a brief background so you'd know
- Jan 4, 2018
- 2 min read
No stranger to the performing scene, Joshua Roy gave public Piano and Electone performances since he was 9 years of age. He was selected amongst a group of young pianists in his primary school to accompany the school choir in many public performances and inter-school competitions. He received an award in 1991 for his contribution to the school’s arts scene and was highly commended by many school principals.
There after, Joshua Roy took up Tuba playing and performed on many occasions with his Secondary School’s Military Band. He received the appointment of the Tuba Section Leader and was tasked with conducting and coordinating training sessions, foot drills and band formations with fellow brass players. Besides, Joshua Roy was also invited as a guest Tuba Player at the Nanyang Polytechnic Symphonic Band under the baton of Richard Png. Together with the Symphonic Band, Joshua Roy performed in many concerts and events in Hong Kong in 1995. Also in 1996, he was invited by MIDI Nod, a computer music establishment based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia to give demonstrations on computer music possibilities.
Joshua discovered his love for Piano at the age of 14 upon hearing Frédéric Chopin’s Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp minor, Op. Posth. 66. With no prior piano technical skills, he mastered that piece within a year, and sat for the ABRSM Grade 5 and 8 shortly after. He also holds a Diploma in Pianoforte Performance by the Trinity College of London, scoring 85 out of a 100. In 2004, at the age of 23, Joshua Roy participated in the local Electone Competition and won the Grand Prize at the Singapore Electone Festival. He thus represented Singapore at the Asia Electone Festival held in Taipei in Aug ’04, competing with fellow winners from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand. He was also awarded the Grand Prize at the coveted event and moved on to represent Singapore at the Prestigious International Electone Concours held in Tokyo, Japan on 27 Nov ’04.
There, he faced stiff competition from celebrated Electone Players; 1 Chinese National, 1 Taiwanese and 15 Japanese from the various prefectures in Japan. Joshua Roy was one of the 6 who were selected to compete at the Finals on 28 Nov ’04. With his unique styles of music,impressive technique and expressive showmanship, Joshua Roy was able to convey feelings of peace, excitement and joy through his music with the audiences. He was finally awarded the Grand Prix at the prestigious International Electone Concours 2004. 1st ever for a Singaporean, and a 2nd for an Asian.
Joshua Roy was interviewed by both the Yamaha International Magazine, Japan’s Asahi Shimbun and Singapore’s Straits Times, in recognition for his achievement for Singapore and was commended by The National Arts Council.
Joshua Roy has been instructing on the Piano and Electone for 15 years and is also an accomplished performer on the Piano and Electone, having been invited to perform overseas and numerous national events. He currently coaches 50 individual students weekly; from varied backgrounds, interests, goals and caters to their individual strengths and talents.
Here are the links to his performances in Tokyo where he won the coveted award.
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