The Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST) at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has launched a new Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Music Practices, its first doctoral programme and the first of its kind in Asia designed to integrate artistic practice with doctoral research.
The newly launched PhD marks a major step forward for higher music education in Singapore and Asia, where options for postgraduate studies beyond the master's level typically focus on either practice or research.
The programme also takes advantage of YST's strategic position within NUS - a world-class teaching and research institution - to pioneer a cross-disciplinary approach to music research.
Students pursuing the PhD in Music Practices will have access to a wider range of resources than is typically available at other music conservatoires, with opportunities to attend courses and embark on projects that intersect with contrasting or adjacent fields such as computer science, public health, law, business, social sciences and more.
In contrast to most international PhD programmes that are purely practice-based or research-based, the PhD in Music Practices emphasises the combination of scholarly inquiry and artistic expertise. It is targeted at outstanding music practitioners with strong artistic and academic abilities who are keen to undertake research that will challenge existing paradigms and spearhead new music practices.
Said Professor Peter Tornquist, Dean of YST: "This PhD represents a landmark shift in how we understand and value artistic work within academia. In this programme, artistic practice is not just a component of research; it stands alongside and in dialogue with it. This opens up new opportunities for students to create and reflect on their work through both thinking and doing, contributing to new knowledge and artistic output in integrated and interdisciplinary ways."
"Such an approach enables creative work and scholarly inquiry not only within music, but also in intersection with other fields like technology, business, or even public health. A composer might experiment with artificial intelligence in music composition while researching its ethical implications on creative authorship; a performer could investigate the preservation and reinterpretation of musical traditions while creating new works inspired by them; or a conductor might lead community-based performances while investigating how cultural policy can influence spectatorship among local communities," said Prof Tornquist.
Additionally, students can benefit from YST's extensive resources and partnerships in the global music industry, including membership in several higher music education networks such as the ConNext Network, Pacific Alliance of Music Schools, Southeast Asian Directors of Music Association, the Association of European Conservatoires and International Benchmarking Exercise institutions.
Alongside a qualifying examination, comprehensive coursework and doctoral thesis, which are typical of research-based PhD requirements at NUS and other institutions, the programme includes an artistic component where students are required to present artistic output that is closely linked with their research, demonstrating their ability to integrate music practice and academic inquiry.
Talent pipeline for the future of the arts
As the music scene in Singapore and Asia matures, YST believes that pushing the conventional boundaries of music will advance Singapore's vision for a dynamic and sustainable arts ecosystem, place Singapore at the forefront of arts-related research in Asia and spotlight Southeast Asian perspectives in global music scholarship.
Beyond nurturing artist-researchers, the PhD will serve as a talent pipeline for future thought leaders who can contribute to the advancement of music practice and scholarship in Asia and beyond. Graduates will be well positioned to take on roles in academia, arts education, cultural policy, arts management and sectors where music intersects with wider social and cultural contexts, bringing expertise from both performance and research to inform their contributions.
The programme's strong emphasis on innovation in both artistic practice and research will place them on the cutting edge of artistic innovation as leaders who shape discourse and policy through an interdisciplinary and socially informed perspective.
Applications for the first intake will open on 26 September 2025. Interested applicants can find out more at: https://www.ystmusic.nus.edu.sg/programmes-phd-music-practices/.
