Born in Singapore, Yeo Teow Meng commenced studies on the violin at the age of eight. Awarded a scholarship by the Public Service Commission (Singapore) in 1982, he furthered his studies with Lyndall Hendrickson and Gunnar Crantz in Adelaide at the South Australian College of Advanced Education. Upon graduation he worked with the State Opera of South Australia as well as various chambers groups and has been with the SSO since 1986.
Mr Ma has more than 35 years of teaching experience, having recently retired from Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He achieved Bachelors of Music degrees (B MUS degree, Bass performance) from Beijing Central Conservatory of Music, in 1985. He was also lecturer in Beijing Central Conservatory of Music. In 1986, Mr Ma achieved Masters degree in Music from Toho Gaku-en of Music, Tokyo, Japan. He joined Singapore Symphony Orchestra as double bass player from 1987.
Aside from private cello and double bass coaching, Mr Ma has coached the strings ensemble group of the following schools: Tanjong Katong Girls School; Nanyang Girls School;
St Margaret Secondary; Singapore Chinese Girls School; Catholic High; VictoriaJunior college; Nanyang Junior College; Zhenghua Secondary; SAFRA Band;
Elaine achieved Masters Degree in from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2011). Prior to that, she attained a professional diploma in the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (2004) as well as Bachelor in Music from Xing Hai Conservatory of music (Guang Zhou, China).
Her performance experience with Global Symphony Orchestra (Mak Ka Lok -2018-2021) includes highlight performances such as: New Year’s Concert on CCTV in January 2020 (Filmed in Shenzhen with Macau Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra), World Symphony Concert: Fur Elise (October 2021), Peace concert in Hong Kong (November 2019), Concert in Shanghai for 12th China Art Festival (May 2019), Concert in Vienna for Austrian Music Theatre Honorable Prize (June 2018), “All About Love” Concert in Hong Kong String Orchestra Jockey Club Power of Music Programme (April 2020) , Tutti violin Hong Kong String Orchestra (Yao Jue, 姚珏, 2016-2022, Tutti violin I: HKFW Six Arts Orchestra (2013-2022), guest violinist with City Chamber Orchestra & Hong Kong Virtuosi Orchestra (2009-2022).
Hughes has ABRSM Diploma in Cello and Piano. He is a versatile artist — cellist, pianist and composer.
He studied cello under the tutelage of Mrs Ilano. Apart from classical music, his playing repertoire include the pop and romantic genre.
His performance experience include solo cellist performer for Taiwanese Singer Jeff Chang (2008), Francis Yip’s concert in 2009, solo performance of “Le Cygne” by Saint-Saens for former president MR S.R. Nathan and President for South-Africa at the Istana, as well as performances with singers including Joi Chua, Adam Cheng, Anita Sarawak.
Kendra is an experienced multi-instrumental music educator with more than two decades of teaching experience. She began teaching piano in 2002 and subsequently expanded her teaching to violin, viola, guitar, cello, ukulele, drums, erhu and guzheng.
Her formal music qualifications include a Performer’s Certificate in Solo Piano, ABRSM Grade 8 Violin, ABRSM Grade 8 Music Theory, ABRSM Grade 5 Cello and Trinity College Grade 5 Guitar. She is also proficient in viola, ukulele, drums, erhu, guzheng and harp. She has extensive experience teaching cello and has successfully prepared students for ABRSM Cello examinations up to Grade 8, with students achieving Merit.
Donavan is a dedicated cello instructor whose teaching philosophy is grounded in technical mastery and performance excellence, drawing directly from his extensive experience in high-level ensemble and solo work.
Donavan holds an Associate Diploma (ATCL) from Trinity College, London, achieved under the tutelage of Song Woon Teng, affirming his deep understanding of the cello repertoire and musical interpretation. His technical proficiency is evidenced by a Distinction in the ABRSM Grade 8 Cello Performance exam (32 credits at Level 3), where he trained with Guo Hao, complemented by an ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory Merit he attained at 8 years old.
He is also decorated in ensemble work. He serves as the Quartet Cellist for Footnotes Ensemble, actively participating in professional gigs, charity events, and music video production. Donavan has also held leadership roles as Cello Principal for the National Junior College String Orchestra and was a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra, Anglo Chinese School (Independent) for four years.
Donavan’s recent international solo achievements include Third Place in the Vienna Music Competition (Advanced Category, 2022) and being named the First Place Winner in the Spring 2022 American Protégé International Music Talent Competition. His chamber excellence is further recognized by achieving the Platinum Prize Winner award and the highest score representing Singapore in the Artist category at the 2023 Grand Master Music Competition.
