Neo Yong Soon Wilson is a young talented homegrown musician with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO).
Neo Yong Soon has come a long way since first becoming acquainted with Chinese orchestral music during his days at Jing Shan Primary School Chinese Orchestra. He began learning the erhu with Tan Kim Lian. He later traveled to Beijing, China to learn from the renowned erhu musicians Maestro Chen Yao Xing and Chen Jun. He had also sought the tutelage of Zhao Jian Hua, an erhu sectional leader from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO).
A recipient of the ‘Shell-NAC (National Arts Council) Scholarship’, he enrolled into the Central Conservatory of Music to pursue his Bachelor of Chinese Instrument Major (Erhu). During his course of study, he has sought the tutelage of renowned erhu musician Liu Chang Fu. He also studies the banhu as a second instrument under the tutelage of renowned banhu musician Li Heng.
Neo Yong Soon served his National Service as a member of the Singapore Armed Forces Chinese Orchestra and took part in numerous concerts as well as the National Arts Council (NAC) ‘Arts Outreach Programme’ by promoting traditional Chinese music at local schools. During his reservist, he has been to Rockhampton as a performer.
A competent soloist as well as an ensemble player, Neo Yong Soon was the Second prize winner of the erhu senior category in the National Chinese Music Competition organized by the NAC both in 1998 and 2000. He traveled to Beijing in 2002 to compete in the ‘International Youth Chinese Musical Instrument Competition’ and was awarded the Silver prize for the erhu category. In the same year, besides leading the Cheng San Chinese Orchestra to victory in the open ensemble category, he also clinched the First Prize for the newly opened erhu open category in the National Chinese Music Competition organised by NAC.
During July 2003, Neo Yong Soon successfully staged a recital concert with Chua Yew Kok. In August 2006, Neo Yong Soon staged a recital with Patrick Ngo Lik Tse and Darrel Xin Zong Hua namely ‘Strung Together’. In March 2010, Neo Yong Soon staged a recital namely ‘From Rhapsody To Capriccio’. All concerts were very well received and had a full house record.
Neo Yong Soon was also the erhu soloist for the musical, ‘Admiral’s Odyssey’ which took place in July 2005.
Neo Yong Soon has also travelled with Singapore Chinese Orchestra on various trips overseas consisting of places in China, Korea and Edinburgh.
During December 2007, Neo Yong Soon travelled with the Manjusri Secondary School to Qing Dao, China for a cultural exchange and immersion program. Neo Yong Soon later successfully conduct the combined orchestras, namely the Manjusri Secondary School Chinese Orchestra and the Qing Dao No. 39 Middle School Chinese Orchestra with the Manjusri Wu Shu Team on the school concert performance that’s held annually in Qing Dao.
Neo Yong Soon have been teaching schools since 2005. Neo Yong Soon is presently the huqin instructor for various secondary schools and Singapore Management University. Neo Yong Soon is also the conductor of various secondary schools and Associate conductor of Cheng San Chinese Orchestra.