A pioneer harpist of the generation in her country, Fontane is currently harpist of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. She is the first local harpist to win a permanent position with one of the country's professional orchestras. 

 

A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama (London, UK), Fontane’s studies were generously supported by the Singapore National Arts Council, the Leverhulme Trust and D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust. She also obtained her Master’s in Music Therapy and held a Fellowship at GSMD from 2011-2012.

 

She splits her time between Europe and Asia In the UK, she has appeared with LSO Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Liverpool Philharmonic, London Concert Orchestra, Bath Philharmonia, Southbank Sinfonia and Germany’s MusikFabrik. She has also appeared on BBC Radio 3 and Classic FM. She toured Japan with the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra under the baton of Christoph Eschenbach & Michael Tilson Thomas.

 

As a chamber musician, Fontane performs with Berkeley Ensemble, Riot Ensemble and is Principal Harpist of highly acclaimed Octandre Ensemble. She is half of folie a deux femmes - (bass) clarinet & (electric) harp and Dahlia Duo - soprano & harp.

 

Fontane’s ability to engage the masses across a variety of styles makes her unique as a solo artist for award-winning recital series Bach to Baby (London) and Play with Mozart (Singapore). She is an alumnus of Live Music Now and Concordia Foundation. 

 

Her various accolades include 3rd prize in Franz Josef Reinl Competition (2009) and winning a place on the London Sinfonietta Academy (2010) & Pacific Music Festival (2009). She was also a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Sir Barbirolli Memorial Foundation Award (2008). 

 

A keen and passionate educator, Fontane was a faculty member at Junior Guildhall from 2011-2012. She has taught extensively for 13 years, working with a wide range of ages including children with special needs.

 

Fontane is trained as a  music therapist and a neurologic music therapist. She has worked with the NHS (UK) specialising in mental health - schizophrenia, depression and dementia. In her private work, she has worked with children with special needs including autism, hearing and visual impairment. Currently she is working with the Institute of Mental Health and Jurong Community Hospital in Singapore.