Perng Peck Seng is a prominent arts and culture advocate and administrator. He inspired Chinese clan associations to take a more prominent role in the development and promotion of Chinese arts and culture in Singapore, and went on to spearhead many initiatives—including the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts and Cultural Troupe and the annual River Hongbao Chinese New Year celebrations—that would play a huge part in the artistic and cultural development of generations of Singaporeans. In 2010, Perng received the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) for his contributions to arts and culture in Singapore.

Born in Jinmen, China, in 1951, Perng Peck Seng was a young lover of the arts who has since followed through his childhood interest to become a passionate lifelong supporter and administrator of art and cultural programmes.

Growing up, Perng took to stage performance naturally and won prizes for a singing and an oratorical competition in primary school. He moved to Singapore with his family at the age of six, and his interest in theatre was sparked in secondary school by a teacher who would make him and his classmates recite theatrical dialogue. At age 14, he then joined a children’s drama and singing workshop at Singapore Broadcasting Corporation, learning how to sing and act. Eventually, the group became the Children’s Radio Drama Players, with which Perng would be a performer before going on to join the Youth Drama Troupe at the corporation.

After completing his education, Perng worked in a commercial firm for a spell but found that he had little interest in the line of work. Knowing of his dissatisfaction, his friends in television persuaded him to join them at Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. Perng already was helping out with television programmes and singing lessons with the corporation, and decided to join the corporation as a producer. This would mark the beginning of Perng’s significant career as an arts administrator. Soon after, he became the leader of the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Choir.

In 1979, Perng started serving as the secretary of the Singapore Choral Association. There, he helped organise choral competitions that included choral groups from Singapore and Southeast Asia. At the same time, he never really left the stage completely, continuing to take part in the Youth Drama Troupe’s productions as a performer.

In 1980, Perng joined the Nanyang Fang Shee Association as a consultant of its youth committee and helped to organise its cultural events. He helped set up a children’s choir, a harmonica group, a theatre group and a singing group, and most significantly, organised the association’s first ever variety concert in 1983 at the National Theatre. This was a first for a clan association in Singapore, and its full house reception raised the profile of clan associations in general, highlighting the viability of clan associations being promoters of arts and culture.

Two years later, Perng was approached by theatre practitioner and Cultural Medallion recipient Low Ing Sing to organise arts and cultural events for the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan. He then joined the association, setting up its cultural section. Believing that having a love for arts and culture is an important factor in the development of a person, Perng focused on developing programmes for children, so that young minds and hearts may have meaningful cultural encounters. With that in mind, he initiated a two-year cultural programme for children that culminated in a graduation performance. From an initial batch of 90 children in 1986, the programme would see a healthily growing enrolment every year, eventually benefitting a few thousand children in each batch. In 1989, he founded the association’s Arts and Cultural Troupe, serving as its leader till today.

Perng also joined the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clans Association in 1987 as director of the cultural committee. That year, he organised the inaugural River Hongbao, a week-long Chinese New Year carnival featuring Chinese performing arts and cultural performances by Singapore and international arts and cultural groups. From that first year, River Hongbao grew to become an important staple of Chinese New Year celebrations in Singapore, attracting families and tourists alike.

Besides his lifelong service to his various clan associations, Perng also contributed his expertise in his other capacities—he served for a decade as the artistic director of the Singapore Buddhist Federation’s annual Vesak Day celebrations; as a member of the Cultural Medallion for dance advisory panel; as honorary chairman of Siong Leng Musical Association; and as chairman of the Thian Hock Keng Temple management committee.

Perng has also received official recognition for his contributions to arts and culture in Singapore. He received the Singapore Soka Association Friendship Award in 2006, the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) in 2010, and the Service to Education Award (Silver) in 2011.

Today, Perng continues to contribute his services to the community in his hope to help create a vibrant artistic and cultural society made up of generations of arts lovers.

Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations