Artistic Panel – Singapore International Choral Festival 2027

Ai Hooi Lim

Artistic Director, SourceWerkz

Founder and Artistic Director, ONE Chamber Choir

Singapore

Ai Hooi’s philosophy for choral music and teaching stems from her view that a fulfilling musical journey is one that is filled with sincerity, love and excellence. She uses the creation of music as a platform to share and infuse her values and beliefs in her singers and inspires them to use the beauty of music to craft experiences that touch the hearts of the audience.

Born in Penang, Malaysia, Ai Hooi graduated from Royal College of Music, London with Majors in Piano and Voice. After moving to Singapore, Ai Hooi actively contributes to the growth of the local choral scene, through nurturing younger choral conductors and choristers. On top of conducting several local secondary and junior college choirs, Ai Hooi established ONE Chamber Choir, a young adult choir. In 2017, the choir achieved the 2nd Prize of the Mixed Choirs category at the 15th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf 2017, as well as the Special Prize of the Carl-Orff-Stiftung Diessan am Ammersee for the best interpretation of a choral worked premiered at the competition for “The Emigrant” by Wolfram Buchenberg. Recently, the choir took part in the 10th World Choir Games in Tshwane, South Africa and achieved Gold in all three categories they competed in, including Champion of the World Choir Games in the Chamber Choir Category.

She has also been the conductor of the Hwa Chong Institution Choir since 2000 which has achieved numerous accolades over the years, including emerging Champion in the Mixed Choir category at the 5th World Choir Games 2008, achieving the title Absolute Winner (top choir across categories) at the Festival of Songs Olomouc, and the Prix du public (Public prize) at the 2010 Florilège vocal de Tour.

Ai Hooi has served as a jury member on numerous international choral festivals, including the World Choir Games, Asian Choral Grand Prix, Singapore International Choral Festival, Bali International Choir Festival, Taipei International Choral Competition, Canta Al Mar Festival Coral Internacional, Karangturi International Choral Festival, Festival Coros de Verão and so on. She has also shared her conducting experiences as a panellist and educator in Poland, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and most recently at the International Conductor’s Seminar Wernigerode 2025.

She is also the founder and Artistic Director of ONE Choral Company Ltd, a charitable arts organisation dedicated to being a leader in choral artistry in Asia and beyond, to touch hearts and forge communities. Together with the flagship ensemble, ONE Chamber Choir, the company is also the driving force behind the annual Singapore International Choral Festival. Hosting over 22,000 choristers from over 25 countries since inception, the festival aims to inspire excellence, celebrate diversity, and create transformative experiences through song.

Yong Chee Foon

Chee Foon Yong

Associate Artistic Director, Sourcewerkz

President, Choral Directors’ Association (Singapore)

Singapore

Yong Chee Foon’s journey as a choral director is a testament to his unwavering passion for choral music and commitment to artistic growth. Currently the President of the Choral Directors’ Association (Singapore), he began his musical journey by learning the piano, but his passion for choral music quickly took root when he joined the Victoria Junior College Choir and later, Victoria Chorale. This marked the beginning of a lifelong dedication to choral music education.

He first graduated from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) with a Bachelor Degree in Accountancy. After several years in the financial sector, he moved on to pursue his passion – Choral art – and obtained an ATCL in Voice from Trinity College, London. In 2016, he graduated with a Masters in Music (Choral Conducting) from the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Alongside his studies, he has attended numerous choral conducting workshops by renowned choral directors, gleaning insights from their vast experiences and integrating their wisdom into his own approach.

He is currently the conductor of several choirs in Singapore and his choirs have performed well in the Singapore Youth Festival, garnering Gold and Gold with Honours awards as well as Certificates of Distinction. His choirs have also ventured overseas to participate in International Competitions where they received numerous accolades with Gold and Silver medals. Most recently, he was awarded a Distinction for Conductor Award at the 13th International Krakow Choir Festival (2024), an award he was first conferred at the 4th edition (2013) of the festival.

His philosophy for music revolves around the transformative power of artistic expression and its ability to bridge cultural divides. He believes that music has the ability to transcends barriers, enabling individuals from different backgrounds to communicate and connect on a profound level. He advocates for an inclusive and nurturing environment where aspiring musicians can explore their creativity, develop their technical skills, and discover their authentic musical identities.

