The Celebrity Collections is so named because it comprises personal papers and items donated by Singapore pioneer artistes. It includes the Lucien Wang collection, Shen Peng Kwang collection, Kwai Cheng Peng collection and the Leong Yoon Pin collection.
Mrs Lucien Wang (1909–2007) is Singapore’s pioneer musician and music teacher. She has taught famous musicians in Singapore, to name a few, Lim Jing Jing, Ong Lip Tat and Toh Chee Hung. In 1979, she received the Public Service Medal (Silver) from President Sheares, a first for a local musician. Among her collection are her private letters, official correspondence, photographs, scores, books, paintings and calligraphies by pioneer Singapore artists like Lim Hak Tai, Pan Shou and Shi Xiang Tuo. To watch related video, click here.
Prof. Shen Ping Kwang (b. 1922) started his music teaching career in 1958 in Sabah. In 1974, he and his family moved to Singapore where he was offered the post of senior lecturer at the Institute of Education (Music Dept). He also became Vice-President of the Singapore National Theatre Composer Circle. He was also the Honorary President of the Association of Composers (Singapore), Consultant of the Lion City Poetry Association (Singapore), Founder of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Music Department), Founding President of the Hua Xia Philharmonic Society and Chairman of the National Theatre Club. Among his collection are books, CDs, cassette tapes and scores.
Mr Leong Yoon Pin (1931–2011) was a Singapore composer, conductor and educator. He provided consultancy to Nafa in the set up of Nafa’s Music department in 1982. He was honoured with the Cultural Medallion. Among his collection are his private notes, correspondance, scores, books and memorabilia.
To commemorate NAFA’s 70th anniversary in 2008, a NAFA Heritage Collection was established in the Library, with the following objectives:
- to establish an archive of NAFA’s historical documents, to serve as a research centre for future efforts such as compilation of year books, etc.
- to reinforce the importance of formulating a systematic collection of NAFA’s information resources to ensure future documents pertaining to NAFA are archived for posterity.
- to create in visitors the awareness of NAFA’s extensive history from an organized collection of information resources.
The Shi Xiang Tuo Collection was donated by the son of the late Shi Xiang Tuo, who was a renowned calligrapher, seal- engraver and Chinese ink painter, and also one of NAFA’s pioneer instructors. This collection comprises rare and valuable out-of- print Chinese books on arts and literature, some of which are as old as 300 years.