Annex 1 – NAFA Convocation 2015 Award Winners
S/n Course Best Graduate
1 Diploma in Design & Media (Graphic Design)
Kevin Wijaya
‘The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal’ & ‘Best Graduate Award’
2 Diploma in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing
Silvia
‘NAFA Chairman Award’ & ‘Best Graduate Award’
3 Diploma in Music Lin Wan
‘NAFA President Award’ & ‘Best Graduate Award’
4 Diploma in Dance Brandon Khoo Zhi Hao
‘NAFA Outstanding Achievement Award’ & ‘Best Graduate Award’
5 Bachelor of Music (Hons) Isyana Sarasvati
‘Embassy of Peru Award’ & ‘Best Graduate Award’
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal Winner
Kevin Wijaya
Diploma in Design & Media (Graphic Design)
Awards & Achievements
NAFA Scholarship (Diploma), AY2014/2015
Lee Foundation Academic Achievement Scholarship, AY2013/2014 Graphic Designer for NAFA Convocation 2014 & 2015
Art Director, The Grad Expectations, School of Art & Design, NAFA, 2015 Art Director (Creative & Advertising), Indonesian Arts Festival, 2015
Head of IT, Publication & Marketing Division, Indonesian Student's Association in Singapore, 2014
Finalist, OCBC Portable Charger Design, 2014
Finalist, Publication Design Category, The Crowbar Awards, 2013
Kevin had always known that his passion lies in graphic design and decided to pursue this passion upon graduating from high school. During his studies at NAFA, Kevin is known to be a diligent and meticulous individual. His excellent academic results earned him scholarships for his second and final year of studies at NAFA.
He is forward thinking and observant. In 2013, he was selected as a Finalist in the
Publication Category of ‘The Crowbar Awards’. Kevin is independent and constantly looking for ways to improve himself in all aspects by participating in competitions and volunteering in events.
Kevin is acknowledged by his peers to be cheerful and humble, always there to help his classmates and is active in many school activities. In his final year, he was appointed as art director for ‘The Grad Expectations’, the first combined graduation show in 2015 for the School of Art & Design. Despite his hectic schedule, he still makes time for external activities as a committee member of the Indonesian Students’ Association in Singapore. He believes that being a part of something bigger than himself makes him a better person.
About the Award
The Ngee Ann Kongsi Gold Medal is presented each year to the most outstanding diploma graduate in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The medal recognises the all-round
achievements of the recipient who possesses strong academic performance, good attributes including discipline, diligence and leadership qualities, as well as contributions towards the class, the Academy and the arts community.
The medal is funded by Ngee Ann Kongsi, a foundation that is actively involved in educational, cultural and welfare activities in Singapore. This is the first year that this prestigious award is being conferred.
NAFA Chairman Award Winner
Silvia
Diploma in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing
Awards & Achievements
NAFA Scholarship (Diploma), AY2014/2015 NAFA ASEAN Grant (Diploma), AY2013/2014
Harper’s BAZAAR Asia New Generation Fashion Designer Award, 2015 Student Womenswear Designer Category, 2014
Emerging and Student Designer Competition, Miami Fashion Week, 2014 Top 10 Finalist, Crowne Plaza ‘Dressed to Rest’ Design Contest, 2014 3rd Place, IPOS Style Challenge Competition, 2014
Designer, International Volunteer Day Fashion Show Celebrated By Red Cross Singapore, 2013
The Lycra Future Designers Award (Student), WGSN Global Fashion Awards, 2013 3rd Place, Shana Fashion Design Contest, 2012
Silvia’s first priority was always to do well in her studies. She persevered in her three years at NAFA and had consistently delivered excellent academic results.
From the start of her first year of studies at NAFA, she pursued challenges outside her comfort zone in school and participated in numerous local and international fashion design competitions. In 2015, she took part in the Harper’s BAZAAR Asia New Generation Fashion Designer competition, successfully managed her time by juggling the crucial final-year project and the afore-mentioned competition, which lasted 8 months. As the winner of the ‘Singapore’s Emerging Designers’ category, she competed in the final Inter-regional
competition against fashion practitioners from Asia and was crowned the winner. Her win at the competition earned her the sponsorship for a Master’s Degree in Fashion and Luxury Brand Management at the prestigious Instituto Marangoni in Italy.
As a Fashion Merchandising and Marketing student, Silvia has passionately and relentlessly worked towards finding her identity as a designer, and is all set to prove herself and her abilities to the world.
About the Award
The NAFA Chairman Award is presented each year to an exceptional student from amongst the best diploma graduates of each graduating cohort. The award recognises the all-round achievements of the recipient who has excelled academically and distinguished
NAFA President Award Winner
Lin Wan
Diploma in Music
Awards & Achievements
NAFA Scholarship (Diploma), AY2014/2015
1st Prize, NAFA Music Essentials Concerto Competition (Piano Category), 2014 Best Accompanist Award, 8th Tan Ngiang Kaw/Tan Ngiang Ann Memorial Vocal
Competition, 2014
1st prize, 6th Lucien Wang Piano Competition, 2014
2nd prize, Chopin Etude Category, Singapore International Youth Piano Competition, 2013
1st prize, 1st NAFA International Chopin Piano Competition (C category), 2010
Lin Wan’s interest in music started at the tender age of four when she was first introduced to the piano. Her talent was evident soon after and she began formal studies at the Fujian Arts Vocational College in China. By her early teens, she had won top prizes in regional
competitions in Beijing, Fujian, Hong Kong, Taiwan. In 2010 at the age of fourteen, she clinched the First Prize in the 1st International Chopin Piano Competition Singapore (Category C) organized by Chopin Society of Singapore and NAFA.