He desires to inspire young singers, through choral music education, to live life with passion and achieve excellence in all aspects of life whilst remaining appreciative to all who have made a difference to them.

Ambrož Čopi

Slovenia

Ambrož Čopi (b. 1973) studied composition with Dane Škerl and Uroš Rojko, as well as piano, at the Academy of Music in Ljubljana. He works as a composer, conductor, lecturer, and artistic director of the Aegis Carminis International Youth Choir Festival in Koper.

He currently leads choral activities at the KGBL Conservatory of Music and Ballet Ljubljana and teaches at the Artistic Grammar School in Koper. Since the beginning of his pedagogical career, he has encouraged the creativity of his students in the field of choral music and has established himself as a mentor to the youngest generation of Slovenian composers. Under his guidance, numerous new works have been created and performed around the world.

His compositions, released on five CDs, are regularly performed on concert stages in Slovenia and abroad. Most of his works are published by Astrum, with selected works also published by Sulasol, TICF, and Hinshaw Music.

Čopi has led numerous Slovenian choirs to outstanding achievements at both national and international competitions, earning 16 national Gold Plaques and 29 first prizes abroad. He has received numerous awards for outstanding interpretations and has been recognized repeatedly as an outstanding conductor.

He currently leads the KGBL Chamber Choir and the AVE Chamber Choir, both regarded among Slovenia’s leading choirs.

In 2014, he received the Gallus Plaque, one of Slovenia’s highest national honours in the field of musical activity. He has also received the Prešeren Fund Award, the Marijan Kozina Award, and the Republic of Slovenia Award in the field of education.

Čopi is regularly invited to serve as a member of professional juries at choral competitions around the world (Maribor, Arezzo, Varna, Tours, Tolosa, Jurmala, Tokyo, Taipei, Krakow, Gdansk, Derry, Singapore, Preveza, Bali, Jakarta, Sanct Petersburg, San Juan….). He is also actively involved in seminars and masterclasses for conductors and composers (Italy, Russia, Greece, Croazia, Slovenia….), where he shares his extensive knowledge and experience as a lecturer.

Aris Sudibyo

Indonesia

Aris Sudibyo first earned his first degree in Architecture from Petra Christian University (PCU) before pursuing a deep passion for sacred music. He completed a second degree in Church Music with a major in vocal performance at Singapore Bible College (SBC), followed by a Master’s degree in Church Music with a major in Choral Conducting, awarded jointly by Bandung Theological Seminary (STTB) and SBC.

From 1997 to 2005, he served as the Director of Choral Activities at Petra Christian University in Surabaya, Indonesia, a role where he cultivated a strong national reputation in choral conducting. He then relocated to West Papua, spending 15 years pioneering and teaching choral music to young people, from children to young adults, across numerous regions. During his time in West Papua, he also served as the Head of the Education and Training Department for the Provincial Foundation of Indonesian Church Music Development.

A recognised authority in his field, he actively serves as a speaker and clinician for vocal and choir workshops throughout Indonesia. His expertise is widely sought after as an adjudicator for local, provincial, national, and international choir competitions. Demonstrating his commitment to the global choral community, he has been a member of the World Choir Council of the World Choir Games since 2012.

He has since returned to Surabaya, where he leads the Center for Church Music Development and oversees choral activities, orchestra projects, and church music training at Petra Christian University.

Christoph Mac-Carty

Netherlands

Christoph Mac-Carty, born in southern Germany in 1969, studied music in Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland. He has been based in the Netherlands for more than 25 years, working as a choral conductor, pianist and composer.

Mac-Carty has extensive experience as a conductor in the fields of pop, gospel, jazz and world music. For many years, he has been the artistic leader of the Dutch close-harmony choir Dekoor Close Harmony, with whom he has received numerous national and international awards. In 2023, Dekoor was awarded gold medals in the Jazz and Gospel categories at the World Choir Games in South Korea. In 2014, the choir was invited to perform with the Rolling Stones at Pinkpop Festival in the Netherlands and Werchter Classic in Belgium.

In his work with choirs, Mac-Carty combines musical precision with a strong focus on ensemble sound, intonation, groove and musical expression. He regularly leads workshops and masterclasses for choirs and serves as a jury member at international choral festivals in Europe. He is also a lecturer at the Conservatory in Enschede, the Netherlands.

Alongside his work as a conductor, Mac-Carty is an experienced pianist with a broad musical background. His jazz and world music trio Robinson, Freitag & Caruso won the Dutch Jazz Competition at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2005. He has also performed for many years with Grupo d’Aro, an ensemble dedicated to Argentine tango.

His artistic work also includes composition and musical direction for theatre productions, including the 2017 production “Orfeo” by the Dutch youth theatre company Sonnevanck.

Elisenda Carrasco i Ribot

Spain

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Elisenda Carrasco i Ribot completed all the higher levels of Composition, Orchestral Conducting and Music Education, specialising in Choral Singing.

For more than 35 years, she has been teaching and conducting children’s choirs.

She collaborates regularly with Barcelona Auditorium, she is co-director of the Cantània programme, in which more than 50,000 children take part every year.

Since its creation she has been the conductor of the Sant Cugat Children’s Choir, where she uses the Kodály system as a basis for learning. She is the artistic director and conductor of the symphonic choir El Cor Canta and Voxalba female choir. She is professor of Didactic of choral conducting at the ESMUC, Higher Conservatoire of Music in Barcelona, Spain.

Elisenda is a dynamic force who, thanks to her musical and pedagogical knowledge, brings boundless energy and vision, broadening the group’s musical horizons both technically and sonically.

Eudenice Palaruan

Philippines

Eudenice Palaruan studied at the University of the Philippines College of Music, majoring in composition and choral conducting. He received further training in choral conducting at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule in Germany. He sang as a countertenor with the Berlin Monteverdichor. He graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts from St. Paul University Manila.

He was a singer and resident composer/arranger of the Philippine Madrigal Singers. In addition, he was the principal conductor of the San Miguel Master Chorale. In the past, he has been the resident conductor of the International Bamboo Organ Festival, where he performed and recorded selections of Latin-American baroque music. With his active involvement in the choralization of Philippine and other Asian indigenous music, he premiered a substantial volume of new Asian choral works. In addition, he was often invited to give lectures on non-Western vocal aesthetics.

Eudenice also arranges for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra choruses and community outreach programs. The SSO choruses have premiered new choral works written by local composers and arrangers in Singapore under his direction.

He curates Filipino vocal and choral works. Known for his generous spirit, he passionately shares his deep knowledge, inspiring others through engaging discussions to enter the world of the composer, learn about musical pieces and their historical context, and grow an authentic appreciation for global music.

He taught composition and choral conducting in institutions such as the University of the Philippines College of Music, the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, and the St. Paul University College of Music and the Performing Arts.

Eudenice currently serves as an associate professor at the Singapore Bible College School of Church Music and the music director of the Singapore Symphony Chorus.

Dr. Gene Peterson

USA

Dr. Gene Peterson is the Artistic Director & Vice President of Artistic Development for Perform International/Perform America, casting the mission and vision for performance events and tours in the United States and throughout the world.

Dr. Peterson is an internationally recognized choral conductor and clinician, whose prior appointments include Director of Choral & Vocal Studies and Professor of Music at the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts at California Baptist University in Riverside, California, Director of Choral Studies at Bethel University (Minnesota) and Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Peterson has also served as music director and conductor for college, secondary school, church, and community choirs in California and Washington. Ensembles under his leadership have performed in venues throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including the Sistine Chapel, the Sydney Opera House, Chicago Symphony Hall, and Carnegie Hall.

Due to his reputation in the international choral community, Dr. Peterson is in high demand as a lecturer, choral clinician and adjudicator for local, regional, and international choral festivals, symposiums and workshops, has conducted numerous honor choirs and all-state choirs, and served as a guest conductor for choral concerts and festivals around the world.

Dr. Peterson has served on the ACDA National Standing Committee on Education and Communication and in additional professional leadership roles in California including High School Standards and Repertoire Chair for the California Choral Directors Association and as Bay Area Choral Representative for the California Music Educators Association. Additional professional posts include Men’s Chorus Repertoire and Standards Chair for the Southern Division American Choral Directors Association, the Southern Division Conference Planning Committee, the Men’s Chorus Representative for Minnesota Choral Directors Association, the executive committee for the International Choral Festival and on the chair for the Legacy Directors Chorus at the most recent National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association.

