Dr John Sharpley

JOHN SHARPLEY, composer, pianist and lecturer earned a Doctorate in Music Composition from Boston University; a Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the University of Houston; and, music diplomas from the National Conservatory of Music in Strasbourg, France. Formerly Assistant Professor of Music at Boston University co-directing a pioneering music program in Singapore, he is often featured as both composer and pianist in concerts and festivals world-wide: recently including; Kyoto City University of the Arts, Illinois Wesleyan University, the Texas Music Teacher’s Association Convention, Across Oceans International Festival (Toronto), the Hong Kong Asian Arts Festival, multiple Asian Composers League Festivals and Our Music Foundation Nepal (Kathmandu). Honors include the Texas Music Teacher’s Association Composition Prize, an American Cine-Eagle Award and a New York Film Festival Award and a composer-in-residency for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Sharpley currently lectures at LaSalle College of the Arts (Singapore)

Dr Lee Pei Ming

Founder of Staccato! with a Doctorate degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance

Dr Lee Pei Ming was previously an Assistant Professor in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at National University of Singapore. Lee graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 2005 and achieved her Licentiate and Fellowship (F.T.C.L.) from Trinity College in London with honors prior to her degrees.  Lee’s research paper on “Infant Musicality in the New Generation” was published in INTED conference in Spain, and she has presented her papers at the prestigious World Piano Pedagogy Conference at Texas, USA and in Malaysia.

Lee is also the founder of the music program Staccato! Music, which specializes in early childhood music and movement program. Due to the success of the program, Staccato! Music was awarded Promising SME 500 in 2013.  Lee has conducted several pedagogy workshops and lecture recitals held in Singapore for the People’s Association, The Arts House, Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) and Ministry of Education (MOE) schools over the years. Lee also founded the Pedagogy Series in 2015 to help raise funds for the financially-challenged students and the less-privileged in collaboration with RICE Holdings. Symphony Music in Brunei franchised her early childhood program in 2016, and in 2018, a new school named Prodigy Music was started in Shanghai, using the early childhood curriculum that Lee has created.

In recent years, Lee has several students who had achieved distinction in their ABRSM or Trinity diploma piano examinations.  One of her students, Ong Weng Yee, is currently in Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester to pursue a music education, after achieving her grade 8 with distinction when she was 8 years old.

**Dr Lee will only be judging for amateur class.

Professor Bernard Tan

Composer and Member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Council

Bernard Tan is currently Emeritus Professor of Physics at NUS.  He is a member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra Council and was Chairman of the Musicians’ Guild, the Singapore Youth Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Music Makers and the Singapore Arts Festival Steering Committee and served on the boards of the Singapore Symphonia Company and the Esplanade.  His Guitar Concerto was premiered in 2013 by the SSO with Kevin Loh and his ‘Cello Concerto was premiered in 2016 by the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra with Noella Yan.

Mr Frank DeMeglio

Classical Music Teacher, Lecturer and Writer

Frank DeMeglio is a classical music teacher, lecturer and writer. He has taught at both the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (Keyboard Literature) and LASALLE College of the Arts (Coordinator of the Classical Music Specialism) since 2003.

Of particular interest to Frank is the efficient technical approach to the keyboard that aligns with sound biomechanical principles, especially with respect to injury prevention and cure.

He studied piano at the University of Michigan and earned a Bachelor’s degree in performance. After graduating, he taught with Randy and Nancy Faber, authors of the best-selling Piano Adventures library of piano books. He returned to the University of Michigan for an MBA in marketing in 1992, and was hired by Steinway & Sons as their New York Institutional Sales Representative. While working for Steinway & Sons, part of his duties included managing the famed Steinway Selection Room of concert and studio grand pianos.

In 2000, Frank moved to Singapore where he wrote classical music reviews for The Business Times from 2001 to 2004. He continues to guest review (including for the 2007 Singapore International Piano Festival) and his interviews of international pedagogues and performers appear in print and on the web.

