theatre (with WFP)

2005:

snow queen, ensemble (singapore repertory theatre)

on the waterfront, esplanade outdoor theatre (with broken orange fence)

heineken green room session, vietnam (as part of dj-keyboard-vocal trio: The DKM project)

nus centennial celebrations, esplanade concourse (with WFP)

flip side@ esplanade, concourse (as part of dj-trumpet-vocal trio: coll.eff.)

heineken/ frontal "open mix sessions" @ acid bar/ sound bar

2004:

singapore idol (auditions and piano show)

nye bash@ esplanade (large-scale outdoor new year's eve concert)

"sex and the lion city" (dinner musical)

2003:

jazz for the aspiring concert (with lincoln centre jazz trio, nusjazz and ngam)

"romance by the river" performances (part of romancing singapore)

2002:

explore a cappella festival (at changi international airport)

western division conference of the american choral directors association (guest choir; held in hawaii)

- key awards -

2008:

8th life! theatre awards, best supporting actress (if there're seasons...)

2006:

weili + marc, feat. jo dong, heineken thirst, runner-up

2004:

solo, singapore idol, top 30

t-issue, jamX inter-tertiary bands competition, 3rd place; "best original composition"

2001:

ngam, 4th harmony awards, "best newcomer of the year"

ngam, rhapsody 2001, champion, (vocal group category)

2000:

victoria chorale, 1st choir olympics (linz, austria), silver medal

1998:

theatre studies and drama, victoria junior college (yr 1), top student

1995:

solo, japan 3rd international high school art competition (voice, solo category), "bunta sugawara endeavor award"

- please email me for enquiries or a copy of my full performance cv -