Saying it with music

Wei Ken’s love affair with music began at a young age. “I got involved in music because my mom wanted me to learn the violin when I was four,” he says. “My dad has been coaching me all this time, and gradually I built up my skills.”

Wei Ken practises daily on the violin and juggles orchestra rehearsals with his schoolwork.

“Wei Ken was hyperactive when he was young,” recalls Mr Loh, who is also a trained violinist. “So we thought that giving him an instrument which he could have fun with could help his hyperactivity.” Seeing how Wei Ken made progress on the instrument, Mr and Mrs Loh decided to support his pursuit, enrolling him for Suzuki Method lessons until he was 9. Since then, Wei Ken has been training under the mentorship of Mr Foo Say Ming, a violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and director of ‘Re:mix’, a classical chamber ensemble.

A single-minded focus and dedication marks Wei Ken’s involvement in his art. While he was a trainee member of the SNYO, Wei Ken also sang in his school’s choir, but after he became a full-fledged SNYO performer, he had to give up choir activities due to the orchestra’s demanding rehearsal schedules, which come on top of his own lessons with Mr Foo.

This meant that Wei Ken had to seek his school’s permission to be exempted from other CCAs. The school granted this request, for which Mr Loh is grateful. “The staff have been very encouraging and gave Wei Ken opportunities to perform in the school,” he remarks, “and I would like to thank them for all their support.”

Life in the Youth Orchestra

Wei Ken now juggles the demands of an SNYO ensemble member with his schoolwork, family activities as well as his continuing pursuit of a higher diploma in violin performance.

Life with the SNYO may sound glamorous but there is no room for slacking in the nation’s leading youth orchestra. Wei Ken was in the SNYO’s training orchestra for six months before he was ready to audition to join the main ensemble. “But once you are in, it doesn’t mean you are in for good,” he says of the SNYO’s strict standards. “You still have to go for regular assessments once every six months.” Mr Lim Soon Lee, the Music Director, is also a rigorous taskmaster, demanding total commitment and dedication from his players. “You have to keep practising and ensuring you don’t slip up,” adds Wei Ken.

Wei Ken's parents have encouraged him to pursue a career in music.

“I was once spotted by him because of a few wrong notes where I was a little confused,” he recalls. “He stopped me and made me repeat it in front of everybody until I got it correct.”

Music for life

Before his solo debut, Wei Ken was practising harder than ever. He recalls that during his first rehearsal session as a soloist before the orchestra, his legs were shaking. “I was scared that I would flop, as at that time my concerto wasn’t in shape yet.” But after several practices, he managed to overcome his stage fright and was mentally prepared for the concerts in Singapore and Italy.

Mr Loh notes that joining the SNYO has developed Wei Ken’s musical abilities as well as his sense of confidence. “I would say his musicality has increased tremendously,” he says. “The opportunities given by SNYO have been greatly helpful. It’s a very good platform for young, aspiring musicians.”

Looking ahead, Wei Ken harbours hopes to become an international violinist, a goal that his parents fully support. “As parents we will definitely support him if he has the interest to excel in this direction,” concludes Mr Loh. “The main thing for Wei Ken is whether he has the passion and the interest to pursue this path, and if he has, that would be very good, because he would then enjoy what he is doing in life.”