Michellina Chan

SAXOPHONIST, EDUCATOR & INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATOR

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Whether you're having a holiday get-together, a cosy family dinner or an exciting gift exchange, here are your must-haves for festive gatherings - as shared by our #LBCommunity. As we wrap up this year, these inspirational women also share with us their heartfelt stories about life and their learnings this year, as well as their goals for the upcoming year.

Introduce yourself and tell us how a typical week goes for you!

Hi everyone, happy december and soon-to-be Merry Christmas! I’m Michellina Chan, a saxophonist, educator & interdisciplinary collaborator. There is no typical week for me, this keeps me on my toes in an exciting way (most of the time ;-) )!

One day I could be busy practicing and recording and the next could be a full day of teaching and rehearsing with different groups of people. I am constantly on the go and love the excitement the job I do gives me! I do try to have some balance in other areas of my life, I enjoy my twice a week mid-day swims to recharge as well as reading on my kindle when I’m traveling between places.a long day of work.

What do you enjoy the most about the holiday season?

The explosion of energy! Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, around the holiday season you feel in the air a bout of positivity and pent up energy let off! People are living more passionately and enjoying life more exuberantly during this time! It leaves me feeling extremely inspired.

Christmastime reminds us to be nicer and kinder to one another, and everyone’s happiness is just so infectious. I find that people tend to be in a better mood, and we all look forward to a better year ahead.

"Be inspired by things around you! Grass can perhaps be greener on the other side, but you have the power to make your own path and grow whatever green you want (or why not even red, pink, purple, gold)!"

List your 5 must-have things for a Festive Gathering!

1. Family and friends hanging out over delicious food

2. Adventures around Singapore - I still can't believe how beautiful Singapore is, having lived overseas for a large amount of time, I've learnt to appreciate the safety and beauty of our tiny red dot! I love the sky scrappers, the bright lights & the abundance of green nature!

3. Saxophones to belt out some Christmas tunes!

4. Reflections on the year! (Being Mortal by Duo plastiCITY part of Tuckshop Incubation 2021; first female South-East Asian Selmer Paris Artiste; the many hours of teaching behind a screen; [retch] - Bertram Wee (2021) performed by dBm)

5. A good book in between practice!

What inspires you?

People! I love meeting new people, listening to their life stories and the exchange of different life views! My recent favourite have been several conversations with grab drivers, I guess I have the kind of openness where people gladly indulge me in their stories. I feel so privileged and also humbled by the experiences.

What is the toughest challenge(s) you have faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

Being one of the few females in a predominantly male wind instrument industry has been a tough challenge, yet it has also become my driving force to push myself to excel and give my very best. There were many times where I've felt that I'm not good enough or overlooked. Music is a creative industry where one expresses ideas and shares emotions. However, on several occasions I have had my ideas dismissed only to have a male counterpart with the same paraphrased idea getting the recognition. Things like that can really break down one’s confidence in one’s own abilities. As a result, I have found myself often working much harder than my colleagues in order to gain respect and leave an impression.

Having these isolating experiences over the years has taught me to be assertive, to speak up for myself and to be conscious of the way I present myself. I am still learning everyday through bettering myself with my practice, reading and learning new skills. This gives me the confidence to make sure my voice is heard and to earn the respect I deserve in my field. Because of the nature of this industry, it has been ingrained in us to see colleagues as competition. However I strive to challenge this by continuing to equally empower young musicians of all genders in the education work I do.

What is one message you want to send out to other women?

Enjoy the process of learning independence, but please remember that you can always ask for help along the way! Asking for help shows vulnerability but also strength and humility.

MORE ABOUT MICHELLINA >