Music Director, Sim Boon Yew (PBM)
Sim Boon Yew is a well-known Chinese orchestra music practitioner. He shows his love towards the Chinese orchestral music by actively participating and promoting it in community culture events. In 2001, he was conferred the Public Service Award (PBM) by His Excellency, the President of Singapore. Sim is a ZhongHu player and former resident music arranger of Singapore Chinese Orchestra.
He represented Singapore with various local Chinese Orchestras to perform in places such as Switzerland, America, Japan, Malaysia, Australia and Hong Kong since 1970s. He has been the conductor of Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (KHCO) since 1981. He had led the orchestra to perform in China, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia and Hong Kong and was popularly received. Under the baton of Sim, the plucking string ensemble of KHCO had won both the first prize in the Ensemble category and Best Performing Award in the National Chinese Music Competition for four consecutive years since 1987.
In 1989, Sim pursued his further studies in conducting and orchestral music arranging and composing at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Professor Xia Fei Yun and Professor Hu Deng Tiao. He continued his studies in conducting from Professor Li Hua De after his return from Shanghai.
Over the past, Sim has composed/arranged almost 150 music pieces for the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, schools and amateur Chinese orchestras local and abroad. Major pieces include “Magnificent Sheares Bridge”, “Suriram”, “Qing Ming Prayers”, “Melodies Singapura”, “Melodic Potpourri” and “Variations of Burong Kakak Tua”. Other major pieces include several successful adaptations of western orchestral music.
Sim has been actively putting in great efforts in making music with local ethnic colours which has a far-reaching influence to the local Chinese music scene.
Associate Conductor, Chin Yen Choong
Chin Yen Choong’s musical journey began when he started learning the Pipa from Mr Toh Kok Chun in 1988. He has since been active in the Chinese music scene, performing in numerous concerts including Pipa solo and duet as a member of Chin Kang Huay Kuan Chinese Orchestra. In 1992, he participated in the Music Instrumental Competition and was awarded 2nd runner-up in the Junior Category. He also came in 3rd and 2nd in the Pipa Category of the National Music Competition in 1993 and 1995 respectively.
In 1999, Yen Choong started learning the Erhu from Ms Xu Wenjing. A highly talented musician, he quickly acquired a high level of skill in the instrument. Since joining the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra in 2000, he has been featured as a soloist in various performances playing the Erhu and Banhu both locally and overseas. In 2002, Yen Choong took part in the National Music Competition and was awarded 2nd runner-up in the ErhuOpen Category. In 2003, he represented Singapore for the International Jiangnan SiZhu conference in Taicang, China.
In 2004, he was selected to represent Singapore to Laos PDR to participate in the annual ASEAN Youth Camp. In the same year, he attained the Diploma in Erhu performance, jointly organized by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and Central Conservatory of Music (China). He was the recipient of the Arts and Cultural Scholarship awarded by Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan for his diploma studies in NAFA. Receiving the National Arts Council (Singapore) Arts Bursary, Yen Choong is the pioneer batch of Chinese instrumentalist to attain the B.A (Hons) in Music at NAFA.
Yen Choong studied orchestra conducting with Mr. Eric Watson and Dr Robert Casteels in NAFA and had since then conducted orchestras in various performances. He is a freelance musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and instructor of various schools.
Assistant Conductor, Ng Hee Sai
Ng Hee Sai joined the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra in 1975 and has been the Yangqin instructor for many years. At present he is the conductor in various Chinese orchestras in Singapore and Malaysia. Since 1983, he has represented the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board to perform in Switzerland, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and various countries in South America.
In 1985, Ng won the first prize in the Singapore National Music Competition, Yangqin Open Category. In 1987, he performed in Shanghai, and has since been invited to become the guest conductor of the Sarawak Chinese Orchestra for their major annual concerts. In 1988, he performed in Hong Kong with the Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra in a musical interaction with Music Lovers’ Chinese Orchestra. In 1992, he participated in the Cultural Festival in Bangkok. In 1987, 89, 91 and 93, he has led the plucking instrumental group to win the Chinese Ensemble first prize and the Best Performer Awards in the biannual Singapore National Music Competition.
Ng represented Singapore in the La Biennale di Venezia in 2001 in Venice. Ng is a member of Cimbalom World Association since 2005.
Concert Master, Goh Cher Yen
Goh Cher Yen is a full-time musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). He joined Keat Hong Chinese Orchestra (KHCO) in 1994 and is currently its concert master and gaohu principal.
Goh started learning the Erhu in secondary school under the tutelage of SCO musician cum arranger-in-residence, Mr Sim Boon Yew PBM. In addition, he was also taught by SCO Erhu sectional principal, Mr Zhao Jian Hua, and received pointers from Erhu Maestro Mr Xiao Bai Yong. In 1995, he participated in the 10th National Music Competition Erhu Intermediate Section and was awarded 1st runner-up (1st place was vacant). While serving National Service in 1998, he was recruited into the SAF Music & Drama Company (MDC), and was frequently featured as a soloist and leading musician. In 1999, he performed as a soloist in the National Day Parade. In 2000, he was invited to perform as a soloist in the Music Box, presented by Esplanade and the National Arts Council. He had performed with KHCO, MDC and various schools in various parts of China, Malaysia and Australia.
Under SCO's encouragements, he learnt from Erhu Maestro Mdm Min Hui Fen. He had performed with the SCO in London, Newcastle, Hungary, China and Edinburgh.