Dr. Peterson holds the Associate of Arts in Music-Piano from El Camino College, the Bachelor of Music in Choral Conducting and a Master of Arts in Education from Chapman University in Orange, California, and the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington, Seattle.

Jenny Wong

USA / Hong Kong, China

A native of Hong Kong based in Los Angeles, Jenny Wong is Chorus Director of the San Fran-cisco Symphony and associate artistic director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Her conduct-ing engagements have included the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella Series, Oregon Bach Festival, Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony and Pops, the Industry, Long Beach Opera, Phoenix Chorale, and Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. In 2021, Wong was one of nine national recipients of Opera America’s inaugural Opera Grants for Women Stage Direc-tors and Conductors.

As Chorus Director, Wong has prepared choruses for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Fran-cisco Symphony, and Chicago Symphony, working with conductors Gustavo Dudamel, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Michael Tilson Thomas, Susanna Mälkki, Jonathan Cohen, and Osmo Vänskä, among many others. Wong led the SF Symphony Chorus for the Deutsche Grammophon record-ing of Kaija Sariaaho’s Adriana Mater, which won the 2025 Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording, and helped prepare the Los Angeles Master Chorale for the Los Angeles Philhar-monic’s recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, which won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. Together with Grant Gershon and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Wong was also awarded the 2022 American Prize in Choral Performance in the Professional Division. Wong led the Diocesan Girls’ School Choir from Hong Kong to win two consecutive World Champion titles at the World Choir Games (China, 2010) and the International Johannes Brahms Choral Competition (Germany, 2011).

Jonas Rasmussen

Denmark

A conductor, composer and teacher, Jonas Rasmussen has already built a remarkable international career. During the 2026/2027 season, he will conduct in 15 countries and make his debut at Carnegie Hall in New York.

He is the conductor of Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, the founder of the professional vocal group Ensemble Novum, and a lecturer in choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark.

Together with his choirs, he has received awards at the World Choral Championships, the European Choir Games and Let the Peoples Sing, organised by the European Broadcasting Union.

With a community of more than 350,000 followers, he is also one of the most visible international advocates of choral music on social media.

Lee Shiak Yao

Malaysia

Lee Shiak Yao is a multiple international prize and award-winning conductor, vocalist clinician, and lecturer. He graduated with a MMus from the University of Hull, UK, and studied conducting with Andrew Penny and Dr. Lee Tsang. He also mastered the arts of piano accompaniment, under the tutelage of Miss June Stephenson, and vocal singing, under Ralph Macdonald, Lim Cheng Hock, Paul Wade, and Dr. Michela Bertagnolli.

He is very active in all grounds of musical performances and pedagogy on local as well as on international stages, which include conducting wind, symphonic orchestras, and theatrical productions; adjudicating music competitions, conducting master classes and workshops on solo and choral singing, instrumental ensemble playing and professional conducting technique; serving as recital repetiteur and accompanist for singers, instrumentalists, and theatrical productions; singing as soloist or ensemble singer. The choirs and ensembles that he directed had won impressive awards locally as well as on the international scene.

Lee Shiak Yao has performed and lectured in more than 35 countries around the world and he had the privilege of landing himself on the grounds of Scandinavia, Europe, the United States of America, South America, Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Africa. He was awarded the “Honourable Music Art Contribution Award” in year 2010 for his diligent and ceaseless contribution in musical arts all over Malaysia. He received the utmost honour to be the first Malaysian to be invited to perform with the World Youth Choir in the 2011 Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Norway.

He is currently serving as the Vice-President of the Malaysian Choral Federation, and the Artistic Director of Klang Chamber Choir and Time Ensemble.

Lyn Williams AM

Australia

For more than 35 years, Lyn Williams AM has been a visionary force in Australian music, transforming the lives of young people through the extraordinary power of the singing voice. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Gondwana Choirs , leading a family of acclaimed ensembles and programs including the Sydney Children’s Choir, Gondwana National Choirs, Gondwana Indigenous Children’s Choir and Marliya.

Lyn’s choirs have performed with leading orchestras, conductors and artists around the world, including at the BBC Proms and Polyfollia. She has commissioned more than 250 new works from composers in Australia and internationally, and is herself an award-winning composer whose work reflects her commitment to young voices, Australian stories and cultural diversity.

