Concertmaster /

Section Leader (Strings)

Li Baoshun

Li Baoshun started learning violin from his brother at the age of seven and learning erhu since eight-year old. In 1983, he gained entry into the China Conservatory of Music and studied under renowned string master Liu Mingyuan and was trained by Zhao Yanchen, Jiang Fengzhi, Lan Yusong, Wang Guotong, Zhang Shao, An Ruli and Ji Guizhen respectively. In 1978, he entered the Fuzhou Military Airbase Cultural Troupe. After his graduation in 1987, he joined the China Central Chinese Orchestra and was its erhu sectional principal in 1988. In 1995, he was the Acting Concertmaster of the China Central Chinese Orchestra. In the same year, he was appointed the Concertmaster of the Asia Orchestra comprising of musicians from China, Japan and Korea.

Li Baoshun has shown his talent in music since young, claiming many prizes along the way. He has been invited to perform in many big-scale performances locally and overseas, including Asia, Europe and the United States. He has frequently performed as a soloist with many orchestras, conductors and composers from China and overseas. Li Baoshun joined the SCO in late 1997 and is currently the Concertmaster.

Associate Principal

Zhou Ruoyu

Zhou Ruoyu was born in Jiangsu, Nanjing, and started learning erhu under the tutelage of Professor Qi Jianda at the age of seven. In 1996, she successfully enrolled into the Middle School affiliated to the China Conservatory of Music and continued her practice under the tutelage of Professor Duan Yongqiang. Zhou Ruoyu won the “Liu Mingyuan” Scholarship in 2000. Next year, she was awarded the first prize at the 4th “Tianhua Cup” National Erhu Competition.

In 2002, Zhou Ruoyu graduated as a top student and was awarded with the first class scholarship to enter the China Conservatory of Music Instrumental Department, under the tutelage of Professor Zhang Zunlian. She was awarded the honour of “Three Model Students” of Beijing during her academic years. Zhou Ruoyu is a frequent winner at erhu competitions. In 2003, she was awarded the Bronze Award in the 3rd Erhu Competition at the Chinese “Golden Bell Award” for Music. In 2005, she was also awarded the second prize at the “Zhonglu Cup” International Erhu Competition. Zhou Ruoyu was admitted to study for a master’s degree at the same year.

Hu Chung-Chin

Hu Chung-Chin was born in 1994 in Kaohsiung city, Taiwan. He started learning piano at the age of 3. In 2002, he was admitted to the music program at Kaohsiung Municipal Chien Chin Primary School. In 2006, he was admitted to the music program at Kaohsiung Municipal Chien Chin Junior High School.

He majored in erhu and his instructor was Jiang Mingkun. His minor was in piano and his instructors were Du Junhui and Lin Huixin. From 2004-2008, he participated in the Taiwan National Music Competition with the erhu professional group and won the first prize. In 2009, he was accepted into the Department of Chinese Music at the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School as an erhu professional. In 2012, he began his undergraduate degree at the Central Conservatory of Music as an erhu professional and studied with Yang Xue, Min Huifen, Yan Jiemin, Chen Yaoxing, Zhu Changyao, Tang Feng, Zhao Ge, Zhang Zunlian and Zhu Jiangbo.

In 2012, he accompanied the school’s orchestra to Shandong. From 2011 to 2016 , he was part of the Dance of the Strings and the Bow Erhu Assembly. In 2014, he accompanied his teacher Yang Xue to Nanjing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Tianjin and Beijing on a concert tour. Chung-Chin joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra as an erhu musician in 2017.

Li Yuan

Li Yuan was born in Jinan, Shandong Province and is a graduate of the China Conservatory of Music, majoring in Erhu Performance. She commenced studies on the erhu at the age of 7 with Zhang Ling Jie of the Shandong Art Institute, and was admitted into the Middle School of the China Conservatory of Music in 2003, where she studied under He Chu Rong.

In 2009, she began her training under the tutelage of Liang Ling Ling at the China Conservatory of Music, School of Chinese Music, with a minor in Guzheng Performance under the guidance of Yang Xi. She was a key erhu and zhonghu performer in the China Conservatory Youth String Orchestra, Youth Folk Music Orchestra, and National Youth Orchestra, performing in South Korea, Chaozhou, Nanjing, Shanghai and many other cities.

A multiple award winner, she garnered 3 first prizes in the Shandong Youth Musical Instrumental Competition, the grand prize in the Yili Music Competition, and first prize in the Xinghai Erhu Music Competition (Youth Category). She was also a participant in the Liu Mingyuan Erhu Competition.

Li Yuan joined SCO as zhonghu musician in 2013.

Liu Zhiyue

Liu Zhiyue graduated in Instrumental Studies from the China Conservatory of Music, majoring in erhu. During his days in university, he studied composing and Chinese orchestral conducting under the tutelage of Quan Jihao and Huang Xiaofei. He started learning the piano at the age of 5 and the erhu from his father, Liu Zunhai at the age of 10. In 2001, he won the first “Tianhua Cup” National Professional Erhu Youth Competition and accomplished his solo music concert. In the following year, he won the first Chinese Folk Instrument Solo Competition under China Youth Arts Competition. In 2007, he won the gold award for the 6th China Golden Bell Award, Tianjin zone, erhu division. He has also recorded and published various instrumental CDs and books. In 2006, he was appointed Guest Conductor for the Chinese Folk Orchestra of the “Can Ou” Special Arts College, Beijing Science and Technology Vocational School, and performed for the Beijing National “Can Ou” Achievement Show. Liu Zhiyue joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2008.

She Ling

She Ling graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 2004 and is currently a huqin musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). She is also an Adjunct Erhu Lecturer with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. At the same time, She Ling is also the Erhu Instructor for numerous schools in Singapore, including Nanyang Primary School, Raffles Institution and Raffles Junior College.

At a very young age, She Ling shown remarkable talent in the violin, erhu and keyboard. In 1996, she won the First Prize at the Juvenile Category of the Hunan Province Erhu Competition, and came in second place in the Youth Category of the same competition in 1997. Later that year, She Ling was accepted into the Wuhan Conservatory of Music affiliated High School.

In 2000, She Ling graduated at the top of her cohort, and was accepted into the Ethnic Music Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she trained under renowned musician, Professor Chen Chun Yuan. In 2003, she clinched Third Prize in the Dragon’s Cup Competition organized by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and subsequently won academic scholarships for the forthcoming two years. In 2004, she was specially selected to represent Shanghai in the Golden Bell Award Competition, and clinched the Semi-finals Prize. She Ling’s performances of classical Chinese pieces like Erhu Rhapsody No 3, Fantasia Ballad , Chun Jiang Shui Nuan and The Great Wall Capriccio have received rave reviews from audiences and critics.

In order to achieve a breakthrough in her music career, She Ling continued to study the piano, and took up cello as her second major. To ensure a holistic musical education, she also studied conducting. While pursuing her degrees, She Ling worked as a relief teacher at the Shanghai Youth Centre and Arts Centre. In 2004, she was offered positions at the SCO and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. She chose to join the SCO and has been playing with them since then.

She Ling is also an avid erhu Educator. Many of her students have even won several prizes at the National Chinese Music Competition. Some have also auditioned into the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, and were also high scorers in the Central Conservatory of Music and Shanghai Conservatory of Music Erhu Practical Examinations.

Xu Wenjing

Xu Wenjing started learning erhu at the age of five and gained admission into the Affiliated High School of Tianjin Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music. She received tutelage by many renowned erhu masters including Li Mingfang, Ji Guizhen, Wong Guoyong, Zhao Hanyang, Zhang Shao and Zhang Yuming. Xu Wenjing also went on to win many major international and national awards. Upon her graduation, she joined the China Broadcasting Chinese Orchestra as an erhu performer, playing in many countries together with the orchestra. At the same time, she was also appointed as a tutor at the Central Conservatory of Music, with her students achieving remarkable results.

Since migrating to Singapore in 1997, Xu Wenjing has been an erhu musician performing with the SCO. Her performances of classical Chinese repertoire such as Story of the River, Red Plum Capriccio, Heavenly Matched, The Parting of the Newly-Weds have received extremely positive reviews from audiences and critics. In 2005, she performed as a soloist in an SCO concert as part of the Singapore Season in London. Her execution of memorable passages in Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon won critical acclaim in local and overseas media. The same year, she represented the SCO, performing at concerts in Washington, D.C. In 2008, Xu Wen Jing was invited to perform the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon at the Esplanade Concert Hall with the Singapore Arts Festival Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of the composer, Tan Dun, and received well acclaim.

Xu Wenjing is known for her pure and clear tone on the erhu and her ability to evoke deep and poignant emotions with her playing. A critic once described of her: “otherworldy and beautifully smoky, Xu’s tone elucidates; her innate and sincere femininity extends from the deep to her fingertips, riding on wondrous notes.”

Zhao Li

Zhao Li graduated from the Guangzhou Xinghai Conservatory of Music with honors, and completed her tertiary education at the establish Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Her passion and skills in her craft have been recognized as an accomplished erhu player. She received the People's Scholarship Professional Excellence Award twice and garnered 3rd place at the Dragon Sound National Scholarship competition. Zhao Li joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in her 3rd year at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

Erhu I Principal

Zhao Jianhua

Zhao Jianhua is the erhu I Principal of the SCO and a member of the Chinese Musicians’ Association. Born in Shanghai, he learned erhu performance under his uncle, educator Li Liang, at a young age. Li Liang’s rigorous training laid the groundwork for Zhao Jianhua’s musical career. In 1975, Zhao Jianhua represented Shanghai City Changning District Youth Cultural Centre in the China Youth Cultural Performance (Chinese and Western Instruments) Instrumental Solo Competition and won the highest award. The following year, Zhao Jianhua performed the erhu solo in the youth category of “Shanghai Spring International Music Festival” and garnered critical acclaim.

In 1978, Zhao Jianhua was selected for the prestigious College of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, where he was under the tutelage of renowned erhu master Min Huifen. He won awards at numerous high-profile competitions such as the National Chinese Instrumental Music Competition in Wuhan, and the Shanghai City Young Musician Association Competition in 1985.

Zhao Jianhua’s biography is also recorded in the Record of Outstanding Chinese Youths and the Record of Chinese Musicians.

Erhu II Principal

Zhu Lin

Zhu Lin started studying erhu at the age of five under Xu Bugao of the Nanjing School of Performing Arts. In 1981, he gained entry into the affiliated school of Beijing China Conservatory of Music where he studied under renowned musicians like Li Dazhong, Nie Jingyu and Liu Changfu. Subsequently, Zhu Lin entered the China Conservatory of Music, furthering his music studies with An Ruli and simultaneously studied Cantonese music with Liu Mingyuan.

In 1990, Zhu Lin held his debut solo performance at the Beijing Concert Hall. The performance was recorded and broadcasted over the China Central Television network. In 1991, he joined the China Central Chinese Orchestra and served as the Orchestra’s Deputy Concertmaster. Zhu Lin went on to receive top honours at the National Competition and International Competition in 1993 and 1995 respectively. In 1997, Zhu Lin joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and currently serves as an erhu II Principal. He has released many solo recordings and has also given premiere performances of many erhu pieces. In 2006, Zhu Lin premiered L. Subramaniam’s Double Concerto for Erhu and Violin alongside the India’s renowned “Father of Violin” – L. Subramaniam himself. He has also been invited to give talks at the National Taiwan University of Arts, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China Conservatory of Music. Zhu Lin is currently the guest professor of the China Conservatory of Music.

Erhu I Associate Principal

Ling Hock Siang

Ling Hock Siang holds a doctoral degree in art studies. He is a recipient of the 2004 Young Artist Award and Singapore Youth Award (Culture and Arts Team Category, The Huqin Quartet). In 2021, he was awarded the Commendation Award by Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and also received an award from the China Yangtze River Delta National Orchestra Performance, for his outstanding contributions. He is currently the Erhu Associate Principal of SCO and the Vice Secretary-General of the Singapore Chinese Music Federation. He was previously an erhu instructor with the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and School of the Arts.

Ling Hock Siang graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1998. Under the tutelage of Professor Wang Yongde, he was the first Singaporean to achieve a Master’s degree in erhu performance in 2005. In 2012, he entered the Beijing Normal University to study a doctoral degree in arts studies (theory), under Professor Zhang Xiaomei.

Ling Hock Siang joined the SCO since 1997 and performed in various Europe and Asian countries. In July 1999, SCO organised a concert titled “Melodies with a Difference” – Recital by Ling Hock Siang and Quek Ling Kiong. In November 2005, Ling Hock Siang staged a solo recital titled “Hock Siang & Friends”. In November 2007, he held an erhu and guan recital in collaboration with ex- SCO guan musician Han Lei titled “Oriental Folk Music”. In 2017, he performed at the Esplanade Recital Studio as part of the SCO Silk String Quintet “5trings”. Since 2006, Ling Hock Siang has been invited to be an adjudicator for the National Arts Council’s biennial National Music Competition. In addition, he has also frequently represented Singapore at international conferences on the erhu as well as at workshops and arts meets in Asia.

Erhu II Associate Principal

Li Yulong

Li Yulong is the erhu II Associate Principal of the SCO, as well as the erhu section instructor of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. He is also the member of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society and the Singapore Erhu Society.

Li Yulong started learning the erhu at the age of 6. He was admitted to the affiliated primary and secondary schools of Shenyang Conservatory of Music in 2000 and 2003 respectively, under the tutelage of Li Naiping. He studied in the Central Conservatory of Music in 2008 under Yan Jiemin. During the university days, he learnt the banhu from Li Heng, and he also learned more about the erhu, banhu, gaohu and jinghu from Yang Xue, Wang Ying, Shen Cheng, Yu Qiwei, Tian Zaili and Yao Li.

