Hello! I am Sulwyn, a composer-conductor from Singapore, currently based between there and New York.
If you’re looking for a formal, third-person bio, scroll past this section to find it!
I write music both for the stage and screen, and I just had an exciting phase of levelling up - completing my masters in Screen Scoring at the New York University, under the Singapore Digital Scholarship from the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
Originally from a concert music background, I realised that I really joy bringing the feels to things, anything. To put that in a more classy way, I love being able to elevate visuals to a different dimension of emotions through music, composing for anything from drama films to action films, to animation, and to commercials. Working with fantastic directors has given me the honour of letting my music be felt in places such as the Cannes Film Festival, and granting me the Best Original Music award at the National Youth Film Awards 2019 (Singapore).
My first instrument was the ruǎn/阮, a ‘Chinese lute’, during my school days. That led to more than a decade with Chinese instruments and ensembles, including being in the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra, working with musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, as well as clinching the 1st Prize at the National Chinese Music Competition 2014 with the Ding Yi Youth Ensemble. To further promote the Chinese orchestra and explore new ideas for it, I co-founded the Victoria Chinese Orchestra where I now conduct.
For my professional music training, I have to thank my alma mater, the National University of Singapore YST Conservatory of Music, for the full scholarship to complete a degree in Audio Arts and Science. My mentors there have not only given me a rigorous training in the technical aspects of music production, but also opened up my thinking and palette as a musician and composer.
Formal Bio
With his music described as “enkindling the stage” (Lianhe Zaobao, 2014) and “magical” (Straits Times, 2018), Singaporean composer-conductor Sulwyn Lok advocates the human connection in music and going beyond cultural boundaries.
His unique "composer-language" amalgamates traditional music styles of different countries; jazz; metal; impressionism; and others. This language is used in the diverse range of mediums that he writes for, from films (including ADAM, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2019, and Chasing Paper, which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival 2018), to orchestras (including the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra), to jingles (including winning 2nd Prize at the SCO-Scanteak Jingle Competition 2018). Embracing cross-medium and cross-genre collaborations, Sulwyn has also composed for projects involving virtual reality and dance (commissioned by the National Arts Council of Singapore), food and visuals (commissioned by JW Marriott Hotel), and Chinese opera and martial arts (commissioned by Ding Yi Music Company). For his music for the film Bodhi, he was awarded the Best Original Music at the National Youth Film Awards 2019.
Sulwyn developed his music style through his extensive work across Southeast Asia promoting cultural exchange. These include being invited by the Music Society of Myanmar Festival and Competition to teach masterclasses and conduct as the Festival Artist composer; running music workshops (sponsored by Singapore International Foundation) for asylum-seekers in Indonesia; and being a representative at Southeast Asian Directors of Music Congresses in Laos and Thailand. For him, conducting and collaborating with musicians on instruments of different cultures resulted in an invaluable vault of new musical ideas and colours.
Sulwyn is currently reading his Master of Music Theory and Composition: Screen Scoring at New York University, under the Singapore Digital Scholarship from the Infocomm Media Development Authority. A valedictorian of the YST Conservatory of Music, Sulwyn also works to bring films to life and create new experiences in the concert hall as a composer.
Mentors
Musicians who have guided me and left a great impact on my life - always grateful for them!
COMPOSITION
Mark Suozzo
Music Associate Professor of Film Scoring, New York University
Jamie Lawrence
Music Adjunct Faculty, New York University
5-time Emmy Awards winner; Music Director, Tony Awards 2019
Eric Hachikian
Music Adjunct Faculty, New York University
Creative Director, Soundcat Productions
Law Wai Lun
Composer-in-Residence, Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Cultural Medallion 2017 (Singapore)
Dr Chen Zhangyi
Assistant Professor, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
ORCHESTRATION & HARMONY
Adeline Wong
Lecturer, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Dr Nick Omiccioli
Assistant Professor, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
JAZZ
Dr Tony Makarome
Associate Professor, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Ed Neumeister
Music Adjunct Faculty, New York University
AUDIO PRODUCTION (Recording, Mixing, Studio Work)
Zhou Xiaodong
Senior Lecturer, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music
Gao Yang
Director, Pavane Recording Studio