Draft:Quek Ling Kiong

Quek Ling Kiong
郭勇德
Born	(1967-07-22) July 22, 1967 Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Education	Dunman High School Ngee Ann Polytechnic Shanghai Conservatory of Music Zurich University of the Arts
Occupation	Conductor
Employer	Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Awards	Young Artist Award

Quek Ling Kiong (born 22 July, 1967) is a Singaporean percussionist and Chinese Orchestra Conductor, who is currently the Principal Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO). Widely hailed as the People's Conductor, Quek is the winner of the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award in 2002, recipient of the NAC Cultural Fellowship in 2013 and the Meritorious Award by the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore in 2016. He is currently also assuming the position as Music Director of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) and Music Director of the Singapore Management University Chinese Orchestra. In 2019, the Quek Ling Kiong Arts and Culture Scholarship was also established at the Singapore Management University, in honour of his contributions to the arts scene in Singapore.

Early Life and Education

Quek was born in Telok Kurau, Singapore on 22 July, 1967 as the eldest child and the only son. He first studied in Mattar East Primary School, where he learnt the pipa. Following which he studied in Dunman High School. Whilst studying in Dunman High, he was in the school's Chinese Orchestra, where he learned the liuqin. However, Quek disliked the liuqin and refused to learn it, instead solely becoming the orchestra's storekeeper.

During his Secondary 3 year in Dunman High, he was requested by the school to either learn the drums or the yangqin. He chose the drums, and found a liking towards it. Through hard work and guidance from the school's conductor, Chinese Orchestra Pioneer and soon-to-be mentor Mr Tay Teow Kiat, he became very good at playing the drums, receiving high praise from The Straits Times when he performed the Chinese Drum solo in the piece Prancing Dragons and Leaping Tigers 龙腾虎跃 at Dunman High School's Anniversary Celebrations.

After graduating from Dunman High School, Quek pursued a diploma in Business Administration at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He also joined the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation Chinese Orchestra, conducted by Quek's Mentor Tay Teow Kiat.

After which, Quek worked as an administrator in a music school whilst teaching music and conducting orchestras in secondary schools around Singapore.

In 1994, 27 years old Quek decided to pursue formal studies in music. Quek secretly flew to Shanghai, China, a few months before the audition date for the Shanghai Conservatory of Music to prepare himself, whilst lying to his family that he got a job opportunity overseas. Eventually, he was accepted into the conservatory, and ignoring naysayers, and with grants from the National Arts Council, Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan and Lee Foundation, Quek studied in the conservatory.

Career

Following his graduation in 1997, Quek secured the position of percussion principal with the newly-formed Singapore Chinese Orchestra.

Quek was subsequently identified by SCO to have conducting potential, and was promoted to Conducting Assistant in the year 2003.

In 2004, Quek concurrently became Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor and Conductor for the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (now called Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra).

In the year 2005, he conducted the Singapore Chinese Orchestra at the opening concert of the 12th International Conference of World Association for Symphonic Band and Ensembles.

During the year 2006, Quek led the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra to perform at the Tainan International Arts Festival, in Taiwan. Also, he was once again awarded a scholarship from the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kwan and received the National Arts Council overseas bursary to pursue Conducting Studies in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 2008, Quek received his Diploma in Advanced Studies from the Zurich University of the Arts.

Upon his return to SCO in 2008, he was promoted to Associate Conductor.

In 2013, Quek was promoted from SCO's Associate Conductor, to Resident Conductor. He also led the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra to perform in the Hsinchu Chinese Music Festival in Taiwan.

In June 2014, Quek led a the world's largest Chinese drum ensemble with 4,557 players, at a performance for the Singapore Sports Hub’s open house. It comprises of Chinese Orchestra members from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, community clubs, schools and clan associations.

For 2018, Quek was appointed as Visiting Artist of the National Institute of Education, as part of NIE's rotational Visiting Artist Programme.

In December 2019, together with SNYCO's Associate Conductor Moses Gay, Quek led the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra in her We Soar II: China Tour.

In January 2023, Quek was promoted from Resident Conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, to the Principal Conductor of SCO.

During November 2023, Quek, along with SCO's Conductor Emeritus Tsung Yeh, led the Singapore Chinese Orchestra to perform in China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Quek also led the Purple Symphony, Singapore's largest inclusive orchestra, as its Artistic Director and Conductor to perform at the Permaisuri Zarith Sofiah Opera House, Johor Bahru for the The Symphony of Friendship Concert.

In December of 2023, Quek led the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra in her first overseas tour since the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Ascend Tour, to Kota Kinabalu and Kuching, Malaysia.

Quek was part of the team that organised the Ding Yi Chinese Chamber Music Festival and Composium. He is also currently an adjunct teacher at Lasalle College of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.