In 2010, he was awarded the Excellent Performance Award of the youth group in the Dunhuang Cup Chinese Erhu Performance Competition. In 2011, he was awarded the third prize for the Hong Kong Chinese Instruments Competition – Erhu Professional Category and silver in the Beijing International Music Festival Instrumental Music Competition — Erhu Professional Category.

He graduated in 2012 with outstanding results and joined SCO as erhu musician in the same year.

Ann Hong Mui

Ann Hong Mui is currently an Erhu musician and also the Vice-Chairman of the Singapore Erhu Society.

Ann Hong Mui’s interaction with music started in her secondary school days where she was a Dizi player in the Nanyang Girls’ High Chinese Orchestra. She subsequently developed an interest in the Erhu and joined the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra in 1984 as an Erhu player. During her tenure, Ann Hong Mui showcased her performance skills at numerous solo performances and led the orchestra to glory at several national music competitions by successfully clinching various awards and accolades.

After graduating from the National Junior College, Ann Hong Mui entered the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, majoring in vocals and the Erhu. She graduated in 1989 with flying colours. In the same year, she was awarded first prize in the Erhu open category of the National Music Competition and became a full-time Erhu musician with the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra. Apart from performing with the orchestra, Ann Hong Mui was invited to perform with various musical bodies in various capacities, including as a guest concert master, a soloist and a lead performer. In 1991, under the sponsorship of the Singapore Teochew Ba Yi Association, Ann Hong Mui collaborated with Boo Chin Kiah to stage an Erhu and Dizi Recital which received rave reviews. Ann Hong Mui is one of the pioneer performers of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra which was established in 1997.

Ann Hong Mui received training from various Erhu veterans and masters, locally and from China. Under the patient tutelage of Wang Fang Liang, Ann Hong Mui further developed a greater understanding of the Erhu.

Drawing from her vast experience, Ann Hong Mui has been an Erhu instructor with the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra for many years. Ann Hong Mui now devotes much of her time on music education and continues to play an active role in the development of the Chinese orchestra.

Chen Shu Hua

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen Shu Hua pursued double major studies in piano and erhu at Kuang Jen High School. After graduation, she passed auditions organized by the Ministry of Education to gain direct entry into the Taiwan Chinese Culture University Department of Chinese Music, majoring in erhu. Formerly an erhu performer with the Taipei Broadcasting Corporation of China Chinese Orchestra, she joined SCO in 2002.

Cheng Chung Hsien

Cheng Chung Hsien is a veteran performer and conductor in the local music circle. He was the concert master of Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra as well as the conductor of Kampong Chai Chee Community Centre Chinese Orchestra and Cheng San Community Club Chinese Orchestra. In 1987, Cheng Chung Hsien participated in the National Music Competition and was awarded champion for Erhu in the Open category. In 2001, he received the “Most Outstanding Instructor of the Arts” award from Temasek Polytechnic; in 2004, Cheng Chung Hsien won the “Singapore Youth Award (Arts and Culture/ Team- The Huqin Quartet)”, the highest youth accolade in Singapore. In 2009, Cheng Chung Hsien was awarded the Licentiate Diploma of the London College of Music (LLCM) in Conducting and was appointed as Assessor for the London College of Music Performance Awards in Chinese Music, both by Thames Valley University, London.

Cheng Chung Hsien started his musical learning in primary school, when he learnt the erhu from Lim Ah Leck. In 1989, under the sponsorship of Singapore Cultural Foundation, he was under the tutelage of Xiang Zu Yin and Min Hui Fen of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In addition, he learnt the intricate techniques of Erhu under Wang Guo Tong and conducting from Qu Chun Quan while they were in Singapore.

In 1998, Cheng Chung Hsien and three other music aficionados formed the “Huqin Quartet” to promote Chinese chamber music. Cheng Chung Hsien, with the foursome, participated in performances around the world to critical acclaim. In recognition for the quartet’s pioneering work and musical excellence, the quartet was awarded the Singapore Youth Awards(Team) in 2004.

Cheng Chung Hsien, together with the Huqin Quartet, Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra, has performed in various countries including Malaysia, Britain, New Zealand, Australia, Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Hawaii, USA Disneyland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Canada, Brunei and Mexico, and has won accolades from the audience in every performance

Cheng Chung Hsien is also an Erhu player in Singapore Chinese Orchestra, while fulfilling his role as an instructor and conductor for several secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Hsieh I-Chieh

Born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Hsieh I-Chieh started her music journey on the piano at a tender age of 6, followed by the erhu at the age of 9 under the tutelage of late huqin musician and pedagogue, Ding Lu Feng.

Ever since, Hsieh won several prizes in competitions for the piano as well as attaining first prizes in major competitions for the erhu. At elementary school graduation year, Hsieh successfully held a piano solo recital, as well as performed as an erhu soloist with the school’s Chinese Orchestra. At middle school, she majored in both erhu and piano, and studied various huqins with her mentor Ding Lu Feng . Apart from being the Concertmaster of many school orchestras she had attended, Hsieh was invited to work with several orchestras and conductors from Europe, Asia and America. As an erhu soloist, she collaborated with Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra, Hsinchu City Youth Chinese Orchestra, Tainan City Traditional Orchestra, Zhong Hua Chinese Orchestra, and Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra. She is also a well sought-after piano accompanist for renowned musicians, in competitions and performances.

Upon graduating as top student from the Department of Chinese Music of Tainan National University of the Arts, Hsieh delayed her pursue of Master’s Degree studies and joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2010. In recent years as a SCO musician, Hsieh was still invited back to Taiwan as an erhu soloist by Taipei Chinese Orchestra and Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra. With the support of SCO, Hsieh successfully performed as an erhu soloist overseas, and also completed her Master’s degree.

Qin Zijing

Qin Zijing has been playing the erhu since she was 4 years old. In 2007, she was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music, where she studied with young erhu performer Yang Xue in her first year, before coming under the tutelage of acclaimed erhu master Yan Jiemin.

In 2008, she joined the famous new folk musical ensemble 12 Girls Band and performed all over China as well as internationally, winning the Outstanding Performance Award (Youth Groups) at the Golden Bell Awards in 2009.

In 2011, she commenced studies for her Master’s Degree at the Central Conservatory of Music and continued to garner more recognition of her performance abilities. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious 4th Culture Award (Youth Performance Group) by the Chinese government, and won the Silver Award (First Prize) in the 2nd Hua Yue Zhi Yun International Erhu Competition held in South Korea. She also won the Gold Award (First Prize) in the 2nd Hua Yin Cup International Chinese Music Competition held in USA in 2013. Her solo erhu recital in 2012 at the Central Conservatory of Music was widely acclaimed by industry experts.

She has been involved in numerous recordings for the television programme Feng Hua Guo Yue on the CCTV music channel, and is active as a solo performer and lecturer in the Folk Music in Schools programme under the auspices of the State Education Commission.

Qin Zijing joined SCO as an erhu musician in 2013.

Shen Qin

Shen Qin was born in Jiangsu province, China. At the age of 11, she was under tutelage by renowned instructors Wu Huaiyuan, Si Hongzhong, Chen Chaoru and Min Huifen. Shen Qin has won numerous competitions at the provincial and national level as well as produced multiple CD recordings. She has performed as a soloist in Beijing as well as other provinces in China. Shen Qin joined SCO in 2002. Her performance is refined yet robust, possessing and infectious panache. Renowned erhu performer Min Huifen once complimented Shen Qin on her mastery of playing technique, praising her technical skills.

Shen Qin is also an avid promoter of erhu learning. Since 2006, her students have won several prizes at the National Chinese Music Competitions’ Erhu Open Category. Some of her students were auditioned into Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra as concertmaster and erhu principals, and also high scorers in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts’ Erhu Examinations.

Siok Li Chin Deborah

A young home-grown erhu musician, Deborah Siok joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as erhu musician in 2022. Deborah first started learning the electric keyboard when she was 3 years old and later the piano at the age of 7. Upon joining her primary school’s Chinese Orchestra, she started learning the erhu when she was 9 under the tutelage of erhu educator and musician Zhang Yuming.

A recipient of the NAFA Merit Award, Deborah graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours in 2019. Besides being concertmaster of the NAFA Chinese Chamber Ensemble during her time there, Deborah was also a key player in the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) since joining it in 2016, and she was the erhu principal player during her later years with the orchestra. Since graduating from NAFA, Deborah has been under the tutelage of SCO Concertmaster Li Baoshun, and she has also received guidance from notable erhu performers and educators such as Yan Jiemin, Zhang Zunlian, Zhao Hanyang, Duan Aiai, Huo Yonggang, Wang Ying, as well as Xue Ke.

In 2018, Deborah clinched the first prize in the Erhu Open category of the 2018 National Chinese Music Competition held by the NAC. Deborah was also selected to perform Wang Danhong’s erhu concerto Amannisha with the SNYCO as part of We Soar II, during the 2019 pre-tour concert in Singapore, as well as on the orchestra’s concert tour in Suzhou, China. In 2020, Deborah clinched the grand prize of the Solo Grand category in the inaugural Singapore Chinese Music Competition organised by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Tan Manman

Tan Manman was born in Hunan Changsha in 1989, and first learnt the electric keyboard at 6 years old. She proceeded to learn the piano at the age of 7 and erhu from her father Tan Xiaosi at the age of 9. She was admitted to the Affiliated Secondary School of China Conservatory of Music in 2002 under the tutelage of Liu Hong. She entered the China Conservatory of Music in 2008 under the tutelage of Cao Dewei — deputy director of Chinese music department. She also learnt the gaohu and jinghu while studying there.

She won three gold prizes consecutively in the Dunhuang Cup Erhu Competition of Hunan Province from 1999 to 2001. She was awarded silver in the China Youth Arts Competition Pugongying (Dandelion) Prize, organized by Ministry of Culture of the People’s Republic of China.

She performed at the Appreciation of Instrument and New Talents erhu concert organised by the Erhu Society of China Musicians Association as a soloist in 2009. She achieved the silver prize in the Youth Professional A category of the Dunhuang Cup – First National Youth Erhu Competition organised by the Education Society and Musicians Association in 2010. She was appointed the principal player in the China Conservatory of Music Huaxia Ensemble in 2011, and achieved the gold prize in the Professional Category of the Shanghai International Spring – Jiangnan Sizhu Ensemble Competition.

She participated three times in the national tour with Huaxia Ensemble during her university studies. She has performed at various countries, such as Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. She also performed with the Huaxia Ensemble in France. Tan Manman graduated in 2012 and join SCO as an erhu musician in the same year.

Tao Kaili

Tao Kaili is a huqin musician of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. She graduated from the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. She learned the erhu from Zhu Changyao, Cao Dewei, An Ruli and huqin maestro Min Huifen; the gaohu from huqin Mastero Liu Mingyuan and received guidance from renowned banhu virtuoso Shen Cheng. In 1996 and 2001, Tao Kaili successfully held a huqin recital in Beijing and Nanjing. She won the Outstanding Performance Award at the first China Jiangsu Province Chinese Musical Instrumental Competition and the Second Prize of the 1993 China National Erhu Competition Open Category that was held in conjunction with “the 100th birthday of Hua Yan Jun”, the famous erhu artist.

Kaili performed the premier of erhu concerto piece titled The Swallow and banhu concerto piece titled Song of the North and Hua Bang Zi during the Singapore Huqin Festival. She was also invited to perform alongside the Singapore Armed Forces Band, to present the symphonic version of The Lan Hua Hua Ballad. She performed The Lark Ascending for the 2011/2012 Season Opening Concert of Taipei Chinese Orchestra, recorded an album titled Heartstrings, formed an ensemble with SCO musicians to perform in various occasions.

Yan Yan

Yan Yan began learning the erhu at 7 years old. In 1998, she started playing the Huqin under the tutelage of He Hong and was also admitted to the Music Primary School Affillated to the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in China. In 2003, she enrolled for the Music Middle School Attached to the Shenyang Conversatory of Music and continued learning the erhu under Associate Professor Zhang Ming. A year later, she was conferred the Excellence in Moral and Artistic Qualities Award (First Class) in Liaoning under Youth Erhu Category A.

In 2009, she obtained stellar results and was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of renowned erhu musician and educator Yu Hong Mei, who is the head of the Folk Music from China’s Central Conservatory of Music (CCOM). Thereafter, she obtained the Gold Award (Professional Category) in the Inaugural International Huqin Compeition in 2010, the Silver Award (Youth Category) in the 2nd International Chinese Instrumental Competition in 2011, and the Bronze Award (Youth Category) in the Hua Yin Cup International Music Competition held in USA in 2012.

Subsequently, she pursued a Master of Research at CCMO in 2013. In 2014, she volunteered at the Confucius Institute at the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music and was also invited to perform at various countries, including Norway, Sweden, France and Italy. She first performed the erhu and chamber music Silk and was invited to perform at the opening ceremony of PULSAR, a new music festival in March 2015. Yan Yan joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra as an erhu musician in 2017.

Zhang Bin

Zhang Bin graduated from the Xi’an Conservatory of Music in 1987 and was a lecturer of the Conservatory, as well as a member of the China Musicians’ Association and the China National Music Society. Zhang Bin is currently an erhu musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Zhang Bin was a prize-winner twice at the Conservatory’s Chinese Musical Instrumental Competition. In 1985, he won third prize in the 1st Erhu Competition and his performance was recorded in the CD of winning collections. He also won the Outstanding Award in the China ART Cup in 1989 and the Shanghai Festival of Spring in 1991. Zhang Bin was under the guidance of erhu masters such as Lan Yusong, Min Huifen, Yu Qiwei and Shen Fengquan. He studied his Masters degree course in the Young Teachers’ Development Centre of the China Xibei University. His performance style displays an array of techniques learnt from his teachers, and can be simple, graceful and smooth, yet bold and unrestrained.