Frank’s performing career included recitals in Spain and Japan, where he recorded a special-release CD in honour of the 15th anniversary of the UNESCO chapter of Narita City, Japan.

Dr Khoo Hui Ling 

Dr. Khoo Hui Ling, Academic Faculty (Contextual Studies), Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music

For Dr. Khoo Hui Ling, playing the piano is a vulnerable and precious expression of what is in the heart. Sought
after as both a performer and teacher, she has inspired audiences and students alike.

Currently academic faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), she is also founder and
pedagogy consultant of The Music Studios where she coaches young pianists and piano teachers. A curious
soul, her artistic interests are diverse. Apart from performing solo recitals in the United States, Europe and
Singapore, she has also produced provocative cross-disciplinary collaborations and multimedia performances.

Hui Ling graduated with a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Oregon under the tutelage of Dean
Kramer. She previously studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music with Brian Ganz, and the Yong Siew Toh
Conservatory of music with Thomas Hecht. Now based in Singapore, she continues to develop her interests in
performance, teaching, and in innovative collaborations with other artistic fields.

Dr Nellie Seng 

Head of Keyboard Studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Dr. Nellie Seng is currently the Head of Keyboard Studies at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). Her formal music education began here in Singapore with Ms Lena Ching. With the support of the National Arts Council, she furthered her studies with Murray McLachlan at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, UK. After being awarded the Shell-NAC Scholarship, Dr. Seng went on to pursue her Bachelors and Masters’ degrees at The Juilliard School, New York City, under Oxana Yablonskaya and Jerome Lowenthal. She was later granted her Doctor of Musical Arts degree by The Graduate Center, City University of New York, where she studied with Thomas Sauer.

As a pedagogue, she strongly believes in nurturing a sense of historical awareness alongside a strong technical foundation in order for students to excel in their musical endeavours.

Dr. Seng is also a committee member and faculty member for the annual Nanyang International Piano Academy.

Mr Lionel Choi

Director and Founder, Altenburg Arts

Lionel Choi is the founder of Altenburg Arts, a new independent presenter of classical music productions, built on Choi’s experience as Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival from 2010 to 2018, when he presented and formed meaningful friendships with many internationally celebrated artists, including Martha Argerich, Yuja Wang, Dang Thai Son, Seong Jin Cho, Nelson Freire and Stephen Kovacevich. Since 2011, ​Choi also sits on the Board of Directors of the Singapore Symphony Group.

For a decade since 1997, Choi was resident classical music reviewer with The Straits Times. Online, Choi has been described as an “early Internet Prokofiev pioneer”, having contributed many writings to the now defunct Prokofiev.org, an online database supported by the Prokofiev family and the Serge Prokofiev Archive at Goldsmiths College, London.

Choi was invited to be on the judging panel at the Shanghai International Piano Competition for Young Artists in 2019.

Ms Dorothy Chia

Founder of Forte Music Training, and Piano Pedagogy Expert

Dorothy Chia, author of Piano Pedagogy and Theory Explorer, is an active Piano Pedagogue in Singapore and Malaysia. Dorothy holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is the first Singaporean to win the DH Baldwin Fellowship in 1992, a prestigious award given to outstanding new piano teachers in the USA. Dorothy owns and runs Forte Music Training, which organizes workshops and trainings to Music Teachers. Dorothy also has her own Youtube Channel "dorothychiapiano", where she puts out weekly vlogs on various topics pertinent to piano teaching. Dorothy is one of the organists serving at the Church of St. Peter and Paul. 

Ms Lynn Tan 

Lynn Tan Piano Studio

Lynn Tan has over 20 years of experience as a music educator. She is a Licentiate (Distinction) of Trinity College London, and holds a Honours in Pianoforte from Guildhall, and a Diploma in Piano Performance (High Distinction), ABRSM. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), and was previously a government policy maker and diplomat.

