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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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 from 2007 and SSO from 2012. 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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio

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.

Expand to read full bio