Principal

Lin Gao

Lin Gao joined the SCO in 2014 and is currently the Zhonghu Principal. Born in Shanghai, Lin Gao started learning the Erhu at the age of three. She was admitted into the Elementary School affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1998 and studied with Lin Xinmin. Since 2007, she has been studying with Huo Yonggang at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2014, she completed her Master of Arts, and graduated with several awards.

Lin Gao has toured Asia and Europe, covering various genres of music. She was invited to perform at the 67th “Prague of Spring” International Music Festival and “Sharq Taronalari” in Uzbekistan where she was awarded the First Prize.

Her interest in contemporary music has led her to be in close contact with various international modern composers and to perform several master pieces such as Chinese-French composer Tao Yu’s White Water with the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Joël Bons’s Green Dragon with the Dutch Nieuw Ensemble.

Lin Gao has also transposed several violin pieces into concert works for the Erhu. Her adaptations convey the same virtuosity displayed in the original versions, while making the adaptations for the Erhu, which is an instrument not accustomed to western classical music.

Associate Principal

Wu Kefei

Wu Kefei, graduated from Shanghai Conservatory Of Music in 2011 and is currently the Zhonghu Associate Principal with Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Wu Kefei developed a keen interest in music since little, and started studying Erhu and piano at the age of four. By showing her extraordinary talent at a very young age, she was admitted to the Affiliated school of SCM (Shanghai Conservatory of Music) where she studied under Wang Lili and Lin Xinming. In the duration of middle school and high school, she was frequently selected to represent the school to perform at many music events including Shanghai Spring International Music Festival.

Wu Kefei gained entry into SCM in the year of 2007, and was mentored by one of the most famous Erhu/ Banhu musicians in China, Huo Yonggang. Between 2008 and 2010, she was appointed the Gaohu Principal of SCM Chinese Orchestra and participated in The NEW-concept Chinese opera composition Music Festival, Shanghai conservatory of music new music week and Shanghai International Electroacoustic Music Week etc. In the year of 2010, Wu Kefei joined AMRITA Band ( Founded by Dean of Shanghai Conservatory of Music Composing Department/ noted composer He Xuntian and composer/ music producer Song Ge ) and delivered flawless and widely appreciated performance in the 2nd World Music Shanghai 2010. She also took part in Shanghai Expo 500-day-countdown charity concert and the quintet of Citizen Stage in the same year.

Wu Kefei won the scholarship for three years in a row and was awarded the triple-A outstanding student in her last year of college. In 2009, she won the Chinese Chamber Music Gold Prize presented by China Musicians Association for her amazing performing and music arranging skills in Beijing International Youth Cultural Art Festival China-Japan Youth Perform Contest.

In 2011, Wu Kefei was admitted to the master’s degree programme in Shanghai Conservatory of Music and was offered a position at SCO at the same time. She chose to join the SCO and was appointed the Zhonghu Associate Principal since the August of 2012.

Chia Wan Hua

Chia Wan Hua graduated with honours from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in collaboration with the Royal College of Music (London). Wan Hua joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as zhonghu musician in 2022. She is under the personal tutelage of master Zhang Yuming and has won 2nd prize in the biennial National Chinese Music Competition (now known as Singapore Chinese Music Competition) Erhu Youth category in 2004 and 2006 and 3rd prize in the Erhu Open Category in 2018.

Wan Hua was a huqin musician and acting concertmaster of Ding Yi Music Company. She has performed as a soloist with Ding Yi and also presented a full programme, DY-logue, in 2022. She has performed in Taiwan, Minnesota, and all over Singapore with various orchestras and as soloist.

Wan Hua is a founding member of the award-winning huqin quintet, StringWerkz, presenting Chinese string music in diverse musical styles and formats. As the only Asian finalist of 80 participants, StringWerkz was awarded 4th place in the 2013 3rd Terem Crossover International Music Competition in Saint Petersburg, Russia. They also clinched the award for best “Live Sound” and the “Special Prize for Original Arrangement”.

Goh Cher Yen

Goh Cher Yen started learning the erhu at the age of fourteen under the tutelage of Sim Boon Yew. He served his National Service in the SAF Music & Drama Company. He performed as a soloist at the National Day Parade of 1999 and The Music Box in 2000. Goh Cher Yen had performed in Australia, Hong Kong, Hunan and Malaysia. He is currently a full-time musician in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Goh Hock Jun Shunta

Shunta Goh is a talented Singaporean Huqin musician and conductor. He started learning the Erhu at the age of 9 under the tutelage of renowned Huqin master Zhang Yuming. Shunta joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as zhonghu musician in 2022.

Shunta graduated with First Class Honours from the Royal College of Music - Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Bachelor of Music programme in 2015, majoring in Erhu performance. In 2017, he was awarded the prestigious National Arts Council Arts Scholarship (Postgraduate) to pursue a Master of Music degree majoring in orchestral conducting at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Under the tutelage of Professor Ye Jin, he graduated with top honors in July 2020. During the course of his conducting education and career, Shunta has had the privilege of receiving tutelage from world-renowned conductors and Maestros, such as Tsung Yeh, Lim Yau, Darrell Ang, Alexander Polishchuk, Li Xincao, Viktor Akulovich, Ulrich Windfuhr, and Hu Yongyan.

In 2010, he won the 1st Prize in the Erhu Open category of the National Chinese Music Competition (now known as Singapore Chinese Music Competition), and made his performance debut with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra with the erhu concerto Red Plum Capriccio, receiving rave reviews. Since 2015, Shunta has been invited as a guest Erhu musician/soloist, performing extensively in countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea and the USA. An accomplished chamber musician, Shunta is also the founding member of award-winning local Huqin quintet StringWerkz. Shunta considers it his calling to share his knowledge and passion towards nurturing and inspiring the next generation of Chinese music enthusiasts, and to develop the traditional Chinese music scene in Singapore.

Neo Yong Soon Wilson

Neo Yong Soon Wilson is a young talented homegrown musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO).

Neo Yong Soon has come a long way since first becoming acquainted with Chinese orchestral music during his days at Jing Shan Primary School Chinese Orchestra. He began learning the erhu with Tan Kim Lian. He later traveled to Beijing, China to learn from the renowned erhu musicians Maestro Chen Yao Xing and Chen Jun. He had also sought the tutelage of Zhao Jian Hua, an erhu sectional leader from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO).

A recipient of the ‘Shell-NAC (National Arts Council) Scholarship’, he enrolled into the Central Conservatory of Music to pursue his Bachelor of Chinese Instrument Major (Erhu). During his course of study, he has sought the tutelage of renowned erhu musician Liu Chang Fu. He also studies the banhu as a second instrument under the tutelage of renowned banhu musician Li Heng.

Neo Yong Soon served his National Service as a member of the Singapore Armed Forces Chinese Orchestra and took part in numerous concerts as well as the National Arts Council (NAC) ‘Arts Outreach Programme’ by promoting traditional Chinese music at local schools. During his reservist, he has been to Rockhampton as a performer.

A competent soloist as well as an ensemble player, Neo Yong Soon was the Second prize winner of the erhu senior category in the National Chinese Music Competition organized by the NAC both in 1998 and 2000. He traveled to Beijing in 2002 to compete in the ‘International Youth Chinese Musical Instrument Competition’ and was awarded the Silver prize for the erhu category. In the same year, besides leading the Cheng San Chinese Orchestra to victory in the open ensemble category, he also clinched the First Prize for the newly opened erhu open category in the National Chinese Music Competition organised by NAC.

During July 2003, Neo Yong Soon successfully staged a recital concert with Chua Yew Kok. In August 2006, Neo Yong Soon staged a recital with Patrick Ngo Lik Tse and Darrel Xin Zong Hua namely ‘Strung Together’. In March 2010, Neo Yong Soon staged a recital namely ‘From Rhapsody To Capriccio’. All concerts were very well received and had a full house record.

Neo Yong Soon was also the erhu soloist for the musical, ‘Admiral’s Odyssey’ which took place in July 2005.

Neo Yong Soon has also travelled with Singapore Chinese Orchestra on various trips overseas consisting of places in China, Korea and Edinburgh.

During December 2007, Neo Yong Soon travelled with the Manjusri Secondary School to Qing Dao, China for a cultural exchange and immersion program. Neo Yong Soon later successfully conduct the combined orchestras, namely the Manjusri Secondary School Chinese Orchestra and the Qing Dao No. 39 Middle School Chinese Orchestra with the Manjusri Wu Shu Team on the school concert performance that’s held annually in Qing Dao.

Neo Yong Soon have been teaching schools since 2005. Neo Yong Soon is presently the huqin instructor for various secondary schools and Singapore Management University. Neo Yong Soon is also the conductor of various secondary schools and Associate conductor of Cheng San Chinese Orchestra.

Wang Yi-Jen

Wang Yi-Jen studied erhu and piano under Cai Pei Huang and An Ru Li respectively at National University of Arts in Taiwan and graduated with Honours in 1993.

Wang Yi-Jen was the erhu player of Kaohsiung Chinese Orchestra from 1994 to 1999. She joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 1999.

Wang Yi-Jen teaches erhu in many schools including RVHS and Temasek Secondary School, which attained a Gold award and Gold with Honours award during the biannual Singapore Youth Festival in 2009.

Wong Qin Kai

Wong Qin Kai is a local erhu musician and also a multi-award winner in competitions, winning top prizes in both the erhu solo and combined ensemble categories in the National Chinese Music Competition organised by the National Arts Council since 2004.

Qin Kai started learning the erhu when he was 13 under the tutelage of renowned erhu musician and educator Zhang Yu Ming. A recipient of the NAC Arts Scholarship (Undergraduate), he graduated in 2014 with First Class honours from the Nanyang Academy of Music – Royal College of Music (London) joint Bachelor of Music (Honours) programme and was awarded the prestigious Best Graduate and Embassy of Peru Award. In 2018 February, Qin Kai joined the SCO as a Zhonghu musician.

Qin Kai is an active performer both locally and abroad, with notable performances including 'Erhu Rhapsody No. 1' by Wang Jian Min in his debut concert with Maestro Tsung Yeh and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2011, 'Butterfly Lovers Concerto' with the Toa Payoh West Community Club Chinese Orchestra in 2011, and locally premiering ‘Blue Planet Erhu Concerto' in 2014 in his graduation recital. In 2019, he was invited to play the gaohu concerto “Legend of the Merlion” with the National University of Singapore Chinese Orchestra at the Hsinchu Chinese Music Festival. He has also performed in China, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

In 2012, fuelled by his interest in chamber music, Qin Kai started the Chinese string quintet StringWerkz. In 2013, the quintet took part in the 3rd Terem Crossover International Music Competition held in St. Petersburg, Russia. Other than being the only Asian group that made it into the finals, the team also won prizes for "Achievements in the field of a live sound" and for “Original arrangement". Together with Stringwerkz, Qin Kai was invited to perform at the Taiwan National Concert Hall in 2017, and at the Sundin Concert Hall (United States) in 2019.

Principal

Xu Zhong

Xu Zhong was four when he first started to learn the violin with his father and nine when he took up the cello. He was first enrolled in the primary school of the Nanjing Arts Academy, and joined the “Nanjing Little Red Arts Troupe”. For both his High School and University studies he attended the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, learning cello under the tutelage of renowned cello instructor Zong Bai.
He later toured with the China Youth Symphony Orchestra, and in 2000 left to study abroad in Germany at the Mainz Conservatory of Music, from where he graduated with masters in cello performance and chamber music. His acclaimed personal graduation concert was held in 2004. In 2015, his alma mater, the Central Conservatory of Music invited him back as one of its most famous graduates to participate in a series of major events in celebration of the institution’s 75th anniversary.

Xu Zhong has been the cello principal of SCO since 2004. With the orchestra he has also toured the world not only as an ensemble player, but also as a soloist and lead player. He brings to performances a pure and incisive feel, rich in connotation and emotion.

He has been a committed professional cello teacher now for more than ten years, and has helped nurture a wealth of performing talent here in Singapore.

Associate Principal

Tang Jia

Tang Jia learned cello at the age of 6, and is a graduate of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, where she was the recipient of a full scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree. Her mentors included the cello principal of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Nella Hunkins, international soloist Qin Li-Wei and Leslie Tan of the T’ang Quartet. Upon graduation, she was awarded another full scholarship for her Master of Music degree studies at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, under the guidance of Christian Wojtowicz.

She joined SCO as cello musician since 2011 and is also active as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and in symphonic and operatic orchestral performances.

Chen Ying Guang Helen

Chen Ying Guang Helen started studying cello at the age of 8. In 1978, Chen Ying Guang was admitted into Xinghai Conservatory of Music with her excellent results, she thus become the youngest student in the school. With her music talent and her passion towards Cello performing, she achieved the best result in the school and had been enrolled into the undergraduate course of bowed strings section. In 1988, she again achieved the top ranking in the bowed strings section, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree. After graduation, she was appointed as a soloist and sectional vice-principal in the Guangzhou Zhu Ying Orchestra, China. She was also invited to do many solo recordings. She joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) in 2003. During her service in SCO, she has visited various countries such as England, Hungary, France and China to conduct well received performances. Besides, Chen Ying Guang has also been appointed as the editor of the Cello syllabus by the National University of Singapore Centre for the Arts.