As a cello teacher, Donavan applies his performance discipline directly to pedagogy. He has a proven ability to accelerate student progress. Beyond private students, he regularly conducts coaching sessions for junior musicians at his alma mater National Junior College, focusing on ensemble skills and musical technique.
Donavan is fully abreast of ABRSM requirements, specializing in preparing students from initial grades up to Grade 8, or instructing for leisure playing. His lessons focus on fostering true musicality and expression. He encourages students to listen carefully to their own sound, emphasizing proper steady rhythm, correct intonation, and awareness of articulation and dynamics.
A key pillar of his teaching is developing finger strength and control, fundamental for a good cellist, through tailored technique exercises. He dedicates time to teaching the efficient way of practicing, instilling good habits so that students can progress correctly and independently, avoiding ineffective methods
Claire Lam is a patient and dedicated cello educator who combines strong technical training with musical understanding and enjoyment. She has been teaching since 2021, and has experience across a diverse range of students, from young children to adults. Over the course of her teaching career, Claire has taught more than 50 students and achieved a 100% pass rate, with all of her students attaining either Merit or Distinction in their graded examinations.
Preston is a multi-instrumentalist and composer/arranger, proficient in performance and improvisation on the violin, viola, and electric bass. He holistically engages with music in its different practices, and benefits from experiences with classical, traditional, folk, contemporary and popular styles to inform his craft and artistry. He is a passionate teacher who aims to inculcate musical critical thinking in his students, incorporating theory and analysis into his teaching methods along with an acute awareness of the physicality of playing the instrument.
Clynton Loh is a Singaporean-Chinese classical pianist and cellist. He started playing piano at the age of five and this led him to discover his passion in music. Under the tutelage of Angela Lin, he attained his Licentiate in Piano Performance in 2018, awarded by Trinity College London, and is currently in his final year at LASALLE College of the Arts. Besides playing the piano, he was also a former cellist of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra from 2013-2017. He represented his secondary school’s Chinese Orchestra as a cellist in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF) and attained the Certificate of Distinction under the baton of Wilson Neo. He was also a pianist for his school’s drama elective module and obtained a best performance award from the school.
Clynton was involved in the Rising Stars Concert 2018, where he performed Beethoven’s Sonata Op.31 No 3 at the Esplanade Recital Studio, and also played the cello for the other chamber works and concerti performed in that concert. An accomplished cellist as well, Clynton was a member of the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (Snyco), where he was a cellist in the overseas concert tour to Taiwan, performing in various concerts such as Dauntless Spirit, Four Seasons, The Love for the Moon of SYCO, Musical Landscapes for All Seasons, and the Exuberance of Youth. Clynton has also performed with internationally renowned orchestras such as the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.
An ardent admirer of J.S. Bach and the Well-tempered Clavier, Clynton’s research interest is performance research of the keyboard works of Bach, he is interested in the interpretation and voicing of keyboard pieces of Bach and his contemporaries and continuously sought to better his performances through historically accurate research.
Clynton has taught piano and cello since 2020 to students ages five and up. He hopes to inspire students by showing them his experiences he acquired throughout the years of playing the piano and cello
Full time piano teacher with 13 years of experience teaching children, teens and adults. Preschool teaching experience as well.
Karen has taught more than 50 students ranging from age 4 to 60 years old. She has managed to deliver 100% passes (merit and distinction) for all her student’s graded exams.
Both Classical and Yamaha Electone Trained. With a Grade 7 ABRSM Practical and Grade 5 Theory qualification, she has continously upskill herself through masterclass on music interpretation (Mozart, Bach) and Pedagogy with Roza Yoder Chopin Academy. Can teach on acoustic piano, digital piano or keyboard.
Currently, teaching initial Grade to Grade 7. Karen is abreast of ABRSM requirements and is able to teach and prepare students to take exams or leisure playing.
Innovative method of teaching using digital app technology to teach notation and rhythms. Making learning fun and enjoyable for any level.
Focus learning process of practising with audio guide for beginners to early intermediate.
In Karen’s piano lessons she encourages students to bring out their music in the best musicality and expression by teaching them to focus on proper steady rhythm, playing the right notes, awareness on articulation and dynamics. She inspires her students to make music out by listening carefully to what they play. She teaches finger work technique exercises to help them to improve and develop finger strength as she believes a good pianist must be able to control over the touch of the piano keys.
She also teaches her students the importance of learning and mastering the efficient way of practicing.