Dr Nellie Seng is an accomplished pianist, artist-educator, and academic whose career spans over two decades in performance, higher music education, and curriculum innovation. She currently serves as Associate Dean of the School of Music at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), a founding faculty of the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS). Her work bridges artistic excellence and pedagogical vision, shaping inclusive and forward-looking music training in Singapore and the region.

A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, Dr Seng has performed internationally, garnering prizes at the Puigcerdà International Piano Competition and the Juilliard–Gina Bachauer Competition. She has appeared with the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and continues to perform actively in recitals, festivals, and world premieres, with a strong focus on contemporary and Southeast Asian repertoire.

As an educator, Dr Seng is dedicated to developing reflective, expressive, and socially engaged musicians. She has taught across diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels, specialising in Principal Study (Piano), Collaborative Piano, Musicianship, and Performance Pedagogy. Her teaching integrates values-based education, cross-cultural perspectives, and artistic inquiry.

Dr Seng’s educational philosophy is closely linked to her research and artistic practice. She is co-author of “Courage to Create” (Education Sciences, 2024), a publication that outlines a values-driven model for music teacher education in Asia. Her engagement with NAFA’s A/R/Tography initiative further explores the intersection of movement, memory, and sound in music learning and performance.

Internationally, she is active as a festival artist, adjudicator, and masterclass clinician, with recent engagements at institutions including the Central Conservatory of Music (Beijing), China Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and Chetham’s School of Music (UK). These activities reflect her ongoing commitment to artistic exchange and to nurturing the next generation of musicians across cultural and educational contexts.

Dr Seng is also closely involved with major initiatives such as the Nanyang International Music Competition and the Nanyang International Piano Academy. Her artistic and educational work reflects a deep commitment to musical excellence, cross-cultural dialogue, and regional collaboration.

She believes that arts education nurtures not only artistic skill but also empathy, imagination, and resilience. As both performer and pedagogue, Dr Seng remains committed to advancing a holistic vision of music education—one that prepares musicians not just for the stage, but for meaningful contribution to the broader cultural landscape.