Huang Ting-Yu

Born in 1990, Huang Ting-Yu studied cello since the age of six. After graduated from Taipei Municipal University of Education (now University of Taipei), she decided to pursue a master’s degree in the USA, and received admission offers from multiple notable musical schools, including Eastman School of Music and Boston University. Eventually, she accepted the scholarship offer from the College Conservatory of Music (CCM), majoring in cello under Yehuda Hanani. She graduated in 2014 with a degree of master of music from the University of Cincinnati, and joined SCO in the same year.

Huang Ting-Yu has many years of experience in orchestra, and also devoted herself to chamber music, contemporary music and movie recording. She has appeared at many music festivals, master classes and workshops. Huang Ting-Yu has been teaching cello since the age of 18, mostly being private tutor and string sectional teacher in middle & high school.

In addition to her distinguished performance skills in cello, she was studying as a piano major before enrolling into college and had the experience of piano accompaniment for a significant number of years. Owing to her equal excellence in piano, she used to be the piano accompanist in the studio class of Yehuda Hanani.

Ji Huiming

At the age of 13, Ji Huiming was admitted with excellent grades to the Central Conservatory of Music Middle School to study cello and was subsequently promoted to the China Conservatory of Music Affiliated High School. With his high school top results in 1982, he was directly admitted to the undergraduate programme of the China Conservatory of Music. He graduated in 1986 and stayed on as an instructor. He joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in February 1999, holding that position ever since. During his time in China, he was a member of Chinese artist delegations that visited many countries for artistic exchanges.

From his long-term involvement in cello pedagogy and performance, he has accumulated considerable experience in teaching and orchestral direction, distilled unique insights and pedagogical methods for popularizing cello music and nurturing students with special talents. In his 25-year career in Singapore, he has taught numerous students, many of whom were successfully admitted to the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University Singapore. He has tirelessly served as a Chinese music and string teacher in more than 20 primary, secondary and tertiary institutions across Singapore, while teaching in the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO).

Poh Yee Luh

Poh Yee Luh is a versatile string player. He was the former principal cellist of the Singapore Youth Orchestra. He started learning violin during his secondary time and later switched to cello performance. He studied under the tutelage of Leslie Tan and Herminia. A. Ilano. He went to Hong Kong to further improve his gehu performance skill in 1997. He was formerly a performer of the Singapore Youth Symphonic Orchestra and ASEAN Youth Orchestra.

In 1991, Poh Yee Luh participated in the ASEAN Youth Music workshop in Indonesia and was appointed as its Cello Sectional Principal. In the same year, he also participated in the ASEAN Composer’s Music Workshop in Kuala Lumpur. He participated in the Arts Festival New Music Forum in 1992. He has performed in Australia, Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Presently, he is a cellist of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He was formerly its Cello Sectional Principal. He also plays the gehu in several SCO performances. He is an instructor of numerous school and Clans Association orchestras and a conductor of the Nanyang University String Orchestra. He is also a freelance performer of the Singapore Lyric Theatre Orchestra.
anyang University String Orchestra. He is also a freelance performer of the Singapore Lyric Theatre Orchestra.

Sim Lian Kiat Eddie

Eddie Sim Lian Liat learnt the piano from a young age of 4, and later picked up the cello at 12. Studying under Singapore’s “First Lady of the Cello”, Herminia Ilano, he obtained his Diploma in Cello Performance (Dip ABRSM) and was featured on the High Scorers’ Concert as one of the most outstanding cellists to have aced the examination. After graduated from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory with Bachelor of Music (Honours) in 2014 where he studied under the renowned pedagogue Leslie Tan from the T’ang Quartet, Eddie Sim joined SCO. Some of the great maestros he has worked with include tenor José Carreras, conductor Eiji Oue and Robert Spano. Out of his own passion, he is also an avid jazz musician, who performed with jazz bassist and jazz mentor Tony Makarome.

Xu Xuena

Xu Xuena started to play the cello at the age of eight. She achieved her first honour at the age of ten by winning the Classical Music Competition in Xinjiang and also took part in the “Bo De Bei” competition in Shanghai and won the second prize when she was 16. As an active chamber musician, Xuena’s ensembles have been coached by members of the Berlin 12 cellos, Tang, Shanghai and Australia Quartet. She attended masterclasses for solo and chamber works with Van Vogler, Wang Jian, Frans Helmerson and more. Xuena has participated in several music festivals including the Ehingen Music Festival in Germany, the Great Mountain Music Institute in Korea, and Texas Music Festival in USA, and was awrarded with scholarships.

Xuena’s professional training started at the High School Affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in China and studied with Professor Liu Dahai. After graduating from High school, she obtained a full scholarship to study at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore and under Qin Li-Wei Studio. She has been actively teaching as cello teacher since 2010, producing award-winning students in competitions and ABRSM. Xuena joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a cello musician in 2017.

Principal

Zhang Hao

Zhang Hao started musical studies on the cello when she was 5 year old, and served as the assistant cello principal in the Qing Dao Symphony Orchestra for 5 years. She then pursued training on the double bass at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music from 2003 to 2007 and joined the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra upon graduation. During this time, Zhang Hao was subsequently awarded a full scholarship for pursue a master’s degree in Double Bass Solo/Chamber Performance at the Norwegian Academy of Music, where she studied with Dan Stefan Styffe. While in Europe, she also performed with the Oslo Philharmonic, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra, Bodø Sinfonietta and Norwegian Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra. She had attended many master classes and performed in Germany, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, South Korea and many cities of China.

Upon graduation in 2010, she worked the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, before relocating to Singapore to join SCO as double bass principal since 2011. She is also the double bass tutor for Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra.

Zhang Hao has recorded for two Classic CD albums — Mahler symphony No.6 with Oslo Philharmonic and Dvorak symphony No.9 – from the New World with Nagoya Philharmonic.

Lee Khiang

Lee Khiang joined the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra in 1982 as a part-time musician and was its full-time musician in 1992. He is currently a musician of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Lee Khiang was awarded the second prize in the 6th National Chinese Orchestra Competition. He has performed in Malaysia, Taiwan and Japan. In 1998, he performed with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiaman. Lee Khiang is the conductor and instructor of several school and community center/club Chinese orchestras.

Qu Feng

Qu Feng joined SCO as double bass musician in 1997. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1994, majoring in Double Bass Performance, and subsequent played in the Shanghai Opera House Orchestra and the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. Also an active music educator, he coaches cello and double bass students in numerous local junior colleges, secondary and primary schools.

Wang Luyao

Wang Luyao joined SCO as double bass musician in 2008. She received her formative training at the Middle School of Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and pursued undergraduate studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, graduating in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music Degree (2nd Class Honours) in Double Bass Performance.

She is also an active music educator and serves as an instructor for both cello and double bass at Raffles Institution, Catholic High School (Primary), Broadrick Secondary School, Maris Stella High School, Evergreen Secondary School and Evergreen Primary School.

Section Leader
(Plucked strings) /

Sanxian Principal

Huang Guifang

Huang Guifang was born in Shanghai, and entered the affiliated high school of the Central Conservatory of Music at the age of 13 where she begun her full time professional learning of the sanxian. Two years later, she was transferred to the affiliated high school of the China Conservatory of Music, receiving tutelage from renowned sanxian musician, educator and reformist, Xiao Jian Sheng. She also received directions from Tan Longjian and Zhang Nianbing during her days as a student. In 1986, Huang Guifang graduated from the conservatory with outstanding results, and stayed in the affiliated high school to teach. It was a year later that she joined the experimental orchestra of the conservatory, which combined experimentation and practical into one.

Huang Guifang was a member of the Musicians’ Association of China, and joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a sanxian and ruan performer in 1997.

Between 1982 and 1996, Huang Guifang had represented Chinese artists in her visits to more than ten countries, including Canada, United States of America, Japan, France, the Philippines and Germany, where she participated in exchange and publicising activities and received high acclaims.

Huang Guifang has dubbed a large quantity of sanxian solo, ensemble and concerto music for the China Central Broadcasting Station, China Central Television and Music Channel. These include Eighteen Stanzas on the Barbarian Reed Pipe, Autumn Night, Tune of the Plum, Fantasy of the Dance, Eighteen Stanzas, Lady Liuqing, Low Moon by the Green River Bank, Shadows of the Propitious Crane etc. Huang Gui Fang has successfully launched debut performances of many works for the sanxian, including Fantasy of the Dance (Xu Xiaolin), Untitled (Zhang Qian Yi), Su Xiao Xiao (Yang Qing), Eighteen Stanzas on the Barbarian Reed Pipe (Li Heng) and the King of Single Stroke (Cui Quan).

Huang Guifang has won the First Grade Prize in the First National Ethnic Music Performing Competition in 1983, and First Prize in the China International Ethnic Music Grand Competition in 1995. With her passion, skills, exquisiteness and precision in performing, Huang Guifang is definitely a musician who is hard to come by.

Principal

Qu Jianqing

Qu Jianqing is currently Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s principal Yangqin musician, Committee Member of the Singapore Chinese Instrumental Music Association, Committee Member of the Cimbalom (Yangqin) World Association, Honorary Committee Member of the Yangqin Professional Committee of the China Ethnic Music Society, on top of being the member of the China Musicians’ Association (Shanghai Branch).

Qu Jianqing was born in Shanghai, China, where she began learning yangqin at the age of 9 under the tutelage of Wang You De, and was accepted by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra at the age of 13 based on her extraordinary musical talent. Over the years, Qu Jianqing has also received tutelage under various Yangqin masters like Xiang Zu Hua, renowned Yangqin performer Pang Bo-er and Zhang Xiao Feng. She also received many awards, such as, Shanghai City “Literary Arts New Talent” Title in 1980, Shanghai City “Striker of the New Long March” Title (and Outstanding Youth) in 1981, China National Ethnic Music Emulation Performance Prize in 1982, 14th “Spring of Shanghai” Outstanding Performance Prize in 1991.

Qu Jianqing has performed in Europe, Asia and America, and has visited many countries like America, France, England, Greece, Switzerland, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Belarus, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Malaysia and Taiwan. She is an active participant to many World Yangqin Festival. In 1997 (Belarus), 1999 (Moldova), 2003 (Switzerland), 2005 (Beijing, China), 2011 (Hungary), 2019 (Hefei, China) she represented Singapore to the 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 11th and 15th International Yangqin Convention, and presented recital. In 2006, she was invited to Poland in Chamber Music Festival ‘Arsenal Nights’ to present the Yangqin and chamber music Phoenix with distinguished Wroclaw Chamber Orchestra.

Qu Jianqing is also the premier performer of many influential yangqin music, including The Phoenix (Xu Changjun), Yellow River (Arrangement by Qu Chunquan), Rhapsody on Dinühua (Phoon Yew Tien) etc. She has also recorded four personal albums.

She migrated to Singapore in 1994, and has devoted much attention to music education. She currently teaches in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, National University of Singapore, National Institute of Education. Her students have won first prize in the Singapore National Chinese Orchestra Soloist Competition for the Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels respectively.

Ma Huan

Ma Huan began learning Yangqin at 4 under the tuteledge of Professor Wei Yanming. She was admitted to the China Conservatory of Music in 2002 and become the protégé of renowned Yangqin educator Xiang Zuhua. Furthermore, she learned the Hungarian dulcimer from Ms. Viktoria Herencsar and studied percussion under Professor Wang Yidong. After graduating in 2008 with a Master degree, Ma Huan was employed as an instructor by the Chinese Opera Institute. In 2010, she joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a Yangqin musician. After which, she learned about composing from the famed Singapore local musician Law Wai Lun and music conducting from local famed conductor Dr. Tay Teow Kiat. She is currently the Vice Chairperson of Singapore Yangqin Association.

In 2002, Ma Huan won the Young Professional Group Performance Award and set up a String Chamber Orchestra which won a group gold medal in the International Youth Instrumental Competition in Macau in 2003. During her years in college, she participated in the CCTV “Teochew Music Festival special” performance, the Seventh Beijing International Music Festival, Sino French Music Festival, and Hungarian Music Festival. She successfully held a series of “Yangqin Works of Xiang Zuhua Teacher Student” concerts and performed in the first public performance of the double Yanqin piece The Butterfly Lovers. • Butterfly Qin Tunes, after which she participated in recording the Best of Xiang Zuhua Yangqin Collection II CD.

In January 2013, she held a concert named Silken Expressions at Esplanade Singapore Theatres on the Bay. In 2015, she was invited as the judge of NAFA music contest. Her students have won numerous awards at the Singapore National Music Instrumental Competition. As a composer, her works include Lost, school song of Pei Qun Primary School, Let it go, Dream chaser and Fantasia twinkle twinkle little star. She also produced a orchestra piece with distinctive Singaporean characteristics, titled A Ditty of Nyonya.

Principal

Yu Jia

Yu Jia began learning pipa at the age of four from her father Yu Song Lin, and entered the Central Conservatory of Music’s Junior Department at age of nine. She has studied under pipa master Li Guanghua and won numerous awards. In 1997, she graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In the same year, she joined SCO, and is currently SCO’s pipa principal. In 2018, Yu Jia entered the China Conservatory of Music to study a Master's degree in pipa. She graduated in 2021 and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in zhongruan. 

Yu Jia was invited by the National Experimental Chinese Orchestra in Taipei and its conductor, Chen Teng-Hsiung, to take part in a collaborative project and performance, the Ink-splashed Immortal. In Mexico, Yu Jia has also shared the stage with conductor, Chen Zuohuang, to perform a pipa concerto, Spring & Autumn. Working with Taiwanese label Poem Culture, she has recorded four pipa albums dedicated to solo and concerto music. Over the past few years, she has also been invited to participate in arts festivals in Denmark, Mexico, Hong Kong and Singapore, receiving good reviews for her appearances.

In SCO, Yu Jia has performed as a soloist with many well-known conductors in concerti such as The River Red, Se, Anger, Capriccio of the Ancient Path, Hua Mu Lan, Spring & Autumn and Joy of a Toast & Whirling Dance. SCO has specially invited well-known composer Liu Xijin and Kuan Nai-chung to compose pipa and erhu concerto, Tian Yuan and pipa concerto, Flying Asparas. The award-winning piece performed by Yu Jia – pipa concerto Arise, You Lion of Glory! – won the Composition Award first prize at the Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition 2015 and also garnered the most votes from the audiences.

In September 2019, SCO embarked on a four-city concert tour to Europe. Yu Jia performed Arise,You Lion of Glory! by Gordon Fung Dic-Lun, in Berlin and Prague, and her performances had received well acclaims.

Tan Joon Chin

Tan Joon Chin is a homegrown musician who joined SCO since 1997. A recipient of the Zubir Said Scholarship in 1994, she pursued professional-level studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing under the tutelage of Kuang Yu Zhong and Li Guang Hua.

She was the first prize winner of the Pipa Senior Category in the inaugural National Music Competition (NCMC) organised by the National Arts Council in 1980, and won the first prize in the Pipa Open Category of the same competition 3 years later. In 1991, she was awarded the second prize in the Pipa Open Category at the NCMC.

As a member of the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra from young, she has been involved in its numerous major performances in Singapore, and was a member of its Plucked Strings Ensemble that won the Ensemble Category and Best Performer Award for 4 consecutive editions of the NCMC from 1987.

She has been a People’s Association Cultural Activity Instructor since 1987, and has attended workshops at the Young Musicians Society organised by the Ministry of Education, teachers’ workshops for pipa graded examinations, and basic and advanced conducting courses offered by the Central Conservatory of Music and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

She is currently a plucked-strings instructor for Nan Hua High School, Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, Manjusri Secondary School, Singapore Polytechnic and Pioneer Primary School.

Wang Siyuan

Wang Siyuan was accepted into the Central Conservatory of Music Affiliated Middle School in 2008, where she studied under the tutelage of Professor Fan Wei. After her graduation, she moved to Singapore to continue her music studies in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) in 2015, where she studied under SCO Pipa Principal Yu Jia. In November 2015, Siyuan successfully auditioned and joined the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. She joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a pipa musician in September 2023.

Siyuan matured as a Pipa player in NAFA, and she took participated actively in school performances and exchange programs. She had also performed on many occasions NAFA hosted visitors from China. Siyuan represented NAFA in the 2016 National Chinese Music Competition, and she came in Second in the Open Category. She was also one of NAFA’s representatives in the Ensemble Category, in which the group won the First prize.

In 2017, Siyuan won both the NAFA-RAVE Chinese Concerto Competition as well as the Nanyang International Music Competition (Pipa, Open Category), on top of being part of a NAFA concerto group that clinched the champion title in the Concerto (Professional) Category. In 2018, she won the Pipa Open Category in the Singapore National Chinese Music Competition, and was selected for the Winner's Concert, performing Apsaras on the Silk Road (丝路飞天) with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. In 2019, she won the Rave Concerto Competition. In March 2019, she was selected as the soloist for "Dauntless Spirit", an annual concert put up by the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and performed the Pipa concerto The Sword and the Scroll (文武双全). Her performances were very well received and highly acclaimed by the audience. During her studies in Pipa performance, Siyuan started learning the Zhongruan, and in 2019, Siyuan participated in the 2nd Nanyang International Music Competition Zhongruan Youth Professional Category, which she was awarded second place. In 2020, Siyuan started studying Bachelor's Degree in Zhongruan under the tutelage of Yu Jia. In the same year, Siyuan participated in the Singapore Chinese Music Competition Zhongruan Open Category, where she won 1st prize. In 2021, Siyuan took part in the 3rd Nanyang International Music Competition Zhongruan Open Professional Category, winning the top prize of the category. In 2023, Siyuan continued her studies in a master course at NAFA.

Seetoh Poh Lam

Seetoh Poh Lam started learning liuqin and ruan at a tender age of 13 under the tutelage of Koh Kim Wah, veteran ruan musician in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

To date, he has won the Merit prize in the 1991 National Music Competition, the 3rd Prize in the 1992 National Chinese Instrumental Solo Competition, and many more. In 1994, Seetoh advanced his technique and knowledge of liuqin performance under the mentorship of Wang Hongyi, a renowned liuqin performer and lecturer of Tianjin Conservatory of Music in China.

In 2000, he joined the Balalaika and Domra Association of America where he learned the Mandolin and the Russian Domra from renowned performer and educator Maestro Alexandra Tsygankov and Maestro Tamara Volskaya in workshops and conventions held in the United States. In 2002, Seetoh Poh Lam joined the Chinese Folk Orchestra Music Association based in Beijing.

He has performed in China, Hungary, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and the United States and has appeared in recordings and interviews by local media stations and newspapers.

Zhang Li

Zhang Li is currently a Liuqin musician of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. She is also the Liuqin instructor of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra.

She graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s degree, with a major in liuqin. She also minored in zhongruan and pipa. With her outstanding grades, she was the recipient of scholarships from the Conservatory for four years. Upon graduation, she joined the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, took on roles as soloist and accumulated much performance experiences. Thereafter, she joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2005.

ZhangLi participated in the Liuqin (Professional) Category of the International Chinese Instrumental Competition, where she obtained the second prize. She was appointed by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music as a member of its examination committee, and invited to participate in performances under the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and Macau International Music Festivals. She also recorded her individual album then. She has also premiered many liquin concerto pieces in Singapore, held many ensemble concerts. In 2011, she was invited to perform for invited guests during the book launch of founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Zhang Li has has contributed much to the Chinese orchestral music circle. From 2015, she was appointed as the Liuqin Instructor for the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra. In the same year, together with her friend, they established the New Play Chamber Orchestra, which aims to provide performing opportunities for passionate young musicians. She has been coaching the plucked string sections of Raffles Institution, Singapore Raffles Music College, CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Nanyang Primary School and Pasir Ris Secondary School, which achieved exemplary results in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Competitions. She was also the Liuqin instructor of the Chinese Orchestra Music Camp, organised by the Ministry of Education. In 2017, Zhang Li was invited to be an Adjudicator for Liuqin Competition held in China. 4 Liuqin Members from the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra participated in the competition and won 2 Silver and 2 Bronze awards.

Cheng Tzu-Ting

Cheng Tzu-Ting was born in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and is currently a Zhongruan musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. She graduated from the Tainan National University of the Arts (TNUA) in 2008, with a major in Ruan (under the tutelage of Chen Yi-Chien) and minors in Sanxian and composition. In the course of her studies, she has been mentored by renowned teachers like Ho Li-Hsiang, Yu Hui-Lan, Ts'ui Chun-Miao, T'ang Liang-Hsing and Feng Shao-Hsien.

An active performer since her student days, Cheng took part in many school concerts, in addition to her personal recitals. She performed in her graduation recital in 2008, a joint recital with Ping Hsiao-Chieh in 2007, and a promotion recital “Concealed Fluency” in collaboration with Liu Hsin-Lin in 2004. She won the top prize in the Ruan (varsity) category in the Wei Wu Ying National Music Competition held at the National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts in 2008.

She is heavily involved in the local music scene after moving to Singapore, having performed as a soloist for many concerts, while maintaining a strong presence in Taiwan. Concerts held in Singapore include the Cheng San Chinese Orchestra Gala Concert – Ode to Sun in 2018, where she was the soloist in the Singapore premiere of the Ruan concerto Song of Dawn and Dusk, a joint recital: “Soulmates: A Pipa and Ruan Recital” in 2015, “Ruan Harmonies” in 2014, where she was the soloist in the piece Autumn, a joint recital “Heart Strings” in 2013, “Asian Waves: The Changing Face of Asia” in 2012 where she was a soloist in the premiere of Autumn Blues for Ruan and Erhu, and “Happy Ruan Family” in 2010, where she was the soloist in the piece “Self-Admiration”. Events in Taiwan include the “Liuqin and Ruan Interpretation and Education Forum” and the “Overseas and Local Faculty/Student Joint Concert” in 2014, where she was the soloist in the piece Childhood, and “Flight of the Bumblebee – Outstanding Alumni and the TNUA Plucked Strings Ensemble Joint Concert” in 2009, where she was the soloist in Capricho árabe.

On top of her busy performing career, she is highly committed to music education in Singapore, instructing Chinese Orchestras in various primary and secondary schools, and has received numerous awards from the Ministry of Education in recognition of her contribution.

Foong Chui San

Foong Chui San is a homegrown ruan musician from Singapore. She was introduced to the world of Chinese musical instruments when she was 8 years old. She soon followed in her brother’s footsteps and joined the Chinese Orchestra when she was in school, where she fell in love with playing percussion. A year later, she was elected to learn the ruan under the tutelage of Mdm. Koh Kim Wah when the school’s orchestra performed at an old folk’s home, and needed a steadier and more rhythmic player.

In 1985, she joined the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra (PAYCO) where she learned sanxian from the late Mr. Yeo Puay Hian. It is also where her passion for music grew.

In 1991, she won third prize in the 8th National Music Competition Zhongruan Open Section and the National Chinese Instrumental Solo Performance Open Competition in 1992. Chui San also represented PAYCO in the National Chinese Instrumental Ensemble Section Competition held in 1993 and 1995 and walked away with third and second prizes respectively.

In 1997, she joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as a tutti musician and received the SCO scholarship the following year, where she went to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to study ruan under the tutelage of renowned liuqin and zhongruan professor Mdm. Wu Qiang. She obtained her degree in music in 2001.

Chui San also performed as the ruan soloist during the PAYCO Ruan and Guzheng Recital in 1999, and the SCO Ruan and Dizi Recital in 2001.

Besides performing locally, she has also performed world-wide with the SCO including in China, Europe, Korea, Malaysia, and Taiwan.

She is a strong believer that music brings joy to people’s lives, and she enjoys sharing her musical experience with her students. She is currently an instructor teaching at Chinese Orchestras in several schools.

Koh Min Hui

Koh Min Hui joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a zhongruan musician at the age of 21, right before graduating from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) with a music degree in 2011. Back then, she was the youngest musician in the orchestra.

Min Hui is no stranger to the music industry. Currently, she is the Zhongruan Principal of the Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble and committee member of the Ruanxian Association of Singapore. Min Hui is professionally trained to teach autistic children ruan and has been teaching in Pathlight School since 2014. She is also the newly appointed ruan instructor for the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) since January 2020.

Growing up in the music scene, Min Hui started learning zhongruan at the age of 8 under the guidance of Ms. Xu Yi Ping. She later gained admission to the School of Young Talents at NAFA, where she obtained the Zhongruan Diploma awarded by the Central Conservatory of China in 2005. Since 2006, Min Hui has been under the tutelage of Mdm. Zhang Ronghui, Ruan Principal in the SCO. A recipient of the Ngee Ann Kongsi merit award for degree studies in 2010; Min Hui graduated from her BA (Hons) Music, majoring in Ruan, with an upper second-class honour at NAFA in July 2011.

A multi-award winner, Min Hui was the only Gold Award winner representing Singapore in the 2010 Inaugural International Ruan Competition (professional youth category) organised by the China Nationalities Orchestra Society in Beijing. In 2008, she was the first person in history of the National Arts Council National Chinese Music Competition (now known as Singapore Chinese Music Competition) to clinch the First prize in the Zhongruan Open Category.

Liang Ming-Huei

Liang Ming-Huei was born in Taoyuan, Taiwan. She began learning the piano and the liuqin at age five and seven respectively. She performed on stage for the first time when she was 10 and started playing the zhongruan at the age of 13. Liang Ming-Huei obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in 2021 and Master of Arts degree in 2023 from the Department of Chinese Music, National Taiwan University of Arts. She studied under the tutelage of Assistant Professor Chen Chung-Ching, a liuqin and zhongruan performer and educator. She joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2023 as a zhongruan musician. Liang Ming-Huei graduated from the music class of the Affiliated Zhongli Senior High School of National Central University in 2017. During her time in the school, she was a student of Yang Chieh-Ju, to whom she owes her musical inspiration, and was also mentored by Chen Zi-Han.

As a student, Liang was already actively involved in various events both on and off campus. She was a regular performer at the annual concert series held at Taiwan’s National Concert Hall (NCH) and has been invited to perform as a lead musician at NCH despite being a newcomer to the scene. She has also been invited to join various school orchestras including the Little Giant Chinese Chamber Orchestra and professional orchestras as an adjunct musician. Her performances have taken her all over Taiwan, Mainland China, and Mexico.

Liang's talents have not gone unnoticed, evident from the myriad of awards, concerts, and recorded works under her belt. These include clinching double Gold Awards in the Senior High Category at the Taiwan National Student Competition of Music in both 2017 and 2019 for her outstanding performance on the liuqin and zhongruan. In September 2023, Liang participated in the Taoyuan City Chinese Instrumental Music Competition for ruan and guzheng as a zhongruan performer and won the Audience's Choice Award. In April 2023, she got into the semifinals of the Rising Star of Zhongruan – NCO Music Competition 2023. In 2019, Liang performed a concerto Die Loreley at a pluck string showcase held at the National Taiwan University of Arts. She also joined the Taipei Chinese Orchestra in the studio recording for both of Lo Leung-Fai’s The Four Seasons albums, released in 2022 and 2023 respectively. In 2021 and 2023, she held solo graduation concerts to mark the end of her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts journeys at the National Taiwan University of Arts. She debuted Danza Spagnola for the liuqin, zhongruan, and piano to great acclaim. On top of being a full-time performer, Liang also teaches piano, zhongruan, liuqin and foundational music courses such as sight singing, dictation and music theory.

