The global clarinet community converged on Songdo Convensia in Incheon, South Korea, this July for ClarinetFest 2026. Marking the first time the International Clarinet Association (ICA) has brought its flagship annual festival to South Korea, the event centered on the theme “Local Roots, Global Connections.”
Standing tall on this international stage was a contingent from Singapore, representing the depth and growth of the local woodwind scene.
Three distinct ensembles – Philclars, CLARQuinet, and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Central Band Clarinet Ensemble, traveled to Incheon to perform, fly the Singapore flag high, and connect with artists, educators, and industry leaders from around the world.
What made the Singaporean showcase particularly memorable was the intentional focus on local composers, bringing authentic Singaporean stories, folklore, and urban soundscapes to South Korea.
The SAF Central Band Clarinet Ensemble (IHCLARS) brought precision, power, and polish to the lineup. As cultural ambassadors in uniform, their execution and ensemble sound reflected the high standard of military and wind band performance in Singapore.
“For Philclars, the performance offered an expansive journey through Singapore’s contemporary voices, bridging memories of regional heritage and modern flight for the international audience.”Philclars has come a long way since it was formed in 2010 and to have been one of the three Singaporean groups invited to perform in Korea at the prestigious International Clarinet Association is no better way than to celebrate more than 15 years of music making
There is no better place than on an international stage to show that Singapore has come a long way in composition and we’re proud to show the world what Singaporean composers are capable of. As such, we decided to put up a showcase of local works. We teamed up with some of Singapore’s finest composers for this trip, namely Terrence Wong, Lee Jin Jun, and Germaine Goh presenting their works First Flight, Kampung Overture and Three Folk Songs respectively.
The festival was bustling with many music booths, performances, as well as opportunities and this gave us the opportunity to meet up with some old friends! We met up with Buffet Crampon’s very own Olivier Auclair from France, Two prolific Thai Clarinetists Punch and Ball, and we even got the chance to catch up with David Kwek and Edmund Song (Two Singaporeans pursuing their careers in the USA) to name a few!
One of my core memory of the trip has to be the meal shared between the three clarinet groups invited to Korea, Philclars, CLARQuinet and IHclars after our performance. We reconnected, shared jokes and stories about our trip to Korea so far, as well as future plans!
As this chapter comes to a close, we look forward to the future of the Clarinet Community in Singapore and are excited with plans for the future!” — Ralph Emmanuel Lim, Philclars
The chamber musicians of CLARQuinet delivered an intimate, evocative set reflecting life back home while matching the energy of their host city, capturing the spirit of taking Singaporean pride and bringing it directly to South Korea.
“For CLARQuinet, being invited to perform at the International Clarinet Association Festival in Korea was both an honour and a milestone. After months of planning and rehearsals (and occasionally wondering if we had rehearsed the same passage one too many times), it was rewarding to take the stage alongside clarinetists from around the world. Representing Singapore was at the heart of our programme.
Dressed in batik, we were proud to present works and arrangements by Singaporean composers and arrangers Dax Wilson Liang, Jerry Tan, and Ralph Emmanuel Lim. Performing these works on an international stage was our way of showcasing Singapore’s growing clarinet scene and sharing a little of our musical identity with audiences from around the world.
Our trip was not just about the festival. We also had the opportunity to give an outreach performance in Seoul, where unsuspecting travellers got a free clarinet concert instead of simply passing through! Between rehearsals and performances, we managed to explore Seoul and Jeonju, sampled plenty of Korean food, squeezed in the occasional face treatment, and somehow still found enough energy for the next day’s activities.
One of the highlights of the festival was meeting clarinetists from all over the world. Whether it was attending concerts and workshops, trying out new equipment at the exhibition booths, or simply chatting between events, every conversation reminded us how connected the global clarinet community is despite the different cultures and backgrounds we come from.
Looking back, this trip was about much more than performances. It was an opportunity for CLARQuinet to represent Singapore, share the music of our local composers with an international audience, and return home with new friendships, fresh ideas, and plenty of memories.” — Lee Wai Teng, CLARQuinet
Hosting the festival in Asia opened up opportunities for cross cultural collaboration, bringing Western classical traditions and Eastern musical identities together under one roof. Throughout the week, Singaporean musicians connected with established figures in the field, explored new repertoire, and built networks to bring back to the local arts scene.
As ClarinetFest 2026 comes to a close, Singapore’s ensembles return home with fond memories of Incheon and a shared drive to inspire the next generation of local woodwind players.