Lynn’s interest’s are piano pedagogy, piano performance and childhood music programs, and her passion is to develop new teaching methods to apply at her studio, Lynn Tan Piano Studio, and share her knowledge. She authored the books “Starting Your Musical Journey”, “Parents’ Voices” and “Singapore Songs: Easy Piano Arrangements for Beginners”. She has also contributed many articles on music and piano learning for publications such as Singapore’s Child, Young Parents, Asian Parents, etc.

Mediacorp 95.8FM Capital Radio has interviewed Lynn on the subject of piano learning. She also produced a short video, ”Our Piano Stories”, which captures the candid sharing of parents and students. Her website can be found at http://lynntanpianostudio.com

Ms Zhou Yun

Concert pianist Alumna of Royal College of Music WPTA China General Secretary

Yun graduated from the Royal College of Music in the UK with a Master in Music Performance 1st Class (Hons) . She was awarded the RCM scholarship during her study.

She performs actively in Singapore, Japan, UK, Spain, Italy and many other European countries, participating in both commercial as well as charity concerts.

Yun`s particular oriental elegance and exquisite performance obtain immense success and brilliant comment. Her impressive performance attracts European and Chinese medias. Chinaminutes reviewed Yun`s performance as “her performance sounds like a fairy, the clear, smooth sound flows from her fingertips fulfilled with dynamic and imagination.

Yun was invited to attend as adjudicate and master class lecturer at various music festivals and competitions in Singapore, USA, Japan, Europe and China. In 2019, she has been invited as adjudicate for the Pianohouse international competition final at Carnegie Hall in New York as well as Zhongsin International Music Competition.

Ms Jo Tee 

Owner of Jo Tee Piano Studio, Co-founder of Amadeus Music Academy Pte Ltd

Ms Jo Tee is an experienced music educator. She currently oversees Jo Tee Piano Studio and co-founded Amadeus Music Academy. Combining the entrepreneurial and creative sides of her personality, Ms Tee conceptualised her teaching ideas and published the creative and interactive EasyScales visual guides that has been sold globally.

 Ms Tee has dedicated her career to music education and has taught music at every level from pre-school through diplomas. She has formerly coached in primary and secondary schools, including planning and implementation of the music curriculum. She has worked with schools such as Anglo Chinese School Junior, Xinghua primary school, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary School, Woodlands Primary School and Orchid Park Secondary School.

Presently, Ms Tee devotes her time in nurturing the young generation of music learners. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she also mentors new teachers at Amadeus Music Academy to enhance their teaching skills. Many of her students have performed in various venues and masterclasses. They have also won prizes in piano competitions, above and beyond attaining outstanding music examination results and others have advanced their musical training in gifted young musician programmes. Please find more details at: https://www.amadeusma.com/

Mr Ricky Tsang 

Artistic director of Hong Kong International Music Competition for Young Pianists

A Hong Kong versatile Pianist, Pedagogue and Entrepreneur, Ricky Tsang. Ricky had received his professional music training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and later at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. His main piano teachers include Li Ming Qiang, Franz Mo Cheung Yu, Gabriel Kwok, Zhou Keng and Angela Cholakian.

He has toured Australia with engagements from Qantas Airways and Jayday Music, New Year Concert in China Xinjiang to perform "Yellow River" Piano Concerto and Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition, Thailand. He has been awarded “Teaching Excellence Award” from Pearl River Cup National Piano Competition in China, Guangzhou and twice nominated “Music Teaching Excellence” from China Shenzhen Piano Duo National Piano Competition and adjudicated in Chiangmai Ginastera International Music Competition, Thailand and China HAILUN Piano Competition, China ASEAN Piano Competition and others.

Nevertheless,  Ricky is the Artistic Director of Hong Kong International Music Competition for Young Pianists, Artistic Director of The Amigos Music Society of Hong Kong, a committee member of Shanghai Conservatory of Music – Shanghai International Piano Festival & Master Class and presented a lecture about piano competition – Behind the Scene at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Summer Piano Festival as a lecturer.