Ngeow Si Ming Jonathan

Jonathan Ngeow is one of the most sought after Ruan musicians of his generation. His ability to captivate audiences with his intrinsic musicianship and dynamic presence, coupled with his passion for advocating Chinese music through his media presence redefines what it means to be a Chinese instrumentalist, making him one of the leading Ruan musicians of today.

A multi-award winner, Jonathan clinched the first prize (Zhongruan Open Category) at the National Chinese Music Competition 2010 in Singapore and performed his winning concerto with the SCO at the Prize Winners’ Concert. He was also awarded the silver prize at the inaugural Zhongruan competition organised by the China Nationalities Orchestra Society the same year in Beijing.

In 2017 he was invited to stage a recital at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and performed Zhongruan concerto (Reminiscences of Yunnan) accompanied by the Symphonic Winds. In 2018 Jonathan held a recital (Onwards) in the Esplanade recital studio as part of their Chinese Chamber Series and in that very year he recorded the music for Disney’s live action movie “Mulan”. In 2019 he debuts his solo recital at the National Theatre and Concert Hall in Taipei. In the midst of the Pandemic in 2020, Jonathan recorded the music for the Hollywood movie “Songbird”.

Jonathan is a versatile musician who is comfortable playing in an orchestra, chamber ensemble and as a soloist. Apart from being in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, he is also the founding member of DingYi Music Company, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble. Jonathan prides in teaching and inspiring the next generation of ruan musicians and hopes he can impart his knowledge to them.

Chan Jing Wen Kenny

Kenny Chan, Singapore’s home grown ruan artist graduated with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in partnership with the Royal College of Music (London) and the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing). Kenny joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as daruan musician in 2023. He was under the tutelage of SCO Ruan Principal Zhang Ronghui and Jing Po, he also did a minor in sanxian performance under the tutelage of SCO Pluck Strings Sectional Leader Huang Guifang and renowned sanxian musician Zhang Nianbing.

Kenny is the founding member of Ding Yi Music Company, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Singapore Ruan Chamber Ensemble. Kenny presented a double Ruan concerto composed by local composer Jean. Y Foo with Ding Yi music company, and was conducted by Maestro Lim Yau. In 2008, Kenny won the Silver award at the 28th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival and first prize under the folk ensemble category at the 2009 National Eisteddfod of Wales (Llangollen) with Art-Sphere ensemble (now known as Ding Yi Music Company). In 2010, Kenny was awarded with the first runner-up for Ruan Solo Competition (Open Category) in the National Chinese Music Competition (now known as Singapore Chinese Music Competition). In the same year, he was appointed as Pluck Strings Principal in Ding Yi Music Company.

In 2018, Chan joined the Suzhou Chinese Orchestra (SUCO) and was with SUCO on the well-received tour around Europe. He was awarded the Austrian Music Theatre Prize 2021 with SUCO. Apart from playing in the orchestral and chamber ensemble setting, Kenny has a strong calling in educating the next generation of ruan musician, hoping to impart his knowledge and experiences to them.

Jing Po

Jing Po graduated from the China Conservatory of Music. She studied under Ning Yong, Miao Xiaoyun and Wei Wei, as well as guidance by ruan masters Lin Jiliang and Zhang Xinhua respectively. Through her hardwork, Jing Po was able to systematically and comprehensively master the playing techniques of the xiaoruan, zhongruan and daruan.

Jing Po was awarded the Outstanding Performance Award in the Ruan (Professional) Category at the Hua Xia International Chinese Instrumental Competition. In 1997, she was admitted into the China Opera and Dance Drama Theatre Chinese Orchestra. She also recorded a solo album Pao Xiu Luo Lan of ruan-xian pieces for Taiwan’s Poem Culture Corporation. Jing Po has been a zhongruan and daruan musician with the SCO since 2005. She is currently studying her Master’s degree in Ruan at the China Conservatory of Music.

Liang Guoting Fontane

Fontane Liang, currently harpist of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, is the first Singaporean 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 has garnered international accolades including winning a place on the London Sinfonietta Academy, Pacific Music Festival and in the 2009 Franz Josef Reinl Competition. She was also a recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Sir Barbirolli Memorial Foundation Award. International performances have taken her from Tokyo’s Suntory Hall to London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Opera House.

In demand as a chamber and orchestral musician, Fontane splits her time between Asia and Europe. She is principal harpist of the highly acclaimed contemporary music group Octandre Ensemble (UK), appearing on BBC Radio 3. Fontane has trialled for Principal harpist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and performed with London Sinfonietta, LSO Chamber Ensemble, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, Berkeley Ensemble, Riot Ensemble, Hermes Experiment and Germany’s MusikFabrik.

Fontane’s ability to engage the masses across a variety of styles makes her unique as a solo artist. Her most recent concerto appearance was at the Hanoi Opera House in 2018. Fontane performs regularly for recital series Play with Mozart (Singapore) and Bach to Baby (London). She is an alumnus of UK recital platforms Live Music Now and Concordia Foundation.

Guzheng Associate Principal

Xu Hui

Xu Hui started learning the guzheng at a tender age. She was admitted to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Under the tutelage of Associate Professor Guo Xue Jun, Xu Hui studied the guzheng, and concurrently studied percussion under Professor Yang Ru Wen. During her course of study, she was awarded scholarships for four consecutive years. She is currently a Guzheng Associate Principal and Percussionist with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Xu Hui is a guzheng instructor at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and she is also in the Executive Committee of the Singapore Qinzheng Association.

Xu Hui was the champion at the 1992 International Jiangnan Sizhu Competition. In the same year, she won the first prize at the Shanghai Young Talents Guzheng Competition. Xu Hui was also the first-prize winner at the Eastern China Youth Chinese Music Competition for two consecutive years. In addition, she was awarded a silver medal at the National Cultural Stars Award in 1995.

Xu Hui has staged many performances throughout Asia, Europe and America. She has performed numerous guzheng concertos which include: Midnight at the Maple Bridge, Wind of Falling Plum Blossom, A Peacock Southeast Flew, Desert Dust, Mountains and Water, Dunhuang Tang Ren Wu, Three Characters Classics Capriccio and more. Xu Hui has also performed and staged 3 solo guzheng recital concerts at the Esplanade — Theatres By the Bay. Xu Hui has also collaborated with many renowned musicians and composers and her performances have received well acclaims.

In terms of teaching, Xu Hui has inspired her students to achieve excellence, with many of her students winning various accolades from local and overseas competitions, such as the Singapore Chinese Music Competition (previously known as National Chinese Music Competition), Nanyang International Music Competition and Eastern China Youth Chinese Music Competition.

Section Leader
(Winds and Percussion) /

Dizi Principal

Yin Zhiyang

Yin Zhiyang started learning the violin and dizi from his father at the age of eight and later, under the tutelage of professor of Shenyang Conservatory of Music, Kong Qingshan and professor of China Conservatory of Music, Zhang Weiliang. After graduating from the China Conservatory of Music in 1991, he served in the China Central Song and Dance Troupe as a soloist. He joined the SCO in October 1997 as a dizi performer and he is currently the Dizi Principal and Section Leader (Winds & Percussion). He is also the guest professor of Shenyang Conservatory of Music.

Yin Zhiyang received an Outstanding Performance Award at the China National Chinese Music Competition Shan Cheng Cup in 1989 and came in First at the China Central Song and Dance Troupe Audition in 1992. In 1988, Yin Zhiyang performed Bangdi Concerto by Taiwanese composer Ma Shuilong at the Beijing Concert Hall with the China Central Chinese Orchestra, and received critical acclaim for his interpretation. He held a well-received solo recital at the Beijing Concert Hall in 1990, and contributed to music education as an adjudicator with the First Beijing Primary and Secondary School Chinese Instrumental Music Competition in 1994.

He has also produced a solo album of dizi recital pieces. Yin Zhiyang has participated in performances in China, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hungary, England, France, Taiwan, and Macau. His signature rendition of Divine Melody at the Singapore Arts Festival and London’s Barbican Centre remains talked about today in music circles. A lively music director and chamber musician, he has led performances of works including Butterfly Dreams Concerto, Capriccio of Liu San Jie, San Jie and Cang. In 2008, he performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra on Zhu Jian-er’s Fourth Symphony. Later in the same year, he performed Three Variations of the Parting at Yangguan as a soloist in a concert at The Sage Gateshead arts centre in the United Kingdom, with a chamber group from the SCO. In 2009, he returned to the UK with the orchestra, performing at the Edinburgh International Festival as a dizi soloist. In 2010, he held a concert for himself and his students proving his success once again as a remarkable artist.

Lee Jun Cheng

Lee Jun Cheng started playing dizi at the age of 9 when he joined the Chinese Orchestra in his primary school. At the age of 13, he began learning under the tutelage of Zou Bo Qiang. He had also received guidance from various dizi masters like Li Zhen, Liu Sen and Qu Xiang. He joined the People's Association Youth Chinese Orchestra in 2008 and the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) in 2011. At SYCO, he was under the tutelage of Singapore Chinese Orchestra Dizi Musician, Lim Sin Yeo.

In 2012, Jun Cheng was admitted into the China Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Zhang Wei Liang. In the same year and the next, he became a musician at the Hua Xia Chinese Orchestra and the Chinese Bamboo Flute Orchestra. As of 2014, he is the Dizi Principal Player at the Toa Payoh West Community Club Chinese Orchestra and also recorded an album with the Hua Xia Chinese Orchestra as a Dizi musician. In 2017, he participated in The 6th International Chinese Instrumental Competition and attained the highest Award given, the Premium Gold Award. In 2018, he joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a Qudi Musician. In 2021, he has completed his Master’s degree.

During his time at the music conservatory, Jun Cheng represented the school to perform in countries such as France, Germany, England, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and around China. He participated in big event concerts like "SOUND OF HEAVEN New Era of Zhang Wei-Liang's Chinese Music" and "Call of the Ancient". He has also collaborated with the musicians of the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. In addition, Jun Cheng has worked with renowned musicians, conductors, composers such as David Murphy, Joel Hoffman, Fukuda Teruhisa and Kohei Nishikawa.

Lim Sin Yeo

A versatile homegrown dizi musician, Lim Sin Yeo joined the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra as a full-time musician in 1979 and is currently the dizi musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He is also the vice president of the Dizi Society. He has represented Singapore to perform as a soloist in China, Europe, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, West Malaysia and Egypt. His performance was highly commended by the Chinese orchestra circle.

Lim Sin Yeo has studied dizi performing skills and techniques under the tutelage of various China dizi masters including Yu Xunfa. In 1993, Lim Sin Yeo was awarded the National Arts Council (NAC) Scholarship. He entered the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and studied under dizi master Zhao Songting. He put up a solo performance at the graduation concert on the same year.

Lim Sin Yeo has always exhibited mastery of the dizi techniques. His performances always come with a rich and pleasant timbre. He attained Grade 8 in flute performance awarded by the Academic British Royal School of Music. Presently, he is an instructor at the Nanyang Polytechnic, Nanyang Junior College and Maris Stella High School Chinese Orchestras. Lim Sin Yeo has contributed much to the Chinese orchestral music circle. He was the adjudicator in the preliminary round of the first edition of Singapore Chinese Music Competition in 2020.

Ng Wei Xuan

Wei Xuan pushes the boundaries of the Dizi as he hopes to uncover untapped avenues of musical expression. With a unique approach, the traditional instrument transforms into a poetic body that seeks for a story in sound.

He reflects fondly upon his participation in Path. 9, art and sound installation by multidisciplinary artist Boedi Widjaja, captivating audiences during Singapore Art Week 2018. In 2019, he recorded for the local short film Bodhi, an original composition by local composer Sulwyn Lok, winning the Singapore National Youth Film Awards 2019 - Best Original Music Award. In 2021, Wei Xuan premiered Dizi concerto 'From Afar, the Moonlight', composed by Sulwyn Lok, commissioned by the local Chinese Wind Percussion ensemble, Reverberance. In 2023, he premiered chamber work 'The Absence of', graphic score by local composer Rebecca Tan at Royal College of Music in London. In the same year, he worked with visual artist Hong Shu-ying, co-producing the music for her artwork ‘found on paper, made in minds’, premiering at The Substation’s Re-Connect/Centre/Converge: The Arts Festival and later featured at the Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops in Cambodia in 2024.

Wei Xuan was the first runner-up for the Dizi Open category in the National Chinese Music Competition 2018. With a deep-seated passion for Chinese chamber music, Wei Xuan won the first prize for the Ensemble category in Singapore Chinese Music Competition 2020, alongside Reverberance. He also clinched the top spot for the same category in Singapore Chinese Music Competition 2022 with NAFA Chinese Ensemble, a testament to his unwavering commitment and passion for his craft.

Wei Xuan graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor in Music (Honours) from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, in partnership with the esteemed Royal College of Music (London) and Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), under the tutelage of Yin Zhiyang, Section Leader (Winds and Percussion) and Dizi Principal of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Wei Xuan joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a Dizi musician in May 2023.

Phang Thean Siong

Phang Thean Siong is a talented dizi artiste in Singapore. He joined the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra in 1983 and is currently a dizi musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). He has performed in countries like Malaysia, Japan, Thailand, America, Germany, China and Hong Kong.

He was invited to perform at the Hong Kong Youth Music Camp in 1986. In 1988, he performed with the renowned dizi maestro Yu Xun Fa at the Singapore Arts Festival and was well received by many. In the same year, he also performed as a soloist in the Chinese Woodwind Solo Concert organised by the Singapore National Theatre Trust board. He was invited to perform as a soloist in the Malaysia 2nd National Secondary School Chinese Music Competition in 1991. In 1992, he conducted talks on dizi at the Sarawak Chinese Orchestra Music Camp. In the same year, he performed with the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra in Thailand at the birthday celebrations of the Thailand queen. In 1998, he performed in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen with the SCO in their China Concert Tour and in 2000, in Taipei and Taichung with the SCO.

Phang Thean Siong was awarded a scholarship by the Singapore National Arts Council in 1993. He studied at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Maestro Yu Xun Fa. He also performed in the Sixty Anniversary Celebrations of the Conservatory with the Shanghai Movie Orchestra as its guest soloist. Phang Thean Siong performed the dizi concerto Love for the Eagle with the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra in Hong Kong in 1994 and received great reviews from various Hong Kong newspapers.

Phang Thean Siong is currently the instructor for many Chinese orchestras in primary and secondary schools, community centres and clubs as well as Nanyang Technological University. His name was recorded in China Xiao and Dizi, published by the Nanjing University Press.

Zeng Zhi

A graduate of the China Conservatory of Music in the dizi and xiao, Zeng Zhi began learning the piano at 6 years old, and at 10 years old began to learn the dizi with professor of Hunan Province Art Institute, Wang Jue. Today, Zeng Zhi has mastered the dizi, xiao, hulusi, bawu and other wind instruments.

In August 2002, he won the Most Outstanding Award at the inaugural China National Ethnic Music Competition. In 2004, he was admitted to the China Conservatory under the tutelage of dizi and xiao pedagogue Zhang Wei Liang. Since then he has played at the National Grand Theatre, Beijing Concert Hall, the Beijing Poly Theater and the Forbidden City Concert Hall. In 2005, he joined the Prince of Nine Tones Ensemble, forging a professional career. The same year, he participated in “Taihe Invitation”, a TV show commemorating the Mid Autumn festival organised by Phoenix Television at the Forbidden City. The 2006 CCTV Dream China Spring Festival program featured him as a guest, and in the same year he recorded music for the Chinese Theatre drama, A Doll’s House. In 2007, Zeng Zhi joined the China Conservatory Orchestra, performing at the Lucerne KKL Culture and Art Center, the Golden Hall in Vienna, Austria, and various venues in Heidelberg, Germany, Luxembourg Milan and Alexandria in Egypt. In 2008, his UK tour with the British Dragon Troupe was hailed as a success and since then he has played in Zaragoa, Spain and also in, Newcastle, England.

In 2008, Zeng Zhi joined SCO as dizi musician. In 2011, he successfully held a solo concert at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay. Zeng Zhi recorded for the winning piece, The Cappricio of the Mountain Folk Song of the 2011 Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition. He was the soloist for SCO concerts A Scenic Musical Trail, Casual Classical and Harmonies from Taiwan, and played in the pieces The Capriccio of the Mountain Folk Song, Cang and Whirling Dance. He has also given interviews for Lianhe Zaobao, FM88.3 and 958 Capital FM.

He's currently an instructor for Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and in various school institutions in Singapore. He also teaches at He Yue Zhai Guqin Music and Arts Centre, Singapore Raffles Music College and leader of 新月组合, a Chinese music group.

Sheng Principal

Guo Changsuo

Beijing-born Guo Changsuo has a love for music since young. He started learning sheng from Wu Xing Shui at the age of nine, and with excellent results, he gained entry into the affiliated secondary school of the Central Conservatory of Music in 1979, studying under the tutelage of Lin Fu Gui. He was later transferred to the affiliated secondary school of the China Conservatory of Music in 1981. Guo Changsuo entered the Chinese Music Department of China Conservatory of Music in 1982 and studied under Zhang Zhi Liang. He represented the conservatory to perform in Hong Kong and was well commended. He joined the China Central Chinese Orchestra as a sheng performer in 1986 and has performed in Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau. He scored the highest mark in the woodwind and percussion category in the arts examination conducted by the China Cultural Department in 1997. He then joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a sheng performer in late 1997 and is currently the sheng sectional principal.

Guo Changsuo’s delicate, skillful and touching performance has won him numerous commendations.

Ong Yi Horng

Ong Yi Horng started learning the dizi and sheng from Ng Kok Tsai during his school days in Manjusri Secondary School and has since been actively involved in the Chinese Orchestra. Under the tutelage of several reputable sheng maestros, he had acquired diverse techniques and is able to create his own unique style by blending the essence of the techniques.

In 1988, Ong Yi Horng joined the Theatre Arts Troupe Chinese Orchestra as a sheng player. He joined the NTUC Chinese Orchestra as a principal sheng player in 1993 and became a full-time sheng player in the SAF Chinese Orchestra in the same year. Ong subsequently auditioned successfully for the sheng musician position in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 1997 and has been with the Orchestra since. He is currently also the instructor for sheng and suona for Cheng San Community Club Chinese Orchestra, and is the instructor of the woodwind section for several schools.

With the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Ong Yi Horng has performed in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen in 1998, and participated in the Taipei Arts Festival in 2000. He has traveled with other orchestra groups to China, Egypt and Malaysia for public and festival performances. In July 2000, he staged a solo performance with Lin Kiong Pin, Tan Loke Chuah and Ling Hwee Loong and had received high accolades. In June 2003, Ong Yi Horng was being invited to be a sheng instructor in the Chinese Orchestra Camp 2003 for Secondary Schools organized by the Ministry of Education. He is a popular guest performer in many public concerts, often assuming the roles of sheng soloist and sheng lead player.

Cheng Ho Kwan Kevin

Kevin Cheng is currently a sheng musician of Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) with First Class Honours. Principal sheng teachers include: Cheng Tak-wai, Loo Sze-wang, Hu Tianquan and Weng Zhenfa.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Kevin won numerous awards and scholarships over the years and his major solo appearances in the past include: Kwan Nai-chung’s Peacock and Keith Hon’s Groovy II with HKAPA Symphony Orchestra (2011 & 2014); Qian Zhaoxi’s Tianshan Rhapsody with Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra (2011); Ng Cheuk-yin’s The Seventh Month with Singapore Chinese Orchestra (2016) and with HKAPA Chinese Orchestra (2018); solo recitals at Hong Kong City Hall (2015), Esplanade, Singapore (2015) and Yale-NUS College, Singapore (2017); and guest appearance at Setouchi International Arts Festival (2010), Singapore International Festival of Arts (2016) and the 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival.

Kevin is also dedicated in music education and has given many concerts, lectures and workshops in schools and universities including the Yale-NUS College in Singapore, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong, etc. He currently also serves as Council Member of Singapore Chinese Music Federation Youth Chapter, Teacher Artist of Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Instructor of Resonance – Sheng Ensemble.

Since 2003, he has collaborated and gone on performance tours with different orchestras and ensembles, covering many countries and regions.

Apart from his performance endeavours, Kevin is an avid arranger and he has received commissions from Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Dingyi Music Company, The Purple Symphony, etc. He is currently studying composition under the tutelage of Law Wai Lun.

Yang Sin-Yu

Yang Sin-Yu, a young sheng virtuoso from Taiwan, was the former Assistant Sheng Principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) before joining the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as a zhongyin sheng musician in 2021. She is also working as a sheng/suona instructor in various schools.

Yang's interest in the sheng was evident since her childhood days, during which she decided that her lifelong aspiration is to be a sheng musician. Later on, Yang studied the instrument under Huang Lung-Yi in Taiwan. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the classical sheng repertoire, Yang, with the strong support of her parents, travelled all over China to seek guidance from virtually every renowned sheng maestro and even became one of the few Taiwanese musicians that learnt directly from the famous Hu Tianquan. When Yang was in high school, she was already a regular winner in several major competitions in Taiwan, including the All Taiwan Regional Competition for Students, the Chinese Music Association of the Republic of China Competition - Sheng Solo category, and the Bronze Bell Awards. To further hone her sheng performance techniques, Yang enrolled in the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and studied under Professor Yang Shoucheng. During her time as an undergraduate student, she was twice awarded scholarships from the Conservatory. In 2006, Yang was invited as one of the performing artists for the album Famous Sheng Musicians -- The Fine Art Series, produced by the China Nationalities Orchestra Society (CNOS). In the album, Yang performed a Lusheng solo piece titled New Songs Sung by Yao Children. In 2008, Yang won the Silver Award in the first Sheng Performance Competition in Beijing organized by CNOS and the Bronze Award in lusheng solo for Exotic Instruments of the Ethnic Minorities presented by the Wenhua Arts Institutes Awards. In 2014, Yang won the First Prize and Best Stage Presence Award at a sheng competition presented by the National Chinese Orchestra of Taiwan (NCO). In 2015 and 2016, Yang performed the sheng solo Sound of the Shengs with HKCO twice as the sheng solo and lead performer. In 2015, she was invited to perform the sheng concerto Rainbow at the World of Sheng concert with NCO. During the concert, she also debuted Reed, a sheng and organ concerto. In 2018, Yang was invited to perform the sheng concerto Peacock with HKCO and Guan Naizhong. In the same year, she was also invited to perform Reed at the National Chinese Orchestra Xing Ju Dian Concert. Over the years, Yang has worked with numerous orchestras, including Beijing Radio Chinese Orchestra, China National Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and Macao Chinese Orchestra. Yang has demonstrated her versatility and skill in a wide range of musical genres as well as her mastery of ethnic instruments such as the lusheng, hulusheng, and bawusheng. In 2022, Yang worked with Chen Yi-Wei to compose the sheng solo Between the Perimeters, published by the Taipei Chinese Orchestra.

Lim Kiong Pin

Lim Kiong Pin is a Diyin Sheng player in the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. His areas of expertise include performance, conducting, coaching, and composition. He learnt to play the Sheng during his secondary school years, with Mr. Ng Tok Tsai as his mentor. He also studied Suona performance with Mr. Lee Heng Quee, Mr. Jin Shiyi, and Mr. Ding Huaicheng. Since the age of 15, he has performed regularly with the People's Association Chinese Orchestra (predecessor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra). He became a full-time member of the People's Association Chinese Orchestra in 1996 and joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 1997.

For music composition, he studied harmony with Mr. Phoon Yew Tien and Mr. Tan Chan Boon. His notable composition works include Dark Sky Blues (wind and percussion ensemble), Rhythm of Drums (2001 National Day Parade), Overture 2004 (SCO’s Mega Concert), Bali Dreams (ensemble), Summer Rain (ensemble for plucked-strings, harp and cello) among others. In 2002, he received a cultural scholarship from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan to attend a conducting workshop in the Czech Republic, where he studied under mentors such as Tsung Yeh, Johannes Schlaefli, and Kirk Trevor

Suona / Guan Principal

Jin Shiyi

Jin Shiyi is the President of the Singapore Suona and Guan Society, Suona/Guan Principal of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and the first musician in China to achieve a Master’s degree in guanzi performance. His biography is also recorded in The Best of Traditional Chinese Music, Instruments and Musicians. Having shown his musical talent at a young age, he received tutelage from masters such as Zhang Baoling, Liu Fengtong, Hu Haiquan, Hu Zhihou, Zhang Jigui and Cao Jianguo. Jin Shiyi was recruited by the China Movie Orchestra at the tender age of 12. In 1986, Jin Shiyi enrolled into the China Conservatory of Music and graduated with a Master’s degree in 1992. He was offered a teaching position in the Conservatory Department of Instrumental Music upon his graduation from the conservatory.

From 1989 to 2000, Jin Shiyi staged various solo concerts in Beijing, Singapore and Malaysia. He was also invited as a soloist to perform in Taiwan Traditional Arts Festival and Korean Seoul International Folk Music Festival. He has also composed and rearranged a series of suona and guanzi pieces, including Seeking Dreams In The Western Regions, Tribute To Homeland, , The Dark Sky, Hip Hop Orchard Road, The Winds of Marina Bay, Xiao Bai Cai, Wife and West Beyond the Yangguan Pass, to name a few. Moreover, Jin Shiyi and Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s Diyin Suona player, Liu Jiang, created a single reed instrument developed based on the traditional double reed guan named SINGuan, which is highly acclaimed by music critics.

Associate Principal

Chang Le

Chang Le was born into a family of suona musicians in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province and inherited his family’s passion and devotion for the suona, performing on the instrument since he was 8 years old.

In 2000, he was admitted in Middle School of the China Conservatory of Music where he studied with acclaimed suona musicians Wang Gao Lin, Hou Yan Qiu and Zhou Dong Chao. During his studies, he was also the suona principal in the National Youth Chinese Orchestra which toured widely within China. Upon graduation in 2006, he commenced studies at the Singapore Raffles Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of SCO’s suona musician Liu Jiang, and also joined the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) as suona principal.

In 2008, he performed the Song of Guangzhong suona concerto with SCO and the Mending Jar suona solo piece in a SYCO chamber concert in 2009.

Chang Le has also performed at the Istana for former Singapore President SR. Nathan and participated in a recording of the MediaCorp Good Morning Singapore! programme, and was awarded the LCM Performance Award in Chinese Music Diploma.

In 2009, he was featured as a key performer in the Youth Talent Concert organised by the Singapore Press Holdings’ Chinese Newspapers Division in the President’s Challenge annual charity drive.

