9 Aug 1947
Born in Singapore.
1954
Began violin lessons with Leonardo Reyes at Far Eastern Music School, and then with Alfonso Anthony, leader of the National Theatre Orchestra.
1961 to 1967
Attended St. Joseph’s Institution (SJI), Singapore.
Converted, together with schoolmates Vincent Undasan and Peter Low, the school’s bugle and fife band into the SJI Military Band, the first marching military band in Singapore.
Established the SJI Choir and the SJI Orchestra.
1965 to 1967
President, SJI Music Society.
1966 to 1967
Drum major, SJI Military Band.
1968
Received Certificate of Merit, St. Joseph’s Institution.
1968 to 1971
Attended University of Singapore. Graduated with Bachelor of Social Science.
Band major, University of Singapore Military Band.
President, University of Singapore Music Society.
1968
Assisted Gerry Soliano in establishing the University of Singapore Military Band, the first tertiary band in Singapore.
1971 to 1993
Administrator, University of Singapore (later National University of Singapore).
1972 to 2013
Member, Arts Advisory Panel, National Arts Council (and its preceding agencies).
1975 to 1982
Music director, YMCA Sceneshifters.
1976
Music director and conductor, musical Fiddler on the Roof, YMCA Sceneshifters, Victoria Theatre, Singapore.
1977
Music director and conductor, musical The Fantasticks, University of Singapore Society.
Music director and conductor, musical West Side Story, Eusoff College, University of Singapore.
Music director and conductor, musical Flower Drum Song, YMCA Sceneshifters.
1978 to 1981
Attended University of Philippines. Graduated with Masters in Music.
Studied Ethnomusicology under Emeritus Professor Jose Maceda.
Studied the Music of the Philippines under Emeritus Professor Ramon P. Santos.
Studied Music Education under Professor (Sr.) Mary Placid.
Studied and played the banduria in the University of Philippines Rondalla under Professor Rudolfo De Leon.
Assistant conductor and double bass player, Metro Manila Symphony Orchestra, Philippines.
Trumpet player, University of Philippines Jazz Lab Band.
Sitar player, Folk Trio, Bodega Club (owned by Freddie Aguilar, Philippines’ legendary composer-singer), Metro Manila, Philippines.
1980
Composer and conductor, Jade Cloud Overture, performed on television programme Concert in the Park, Philippines. This was his first symphonic composition.
1981
Music director and conductor, musical Jesus Christ Superstar, YMCA Sceneshifters, Victoria Theatre, Singapore.
1981 to 1987
Music Director, NUS Stage Band.
1981 to 1993
Founder and music director, NUS Electronic Music Lab.
1981 to present
Founder, music director and resident conductor, NUS Rondolla.
1982
Founder, Folk Jazz Ensemble.
1983
Music director, musical Samseng and the Chettiar’s Daughter, Singapore Arts Festival.
1985 to 1993
Music director, NUS Symphonic Band.
1988
Composer, computer music work Merlion Odyssey, for the opening of the 1988 Singapore Arts Festival. Performed by the NUS Electronic Music Lab.
1989
Head of Delegation, ASEAN Youth Music Workshop, Philippines.
1990
Composer, dual musical-system work (Indian raga-tala and Western music) Desh for Sitar Tabla and Western String Orchestra. Performed by the New Music Forum, Singapore.
Chairman, 6th ASEAN Working Group on Visual and Performing Arts.
Transcribed 45 of Zubir Said’s songs and wrote commentary for published book Zubir Said – His Songs.
1992
Head of Delegation, ASEAN Youth Music Workshop, Thailand.
1993
Head of Delegation and Convener, Asian Composers Forum on Traditional Music.
Head of Delegation, ASEAN Youth Symphonic Band Workshop.
1993 to 2008
Lecturer in Asian Music, Southeast Asia Programme, National University of Singapore.
Lecturer in The Processes of Asian Musics, Diploma in Music and Audio Techonology, Singapore Polytechnic.
1993 to 2009
Served in the AV-IT sector of NUS, retired in 2009 as Associate Director (Multimedia).
1994 to 1999
Attended University of Western Australia. Graduated with Ph.D in Music where he developed a Macro Measure for music education - to test music curricula against societies they serve.
1995
Head of Delegation, Asian Composers Workshop.
1998
Chief Editor, Sonic Orders in ASEAN Musics.
2000 to 2008
Lecturer in music elective (Music East and West), Singapore Management University.
2009 to present
Chief consultant, Sonic Asia Music Technologies.
2009 to 2011
Co-chairman, inaugural ASEAN-Korea Traditional Music Orchestra.
2010
Contributing writer and editor, Being Bandsmen. Written by Colin Lai.
Present
Specialist Professor, Graduate School, College of Music, Mahasarakham University, Isan, Thailand. Teaching “Innovation and Technology in Music”.
Member, Advisory Committee, MusicSG, National Library Board, Singapore.
Advisor, Singapore Indian Orchestra.
Member, International Rondalla Congress, Philippines.
Member, Forum of Music Research Centres, Philippines.
Asian coordinator, Latitude South 35, Argentina.
Liaison Officer, International Council for Traditional Music, UNESCO.
