Calista Liaw
Gu Zheng
Calista Liaw is Singapore’s foremost contemporary Erhu virtuoso, renowned for redefining tradition into a dialogue between eras. She wields the Erhu not merely as an instrument, but as a voice that bridges cultural legacies with bold, contemporary sensibilities — dissolving boundaries between East and West.
Her journey began at the age of eight under the mentorship of Mr. Li Bao Shun, concertmaster of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. From these foundations, she rose to acclaim with her sold-out debut in the Candlelight Concert Series’ Oriental Strings and her commanding performance of the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Erhu Concerto with the Yong Siew Toh Orchestral Institute. In 2023, she unveiled
her first multidisciplinary production, The Art of War, which premiered to a sold-out Esplanade audience and has since grown into a trilogy — affirming her virtuosity and creative leadership in cross-disciplinary performance.
Pushing boundaries further, Calista released REBIRTH, a genre-defying album inspired by the Chinese zodiac. Across 12 tracks, she reimagines the Erhu through R&B, hip-hop, and experimental soundscapes — a bold reinvention of identity and sound. Extending her artistry beyond music, she also curates fashion and digital content, bringing her voice to luxury stages and global collaborations.
A graduate of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, Calista has been recognised on the Southeast Asian Directors of Music’s 30 Under 30 Music Leaders list and Prestige’s 40 Under 40. Celebrated for both her artistry and influence, she is also the Creative Lead of The TENG Company, where she directs YI , a pioneering division devoted to bespoke, cross-disciplinary productions and luxury collaborations. Regularly featured in The Straits Times, Zaobao, and international media, Calista stands today as one of Singapore’s most transformative artistic voices — a visionary trailblazer whose artistry resonates across cultures, and a global creative force unafraid to reinvent what performance can be.