Chua Yew Kok

Multiple-award winner Chua Yew Kok clinched 1st prize in the Singapore National Chinese Music Competition (Pipa Open Category) in 1998. Thereafter, he was awarded the ‘Outstanding Performance Award’ in the First Youth Artistry Chinese Traditional Music Instrumental Solo Competition in Beijing and the 2nd prize in the Dun Huang (Yun) Cup Pipa Competition in Hong Kong. His artistic temperament, combined with adroit sensitivity, made him an important chamber musician who brought ensembles and orchestras to great heights. He served as the Pipa Principal (1998- 2006) where Cheng San Community Club Chinese Orchestra was awarded the 2nd prize in the National Chinese Music Competition (Ensemble Senior Category) in 2000; 1st prize in 2002. Subsequently, he appeared at the National Chinese Music Competition (Ensemble Open Category) with Ding Yi Music Company Chinese Ensemble which was awarded 1st prize and recently 1st prize in Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, held in Wales, UK. Now an active concert artist, he has staged numerous sold-out solo recitals. From his broad range of repertoire he performs as soloist in concerti with the Singapore Armed Forces Music and Drama Company, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Hsinghai Chinese Orchestra, Cheng San Echoes of the Valley Chinese Orchestra , Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra among other ensembles presenting traditional ancient tune (Ba Wang Xie Jia ), (Chun Jiang Hua Ye Yue) to works by contemporary composers: Mo Fan (Piao), Law Wing Fai ( Ink Spirit) and concertos by Gu Guan Ren ( Hua Mu Lan) , Zhou Chen long ( Xi Shuang Banna) , He Zhan Hao ( Butterfly lovers) , Wut Man Chung ( Ambush on all sides). In 2004 Yew Kok was selected to be the soloist for The Ong Teng Cheong Concert which is held in honour of the late ex-president, as a platform to showcase the brightest budding musicians today. Yew Kok was also selected as a Pipa soloist for Spotlight Singapore in Tokyo in 2006, supported by Singapore embassy in Tokyo and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to premiere a work “GENERATION/S” by Iskandar Ismail and Taicang Jiangnan International Exchanges of Performances of Chinese traditional Stringed & Woodwind Instruments, held in Jiangsu, China (2003). Yew Kok first started his Pipa education under Mr Huang Jin Liang and Mdm Liu Lu. He graduated from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts with a BA (Hons) in Music, principally under the tutelage of Liu Yan. In addition, he studied under Professor Wang Fandi, Li Jing Xia and Fan Wei in China. His musical talent was rewarded when he received the Georgette Chen Arts Scholarship from the National Arts Council in 2002. Apart from concertizing, Yew Kok is also an adept pedagogue, whose students achieved Gold awards in the East Zone Competitions, and prize winners at the National Chinese Music Competition. He has also given lectures at The Ministry of Education’s Leadership Training Camp (2008, 2006) and the Ministry of Education’s Annual Music Camp (2003, 2009). Yew Kok has taught since 2005 at the School of Young Talents (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts). Apart from teaching, Yew Kok now spends his time concertizing as a soloist, and enjoys the artistic camaraderie in chamber music making. In 2013, he was conferred the National Arts Council Young artist award.