Brief Encounters

Olivia Chuang obtained a Bachelor of Music (BMus) as a scholarship holder from the Royal College of Music in London under the tutelage of Amanda Truelove. She started learning the cello when she was 11, beginning her studies with Gevorg Sargsyan and later on with Pei-Sian Ng and has attended masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Torleif Thedeen and Gemma Rosefield.

She performed Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto with cellist Chan Wei Shing in 2015 and recorded Bang Wen Fu’s Loving in 2020. In 2021, she performed in pop concerts alongside JJ Lin and Kit Chan at the Marina Bay Sands Theatre and has been part of JJ Lin’s World Tour since 2022. Recently, she performed in Singapore Repertory Theatre’s production of The LKY Musical and was also featured in grammy-nominated composer Ella Spira’s new single. In 2024, she was selected as a soloist for Singapore’s National Day Parade.

She has played with orchestras such as the Orion Orchestra, the Scherzo Ensemble, the Royal College of Music Symphony Orchestra, Firebird Orchestra, Resound Collective, Wayfarer Sinfonietta and the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra under the baton of notable conductors such as Antonio Pappano and Rafael Payare.

Neville obtained his bachelor’s with honours (Distinction) and his Masters of Music from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. His previous teachers include Associate Professor Zuo Jun, Head of Violin at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, Singapore Symphony Orchestra Fixed Chair Violinist, Chan Yoong Han and Concertmaster of The BBC Symphony, Igor Yuzefovich. As an active orchestral musician, Neville freelances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He also actively leads and performs with other local groups such the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra,ReSound Collective, Red Dot Baroque and the Wayfarer Sinfonietta.

Neville is deeply committed to music education in Singapore, where he serves as an instructor at multiple institutions such as the Singapore Korean International School,the Kids Philharmonic Orchestra,Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic. Beyond formal settings, Neville also dedicates time to coaching private students, fostering a deep understanding and appreciation for music in each individual.

Jinhong is a pianist and educator that engages in unconventional repertoire and exciting partnerships. He was a winner at the Lucian Wang Piano Competition, best accompanist at the Joan Chisell Schumann Vocal Competition, and has participated in the Leeds Lieder Festival. As a collaborative pianist, Jinhong performs regularly with the students from Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, as well as with new music collective weird aftertaste. He is also the resident pianist at the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir. His continued interest in the vocal medium has brought him into other choral settings and can sometimes be seen singing in local community choirs. A graduate of the Royal College of Music (London), Jinhong was mentored by Andrew Zolinsky and the late Niel Immelmann. Prior to his studies abroad, he studied with Dr. Nicholas Ong at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.