Aik Shin Tan

flute/recorder

Recorder and baroque flute player Aik Shin Tan brings the past to the present through timeless pieces of music spanning over four centuries. In recent seasons he has performed solo works from classics like the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 and the Telemann Ouverture-Suite for Recorder with the Baltimore Baroque Band, to modern gems like the Jean Françaix Sonata for Recorder and Guitar. Entirely versatile as an early music specialist, he builds his career based upon the simple principle of delighting and entertaining his audience. Aik Shin is also the principal recorder soloist in the select Peabody Consort, as well as with the Peabody Renaissance Ensemble. Recent collaborations include performances with Tempesta di Mare, Washington Bach Consort, and at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore. Aik Shin has recently performed at the prestigious Boston Early Music Festival with the Peabody Consort.

Focused on the repertoire of the high baroque and encompassing earlier works, Aik Shin also actively transcribes flute and violin music, especially that of Corelli, for the recorder. On the flute, his interests include exploring the galante and early classical eras. Aik Shin no doubt has a penchant for making seemingly incompatible and sometimes stylistically inappropriate combinations work together.

Aik Shin received his earliest musical education from his mother, who taught him piano, violin and theory. Later, he began study on modern flute so to be a member of his high school’s band. Shortly after graduating, he changed his focus instrument to recorder and was quickly accepted into the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore as part of their Early Music Program. There, Aik Shin studies under the guidance of Gwyn Roberts. In masterclass, he has worked with Marion Verbruggen, Reine-Marie Verhagen, and the Flanders Recorder Quartet.

In addition to his regular wind instrument work, Aik Shin also plays viola when neither flute nor recorder parts are called for. Born in Malaysia, Aik Shin speaks English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, Japanese, and French, in addition to two other Chinese dialects.

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