MingTse Chen Ouw

Violinist

 

An exceptionally talented musician, Mingtse has been playing the violin and piano since the tender age of four. She was awarded the Licentiate in Violin Performance of the Royal Schools of Music at age 19, and has been a member of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) since age 12. She has also been performing as soloist on many occasions since the age of 10.  In 2005, she represented Singapore with the SNYO in the 34th International Youth and Music festival in Vienna, winning first prize in the Symphony Orchestra category. Spontaneously involved in the local arts scene, she recently performed in an octet for ‘Rhythm of Youth’ organized by the People’s Association.  She was also featured as a soloist in the SNYO Chamber Concert at the Esplanade in August 2007.  

Mingtse is an active member of established orchestras and chamber groups in Singapore. She was the former Concert Mistress of both award-winning school ensembles—theNanyang Girls' High School String Ensemble, and the Hwa Chong Junior College String Ensemble.   Under her leadership, the Hwa Chong Junior College String Orchestra attained its first Gold with Honours medal in the Singapore Youth Festival Central Judging Competition 2005.  She currently holds the position of Principal 2nd Violin in the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO), and Associate Principal of 2nd Violins in The Philharmonic Orchestra (TPO) led by Maestro Lim Yau, which performances include "Viva Verdi!", “The Barber of Seville” in 2007, and “La Traviata” in 2008 with the Singapore Lyric Opera, as well as the Sibelius Symphony Cycle at the Esplanade Concert Hall.  

Mingtse is also a freelance musician of the Singapore Pop Orchestra (SPO), Re: Mix, which has recently gone on tour in Bangkok and Phuket, and the New Festival Orchestra (NFO).   She has also performed freelance in numerous events overseas and locally, including Dick Lee’s “SingaPOPera!” held at the University Cultural Centre in September 2007, “Singa Raya” by Tamagoh Productions at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Celebrate Christmas in Singapore (CCIS) 2004-2006, and The Substation production: "Mozart's Children's Festival".  Most recently, Mingtse performed in the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Ceremony for the Singapore International Water Week 2008 with SPO. She will also be playing for the Singapore Lyric Opera’s upcoming opera ‘Turandot’ at the Esplanade Theatre.

Mingtse also busks and raises funds by playing in charity concerts and in a worship band for church services. She plays the violin in the Calypso String Quartet and in her own contemporary band, and enjoys playing the electric bass during her free time. Currently a Law student at the National University of Singapore, Mingtse teaches violin part-time privately as well as in music schools.