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Yi Kai, Sim was conferred the Masters in Music degree in 2013 at University of California, Santa Barbara. In a highly specialized field, he studied both collaborative piano and solo piano under acclaimed Curtis alumni Robert Koenig and Paul Berkowitz. He was unanimously awarded the Second Prize in the Open Category at the 2006 International IBLA Piano Competition. After a competitive nationwide audition at the Metropolitan Opera, Yi Kai was invited as an artist for the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar in New York, working with renowned mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and pianist-composer Alan Smith. As an opera répétiteur, he took on the triple role of assistant conductor, vocal coach and continuo harpsichordist in the entire production of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in California. As a collaborative pianist, Yi Kai has performed with numerous international soloists. He has since concertized in the United States, Bangkok and China. In Singapore, he has collaborated in two sold-out recitals at the Esplanade with Yale alumnus violinist Edward Tan. Their dynamic partnership was described as “equal, with both opportunities for each to shine” by the Straits Times newspaper. His 2014 piano duo series with Lim Yan has been hailed as “intrepid” and “risk-taking” by critics. Yi Kai, Sim is currently teaching piano, music theory, aural and piano accompaniment at Tanglewood Music School. |