A National Arts Council Young Artist Award Recipient, Chua Yew Kok has forged an impressive career as a pipa instrumentalist and as an educator.
Born in Singapore, Chua began his musical pursuits with the pipa at the age of 14. Within six years, Chua clinched his first major award, winning 1st prize at the 1998 National Chinese Music Competition, Pipa Open Category. Since his graduation from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in 2006, he has pursued his passion avidly. Chua’s endeavours were not in vain, for he was awarded the National Arts Council Young Artist Award in 2013 for him to pursue his studies at the China Conservatory of Music.
As a soloist, Chua’s artistry has been recognised through a diverse myriad of performance and competition platforms. In 2002, Chua was awarded the Outstanding Performer Prize in the First Youth Artistry Chinese Traditional Instrument Solo Competition for Youths held in Beijing. Thereafter in 2005, he achieved 2nd Prize in the Dun Huang (Yun) Cup Pipa Competition in Hong Kong. Chua has also been selected as a soloist for various works and premieres, including the Ong Teng Cheong Concert (2004) and Spotlight Singapore in Tokyo (2006). Concert tour with Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne (2015).
A highly versatile performer, Chua has performed works by world renowned contemporary composers Chen Yi (“The Points” , “ Chinese Fables” ) ,Tan Dun ( Ghost Opera, concerto for pipa and strings) , Law Wing Fai (Ink Spirit , Anecdotic drawing) has been exploring new works by cooperating with local young composers in hope to promote and the expand the art of pipa playing. In the recent years, he has been actively performing in many international Arts Festival, such as China, Taiwan, Hongkong, Australia, Wales, Philippines, Malaysia, Cambodia and various cities in France.
Chua has also been involved with several notable ensembles and orchestras, including the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. In 2007, he co-founded Ding Yi Music Company, one of Singapore’s most distinctive Chinese chamber music ensembles, which he has led to excellence in local and international competitions. In 2008, the Ding Yi Company Ensemble was awarded 1st prize at the National Chinese Music Competition (Ensemble Open Category). The ensemble has also received 1st prize in the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod held in Wales, UK, and the Silver Award at the 28th Shanghai Spring International Music Festival.
Contributing to the development of Singapore’s Chinese orchestral scene, Chua currently serves as the pipa soloist of Ding Yi Music Company and the Secretariat of Singapore Pipa Society. He is also a dedicated mentor, doing his part in inspiring the future generation of the Chinese music scene.