Chang Le joined SCO as the suona associate principal in 2013.

Lee Heng Quee

Lee Heng Quee started learning the dizi at the age of 13 when he was a secondary school student. He studied under Lum Yan Sing and Yeo Siew Mong. He joined the People’s Association Youth Chinese Orchestra in1981. He showed keen interest in souna then and decided to learn its performing techniques.

Lee Heng Quee won the First, Second and Third prizes in the National Music Competition Dizi Senior and Open Categories in 1981, 1983 and 1985 respectively.

In 1985, he joined the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra as a full-time musician. He often performed as a suona soloist and his performances received high acclaims. To further improve and perfect his suona performing skills, he went to Beijing to study under suona maestro Wu Wei. Returning from Beijing, he performed two suona concerti entitled Beautiful Shanxi and Victory Celebration accompanied by the Foochow Clan Chinese Orchestra and the People’s Association Chinese Orchestra in 1987 and 1990. His performances were well accredited. A concert entitled Recital by Lee Heng Quee and Wang Jian Hua was held in 1996 and won much praise and favourable commends from the Chinese orchestra circle.

Not only is Lee active in the local Chinese Orchestra scene, he has also represented Singapore to perform in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Dijon (France) and Michelen (Belgium). At present, he is the conductor of several secondary schools’ Chinese orchestras.

Meng Jie

Born in Tangshan, Hebei, Meng Jie is currently an honorary member of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society Suona Committee, committee member of the Suona and Guan Society (Singapore) and suona instructor and conductor to many schools in Singapore. His biography is included in The Best of Traditional Chinese Music, Instruments and Musicians (Suona Chapter).

Meng Jie started learning suona at the age of 14 under the tutelage of Yuan Zhenping. First in the entry exam in 1997, Meng Jie received his musical training in Hebei Province Arts School and was under the tutelage of Wang Hongfei. He enrolled into the China Conservatory of Music later on and was awarded the honorary title Excellent Graduate in 2006 where he was under the tutelage of Zuo Jicheng. He has also received tutelage from Chen Jiaqi, Liu Bingchen and Hao Yuqi.

Meng Jie joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) in 2006 and has performed with the SCO in numerous countries in Asia and Europe. He has also since staged 2 solo recitals at the Esplanade – Theatres by the Bay. He was invited to speak for online talks, in the capacity of an honorary member of the China Nationalities Orchestra Society Suona Committee and perform in online concerts.

Boo Chin Kiah

He started learning dizi at the age of nine. He started learning the cizhongyin suona after joining the National Theatre Club Chinese Orchestra in 1979. He is currently the suona performer with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. He won the first prize in Dizi Open Section of the National Music Competition (1981 & 1982). He jointly staged a dizi and erhu solo concert with Ann Hong Mui in 1991. He has performed in China, Brunei, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and America, etc.

Liu Jiang

Born in Shanxi Taiyuan, China, Liu Jiang learnt the suona from his father since young. Liu Jiang graduated from the China Conservatory of Music in 1997, and has practiced the suona under the tutelage of prevailing names, which include Liu Zhu Xi, Wang Gao Lin, Hu Hai Quan, Ding Huai Cheng, Jin Shi Yi and Guo Ya Zhi.

In 2005, Liu Jiang joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as its Zhongyin Suona musician. Liu Jiang has also since then been coaching students of Chinese Orchestras in various local Tertiary, Secondary and Primary Schools as a Suona Sectional Instructor.

Zhang Shuo

Zhang Shuo graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he specialized in the guan and studied under Professor Hu Zhihou, a renowned guan instructor and musician. As a student, Zhang Shuo did well in school and performed in multiple major concerts, often in the capacity of a soloist. In 2014, he was the soloist for the Guan Concerto in the Wang Shi Chinese Orchestral Works Concert; in the same year, he also performed solo in the Liu Wenjin Guan Music Works Concert, which was part of the 4th Guan Chinese Music Week event. In addition, Zhang was also the lead guan player in the 2015 special performance put up by the Jinqing Wind and Percussion Ensemble at the Beijing Concert Hall. In 2013, Zhang Shuo received the Outstanding Performance Award in the Professional Category in the Chinese Instrumental Music Folk Music Central Judging together with the other members of the Jinqing Wind and Percussion Ensemble. This is the highest award given out by China's Ministry of Culture. In 2012, the group was awarded the Outstanding Award in the 2012 CCTV Chinese Instrumental Music TV Competition.

Zhang Shuo joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in 2019.

Principal

Boo Chong Wei Benjamin

As an active and highly sought-after performer, Benjamin Boo joined Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and was the Percussionist from March 2018 to September 2022. In October 2022, he was promoted to Percussion Principal.

Benjamin started learning Piano from his parents at the tender age of 3. He first exposed to Chinese Percussion at the age of 9 when he joined his primary school’s Chinese Orchestra. A year later, Benjamin began studying Chinese Percussion with Mr. Quek Ling Kiong, the current Principal Conductor of the SCO, for over a decade. Through Mr. Quek’s recommendation, Benjamin also picked up Western Percussion with Mr. Ngoh Kheng Seng (SCO). In 2007, he studied Western Percussion in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) under the National Arts Council Georgette-Chen Bursaries Award. Benjamin attained his Diploma in Music Performance in 2010, under the tutelage of Mark Suter (Associate Principal, Percussion, SSO). He then furthered his studies in Music Theory with Cultural Medallion Recipient, Mr Phoon Yew Tien. In 2014, Benjamin graduated with First-Class Honours for his Bachelor of Music (Hons) through the NAFA-RCM joint degree programme.

He graduated from the Royal College of Music (RCM, London) with Masters of Performance (Distinction) in 2016, under the support of the Neville Wathen Award. He was taught by renowned percussionists including David Hockings, She-e Wu, Matt Perry, and Ralph Salmins. His unique experiences in traditional Chinese Percussion allowed him to teach and perform traditional Chinese Percussion with RCM’s Percussion Department. While in London, he also performed with The Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Musical “Motown”, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, with exclusive training under the BBCSO Pathway Scheme 2014 – 2015.

In 2008, he led his percussion ensemble “Symphonic Percussion” to Championship in the first ever NAC Chinese Music Competition for Percussion. He also participated in the International Chinese Arts Festival Percussion Competition in 2014 and was awarded the Third Prize for Chinese Percussion Solo Category, and First Prize for Western Percussion Marimba Solo Category. Benjamin was also awarded Third Prize in the National Indian Music Competition 2017, Mridangam Open Category.

Benjamin is the founding member of Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO) and Orchestra of the Music Makers (OMM), serving as SYCO’s Percussion Principal from 2009 to 2012. He represented OMM to perform at the Cheltenham and Lichfield Music Festival in 2012. Benjamin has been active in the arts scene, and began freelancing with the SCO and SSO from a young age. He was invited by the Arts Fission dance company to perform for the Mapping Melbourne Festival in 2016. Benjamin was invited to tour Italy and Germany in 2017 with his duet partner (The Untouchables) as a highlight feature of Zappanale #28, a Frank Zappa Music Festival. In 2019, Benjamin and his colleagues were invited to form a new ensemble “新月 MUSA” , together with local Chinese Instrumental Band “MUSA”. They represented Singapore in China’s major Chinese Instrumental talent show(国乐大典). In 2022, Benjamin was part of the quintet that represented SCO for the highly-received performance, Klassik Open Air, that attracted 75,000 audience in Nuremberg.

Benjamin is also the Co-Founder and Ensemble Principal of local Chinese Wind and Percussion group - Reverberance (回响), who strives to bring about a new era of Chinese music, through the combination of traditional and modern elements of the art form.

Benjamin proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, as well as Pantheon Percussion.

Associate Principal

Tan Loke Chuah

Tan Loke Chuah is a versatile musician armed with a Bachelor of Music Education (Hons) from the University of Toronto. Besides performing full-time with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO), he contributes to the Arts as a performer of both Western and Chinese percussion ensemble, an instrumental teacher, a percussion educator through master classes and clinics, a conductor of percussion groups and symphonic bands, as well as an arts administrator who saw the inception of the National Youth Percussion Festival.

Tan Loke Chuah received tutelage from Gregorz Markewicz (former Singapore Symphony Orchestra Percussion Principal), Russell Hartenberger (Nexus member), Robin Engelman (Nexus member), John Rudolf (Toronto Symphony Percussion Principal), Beverly Johnston (Solo Percussion Artist) and John Brownell (North York Symphony Timpanist) amongst others. He has been involved in the local music scene from young, through participation in the Singapore Youth Orchestra, NUS Orchestra, NUSS-SLT Orchestra, SSO and its Percussion Group, Singapore Armed Forces Chinese Orchestra and various other bands. He has performed overseas with North York Symphony, Scarborough Philharmonic, Toronto Wind Symphony, University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band, University of Toronto Percussion Ensemble, as well as Nishikawa Ensemble. He was also involved in several released recordings with SSO, SCO and Nishikawa Ensemble.

As conductor, he received guidance from Ivars Taurins (Founder-Director of Tafelmusik Chamber Choir) and Ormsby Wilkins (Music Director with The National Ballet of Canada) amongst others. He also attended conducting workshops in Canada. He was invited to conduct the percussion ensemble in the New Music Festival where he received first-rate reviews from both the composer and audience. He is currently conducting school bands in Singapore.

As an avid educator, he helped conceptualize the National Youth Percussion Festival in 2001 for young percussion players. Since then, the Festival holds annual training camps for budding youths, which aims to expose them to percussion excellence through good instructorship, master classes, first-rate performances and sharing ideas with guest performers.

Koh Wen Jun Derek

Touted as one of the most promising musicians of his generation, (The Straits Time, Singapore), percussionist Derek Koh’s sensitive musical voice and varied musical ventures have afforded him the opportunity to perform extensively in the United States, Europe and Asia. His burgeoning rise as a dynamic and flexible musician has led him to work with art forms of all genres and mediums, from western and Chinese classical music to theatre and dance. Derek joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) as percussion musician in 2022.

A graduate of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts School of Young Talents, he continued his undergraduate studies at the institution where he received his Bachelor of Music conferred by the Royal College of Music. Derek then headed to New York to receive his Master of Music at the Mannes School of Music with a full Mannes Dean’s Scholarship.

Derek most recently performed with the Berlin Philharmonic new music ensemble ZeMU Ensemble at the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2022, and is a regular substitute with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He has also been invited as guest percussionist for the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Szechuan Symphony Orchestra and was a fellow at the Grammy-award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. Derek is creative director of acclaimed contemporary percussion collective Morse Percussion, chairman at the Singapore Chinese Music Federation Youth Chapter, secretary-general at the Percussion Association of Singapore and adjunct faculty at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and the Singapore Armed Forces Band. Derek is a Freer Percussion Artist and plays exclusively on Freer Percussion mallets.

Ngoh Kheng Seng

Ngoh Kheng Seng currently serves as a percussionist / timpanist with the SCO which he joined in 1997. He began his training at the age of 12 when he joined his secondary school marching band. He joined the Singapore Youth Orchestra (now SNYO) in 1986 and was under the tutelage of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) percussionists Lim Meng Keh, Mark De Souza and principal timpanist Grzegorz Markiewicz. In 1987, he was invited by Maestro Choo Hoey to freelance for the SSO.

Ngoh Kheng Seng had the honour to be one of the first percussionists to join and perform with the Asian Youth Orchestra under Maestro Yehudi Menuhin in 1989 and 1990 respectively. During his tenure with the SSO, he was also awarded the best percussionist for 2 years by Maestro Lim Yau. Between 2001-2003, Ngoh Kheng Seng was the chairman of the National Youth Percussion Festival.

An active learner and extensive percussion educator, Ngoh Kheng Seng attended numerous timpani master classes – Cloyd Duff (2008), Alan Abel (2012) – and ASEAN music workshop for orchestra and band to further his knowledge on percussion and orchestral music making. He strongly believes in translating what he has learnt into teaching. Currently Ngoh Kheng Seng is coaching award winning Bands and Chinese Orchestras and has been the percussion instructor for the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra since 2003.

Shen Guoqin

Born in Shanghai, Shen Guoqin was admitted into the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra Academy in 1978, studied under yangqin masters Zhou Hui and Ding Yan Yi, as well as percussion with Xue Bao Lun and Li Min Xiong. Between 1981 and 1997, he was a performer for both yangqin and percussion with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. During this period, he also won first prize at the 1st Jiangnan Si Zhu Competition and second prize at the 6th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. He joined SCO as percussionist in 1997.

Shen Guoqin is also the music director and conductor of the Singapore Hsinghai Art Association Chinese Orchestra, conductor of Anglo-Chinese Junior College Chinese Orchestra, and the percussion instructor at numerous schools.

Teo Teng Tat

Teo Teng Tat has been with the SCO since 1997. In addition to touring Europe and China with them, he has also been involved in many of their large-scale cultural performances at festivals and special events. In 2007, he was the appointed drums instructor for the National Day Parade. Teo Teng Tat holds diplomas from the Royal Academy of Music and the London College of Music. He is also a member of the Chinese Percussion Association.

Wu Xiangyang

Wu Xiangyang, a percussionist from Shanghai. Wu Xiangyang started learning percussion and piano from his father at a tender age. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Li Min Xiong and Xue Bao Lun. He served as the Percussion Sectional Principal at the Shanghai and Jiangxi Song and Dance Theatres. Currently, he is a Singapore Chinese Orchestra percussionist. In 1992 and 1993, he won the second prize at the International Jiangnan Chinese Orchestra Music Competition and the first prize at the Taiwan Southeast Asia University Students’ Composition and Performance categories respectively. He has performed in Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra.