The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Gene Aitken as the new Conservatory Director, with effect from 1 May 2005. Dr. Aitken takes over the leadership of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory from Dr. Steven Baxter, who retired as the Conservatory's founding Director. Dr. Aitken has had extensive musical and leadership experience in North America and Southeast Asia, and was the Conservatory's Deputy Director from September 2004 to April 2005.
Prior to his appointment at the Conservatory, Dr. Aitken was Advisor to the Director of the College of Music at Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2003, he was co-founder of the SAYOWE Project (Southeast Asia Youth Orchestra and Wind Ensemble), the first international Asian music programme to bring together students from the nine Southeast Asian countries. From 1976 to 2002, Dr. Aitken was Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Northern Colorado, one of the most well known jazz programmes in the world. In addition, as a wind ensemble conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Aitken has contributed to music education programmes throughout Asia and America.