Joshua Wan has been a familiar face in the local music scene for the last 16 years.
A graduate of the Berklee College of Music (1989), he has been involved in the studio recording scene as producer/arranger for artistes as wide-ranging as Tracy Huang, Sky Wu, Jeff Chang, Sandy Lam, Kit Chan, Surei, Dick Lee, Jackie Cheung, Jacintha, Eric Moo, Mavis Hee, Fann Wong, Tanya Chua and Wendi Koh.
He arranged the widely publicised Millenium Song 'Moments of Magic' performed by Fann, Tanya and Elsa, the 1999 National Day Song 'Together We Make a Difference' performed by Evelyn Tan and Dreamz FM, both written by well-known local songwriter and producer Ken Lim, as well as 2000's National Day song featuring Jacintha Abishenagaden, classical concert singer Yee Ee Ping and jazz pianist Jeremy Monteiro and 2001's remake of Sing Singapore favourite 'Stand Up For Singapore' featuring actress Celest Chong.
In 2003, Joshua Wan served as Music Director for the National Day Parade. As the sole Music Producer and Composer for this huge annual national event, he worked closely with creative director Glen Goei to bring about the show of the year featuring contingents from the People's Association, Ministry of Education, SOKA, SAF and Touch Community Services. He also composed and arranged 2003's National Day theme song, One United People, performed by Stefanie Sun.
He also wrote, arranged and recorded much of the music for the PA's 40th anniversary celebration concert (2001) as well as writing the theme song, 'Stand Together' commissioned for this event.
Joshua has served as MD for many stage plays and musicals, among them Theatreworks' 1999 production 'Haunted' -music by Mark Chan, and Ellen and David Sanborn's 2001 production of 'Judah Ben Hur' for which he also served as orchestrator as well as conductor / music director. This 3hr Broadway-bound musical ran for 9 weeks at the University Cultural Center and featured an international cast and crew.
Other MD credits include:
-2000 Universal Artistes Muuusic Night featuring artistes like Daniel Chan, William So, Cecilia Chung, Grace Chow, Vanessa Amorosi and well known American singer-songwriter David Pomerantz
-Music Festival 2002 featurrring American singer/ songwriter Stephen Bishop and many other acts from the region.
-Sun Ho (Ho Yeow Sun) Singaaapore Indoor Stadium and Beijing 2004
Concert tours include Sandy Lam 2002 tour (HK, Beijing and Taiwan), Camerton 2002 (Mongolia), Pete Teo 2003 (Kuala Lumpur), Jacintha (New Zealand, San Francisco, Los Angeles) 2004.
He has also occupied bass and keyboard chairs for concerts featuring the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, artistes like Mavis Hee, Coco Lee, Mark Chan, Jessica Soo, Tanya Chua, Frances Yip, Dick Lee.
Joshua is active in the gospel music scene also, having co-produced and arranged (with Sydney Tan and Clement Chow) two local gospel music albums featuring original worship songs written by Singaporeans as well as 2001's nationwide Festival of Praise 15th year commemorative album.
Apart from the hectic studio/pop scene Joshua is also very involved in the local jazz scene. A regular sessionist on piano and bass, he has done stints with Chicago bass legend Eldee Young at the Sheraton Towers, ChromaZone jazz mainstays at Harry's Quayside, ethno/world-music jazz ensemble Terra Firma featuring Otrie Barrett, and jazz guitar favourite Greg Chako at the Raffles Hotel. He has gigged extensively with jazz luminaries Christy Smith, Eddie Layman, Aya Sekine, Mike Tracy, Clarisa Monteiro, Brian Benson, Farid Ali, Rick Smith, Mario Serio, Edmond Branson Jr, Paul Ponnadurai, Tony Makarome and local jazz giant Jeremy Monteiro . In 2001 he performed with 2 bands in the Singapore Airlines Jazz and Chimes Jazz festivals with saxophonists Greg Lyons and Steven Rufus, pianist Mei Sheum and drummer Shawn Kelley. He started off 2002 with a successful six week residency at the newly opened jazz club, Jazz@South Bridge as part of the inaugural house trio, the Don Gomes Trio with Louis Soliano on drums. Most recently, he has been playing concert dates in KL as a featured player with the Greg Lyons' Nonet also featuring Michael Veerapan, Lewis Pragasam and Steve Thornton.
Studio projects in 2003 include arrangement/production work on Celest Chong's second album and the debut album of singer-songwriter Wendi Koh, as well as tracks for Fish Leong, Stefanie Sun and Tanya Chua's new albums.
Joshua began 2004 as Music Director for Ho Yeow Sun's Home concert at the Indoor Stadium followed by a tour with Jacintha for a week of performances at the New Zealand Arts Festival in Wellington, This group also travelled to San Francisco and L.A. under the banner of the Singapore International Foundation, NAC and MITA .
New projects include an exciting jazz trio, WIRED featuring Chok Kerong and Soh Wen Ming.
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