Lin Wan’s piano playing abilities continued to blossom during her studies. She won the 6th Lucien Wang Piano Competition, and the Best Accompanist Award at the 8th Tan Ngiang Kaw/Tan Ngiang Ann Memorial Vocal Competition in 2014. In that same year, she was placed first in the piano category of the NAFA Music Essentials Concerto Competition, and was a prize winner in the finals of the NAFA Music Essentials Concerto Competition. For her dedication and excellence in music, Lin Wan was awarded the NAFA Entry Scholarship to pursue her degree studies at NAFA in 2015.
About the Award
The NAFA President Award is presented each year to an exceptional student from amongst the best diploma graduates of each graduating cohort. The award recognises the all-round achievements of the recipient who has excelled academically and distinguished
NAFA Outstanding Achievement Award Winner
Brandon Khoo Zhi Hao Diploma in Dance
Awards & Achievements
NAFA Scholarship (Diploma), AY2014/2015
Brandon’s dance journey in Chinese, Malay and contemporary dance began in 2007 and continued at the Soka Gakkai Malaysia Association. Since he joined NAFA’s Diploma in Dance programme in 2012, he has grown as a promising dance artiste.
Brandon was a prolific dancer throughout his years of study at NAFA. He had performed in numerous NAFA productions, such as Still Waters Run Deep, a Dance production in celebration of NAFA’s 75th Anniversary in 2013, at the Esplanade Theatre.
He was, since his first year of studies, chosen to perform in Crossings: Diploma in Dance
Showcase, the Dance Programme’s annual production. He was also selected to perform in
The Third Space: Contemporary Asian Explorations in Dance, NAFA’s annual dance
production for the da:ns festival organised by the Esplanade.
He represented NAFA in ‘Flight of the Kaleidoscopic Mind II’ by Wiing Liu for Forte in
Resonance 2014 produced by Odyssey Dance Theatre, ‘Everything and Nothing’ by James
Cousins for Tari 2014 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and M1 Contemporary Dance Festival 2014
– Continuum Dance Exchange.
Brandon was selected to join The Human Expressions Dance Company (THE), a
Contemporary Dance company based in Singapore, following his graduation from NAFA.
About the Award
The NAFA Outstanding Achievement Award is a premier award for all-round excellence. It is presented to an exceptional student from amongst the best diploma graduates of each graduating cohort who has excelled academically and distinguished himself/herself in other areas.
Embassy of Peru Award
Winner
Isyana Sarasvati
Bachelor of Music with Honours
Awards & Achievements
NAFA Scholarship (Degree), AY2014/2015 RCM Musical Excellence Award, AY2014/2015 NAFA Entry Scholarship (Degree), AY2013/2014
1st Prize Winner, Professional Category, National Vocal Competition Tembang Puitik Ananda Sukarlan, Indonesia, 2013
Gold Certificate, 5th Bangkok Opera Foundation Singing Competition, Thailand, 2013 1st Prize, 6th Tan Ngiang Kaw / Tan Ngiang Ann Memorial Vocal Competition,
Singapore, 2012
Solo performance at Tainan National University of the Arts, Taiwan, 2012 Semi-finalist, Yamaha Electone World Concours, Japan, 2012
Champion, Grand Prix Asia Pacific Electone Festival, Taiwan, 2011
Born and raised in Bandung, Indonesia, Isyana Sarasvati was first exposed to music at the age of four. Thereafter, she started formal training on several instruments, including the piano, electone, flute, violin and saxophone, and it was then that her vocal ability was discovered and nurtured.
Isyana was twice awarded the national finalist of the Yamaha Piano Competition, the 1st Prize of the Piano Competition in West Java, and was also a three-time 1st prize winner of the Grand Prix Asia Pacific Electone Festival in 2005, 2008, and 2011.
With her excellent academic results for her Diploma studies at NAFA, she received a full scholarship to embark on the NAFA/RCM Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree course. During her last year of degree studies, she also received the RCM Musical Excellence Award. Isyana’s accomplishments are too numerous to list. The most significant would be her recent contract with Sony Music Entertainment Asia Pacific, with whom she produced her first album with the publisher/songwriter Hayden Bell which was recorded in The Kennel, Sweden. Her first single “Keep Being You” was released on 29 October 2014 and it topped the Indonesian charts within two days of its release.
About the Award
The Embassy of Peru Award was first presented in 2006. It is presented to the most outstanding degree graduate in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The award recognises the all-round achievements of the recipient who possesses strong academic performance, good attributes including discipline, diligence and leadership qualities, as well as contributions towards the class, the Academy and the arts community.
The award is a Tumi from Peru. It is made of solid silver. The Tumi is one of the symbols of Peru. It has its origin in one of the main cultures of ancient Peru between 1050 – 1476 AD, known as the Chimú Culture. One of the important accomplishments of the Chimú was the establishments of the goldsmith workshops. And among the most famous pieces made were
the great ceremonial knives called the Tumi. During the ancient times in Peru, it was used as a knife in ceremonies and surgeries. Later on, it evolved into an art object.
Peru is a country where gold, silver and other metals with artistic character are in abundance and so this Tumi is symbolic of the art and culture of Peru. In Peru, hanging a Tumi on a wall brings good luck.
