Josephine Koh
Music Director and Resident Conductor
NUS Harmonica Orchestra NUS Symphony Orchestra

Ms Josephine Koh is the principal of Josephine Koh Music Studio and Managing Director of Wells Music Publishers. She specializes in piano performance and music theory, and has been internationally known for her published work in music education.

Ms Koh's music career began as lecturer at the La-Salle SIA College of Fine Arts (1987-1990). She was also appointed pianist and music tutor at the NUS Centre For the Arts in 1986. She has also performed extensively in Europe as a recitalist and soloist, and participated actively in masterclasses and international competitions. She received tutelage in orchestral conducting from Denise Ham of the Royal Academy of Music in 2006, and attended the Canford Summer School of Orchestral Conducting with George Hurst in the UK.

With the inauguration of the NUS Harmonica Orchestra in 2006, Ms Josephine Koh returned to helm the NUS Harmonica Orchestra. Her current commitments include guiding the orchestra through its growth and development, and leading the Orchestra to greater heights.

Yasuo Watani
Guest Collaborator

Born in Kyoto, Japan, Mr Yasuo Watani is one of the world’s leading chromatic harmonica soloists. After graduating from Doshisha University, Kyoto, in 1984 with a degree in Economics, Mr. Watani studied the chromatic harmonica with Helmut Herold at the Hohner Konservatorium Trossingen in Germany from 1984 to 1988. From 1988 to 2002, he was invited to continue at the Hohner Konservatorium Trossingen as a lecturer. Besides Germany, Mr Watani has also lectured in Japan at Senzoku-Gakuen Colege of Music since 2005. In recognition of his excellence and many contributions, Mr Watani was awarded the Kyoto Cultural Award.

With an active performing career, Mr Watani has staged numerous solo concerts in many parts of the world including Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Argentina and Brazil. In addition, he has performed as a soloist with Wurttemburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Japan Shinsei Symphony Orchestra, Gunma Symphony Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra and the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Since 2002, Mr Watani has been one of the examiners in the harmonica examination organized by NUS Centre For the Arts (CFA).

Mun Guan Joined NUS Harmonica Orchestra in 1990. With a bachelor's degree in physics from NUS, he has proven to be equally successful in harmonica playing. He is interested in exploring new tone and colour of the harmonica through new breathing techniques that have enabled him to play difficult draw-blow trills and a beautiful vibrato on the harmonica. Currently, Mun Guan serves as a chromatic harmonica tutor and solo performer for the NUS Harmonica Orchestra. He is also a guest solo performer for the Harmonica Aficionados Society and Braddell Heights Community Centre Harmonica Band.

Currently a fourth year engineering student, Jennifer has achieved outstanding results in many competitions. She emerged as the champion in the Harmonica Ensemble category in Malaysia-China Harmonica Competition 2004, won third place in Chromatic Solo category in the Malaysia-Singapore Harmonica Competition 2006, obtained the Silver medal in the Harmonica Trio Open category and the Bronze medal of the Harmonica Duet Open category in the international Harmonica Carnival 2007 and First Prize in Harmonica Ensemble Open in the Suzuki Harmonica Competition and Festival 2007. She also clinched the Silver award in Solo Open category in the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival in 2012.