A passionate advocate for First Nations music and culture, Lyn has developed enduring collaborations with First Nations artists, cultural custodians and composers, creating new works that celebrate and preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island languages, stories and cultures.

Her long-standing collaboration with Felix Riebl and the singers of Marliya has produced the acclaimed Spinifex Gum, premiered at the Adelaide Festival in 2018 and subsequently presented at festivals across Australia and at London’s Barbican Hall, where its 2024 performance received a standing ovation.

Lyn’s outstanding contribution to Australian music has been recognised with the Richard Gill Award (2024), Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award (2021), Don Banks Music Award (2017) and appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (2019). In 2024, she was also one of four presenters of the ABC Boyer Lectures, Future Classic.

Dr. Shin-Hwa Park

Republic of Korea

Endowed Chair Professor, Hansei University; Professor Emeritus, College of Music, Ewha Womans University
Former President, Korea Church Music Association; President Emeritus, Korea Federation of Choral Music
Artistic Director, KyungNam International Choral Festival; Member, World Choir Council; Broadcasting Host, FEBC FM
Conductor, Ewha Chamber Choir; Hansei University Concert Choir; Young-Nak Presbyterian Church Choir; Former Conductor (25 years), Ansan City Choir
D.M.A. in Choral Conducting, University of Colorado Boulder; 124 CD recordings produced since 1996
Recipient, 2021 University of Colorado Distinguished Choral Alumnus Award; 2023 Yonsei University Alumni Award

Dr. Shin-Hwa Park is a endowed chair professor of Hansei University and professor emeritus of the College of Music at Ewha Womans University, former president of Korea Church Music Association, president emeritus of the Korea Federation of Choral Musi. He is an artistic director of KyungNam Intermational Choral Festival, member of World Choir Council, and broadcasting host of FEBC FM. He also conducts the Ewha Chamber Choir, Hansei University Concert Choir, and Young-Nak Presbyterian Church Choir, which consists of 150 members. He was the conductor of Ansna City Choir for 25 years. Dr. Park received his D.M.A in Choral Literature and Conducting from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Since 1996, his choirs have produced 124 CDs. He is often invited to judge for choral competitions, and he became the artistic director of World Choir Game in 2023. In 2019, Ansan City Choir performed at the ACDA National Conference held in Kansas City. Ansan City Choir has also performed at the 6th, 10th, and 11th World Symposium on Choral Music. Dr. Park was awarded the 2020 Korean Christian Arts Award. In 2022, Dr. Park received the grand prize at the 35th Korea Artistic & Cultural Awards(Music) for the contribution to Korean choral music. He received the 2021 University of Colorado Distinguished Choral Alumnus Award and Yonsei University Alumni Award in 2023.

Ronnie Kay Yen CHENG

Ronnie Cheng

Hong Kong, China

Educated in Hong Kong and the United States, Mr. Ronnie Kay Yen CHENG is a seasoned conductor in both the choral and orchestra arts. Mr Cheng has led his ensembles to international accolades including being crowned as the Champions of the World Choral Championships, Grand Prix Champions at the Tokyo International Choral Championships 2024, and double champions at the World Choir Games in 2023 and many others held around the world in Austria, China, Germany, Japan, S. Korea, U.S.A., and Wales.

These contributions to the choral arts have credited him global recognition, as shown in his being awarded the Outstanding Artistic Award, Outstanding Interpretation Awards, as well as the Best Conductor Award. He currently directs the Diocesan Choral Society and the Diocesan Male Chorus. Mr Cheng has been serving as Chairman of the HKSMSA since 2022 and is currently an Executive Committee member of the newly established Asian Choral Association. As an accomplished musician and educator, Mr. Cheng is also active in the field of educational leadership as the Headmaster of the Diocesan Boys’ School, Hong Kong.

A Summary of Mr. Cheng’s Results in Various Music Festivals

2024 – Grand Champion: Tokyo International Choral Competition (Tokyo, Japan)
2023 – Champion of Mixed Choirs: The 12th World Choir Games (Gangneung, Republic of Korea)
2023 – Champion of Male Choirs: The 12th World Choir Games (Gangneung, Republic of Korea)
2020 – Champion: “SING N PRAY” International Choral Festival (Kobe, Japan)
2019 – The World Choral Championship (Tokyo, Japan)
2018 – Grand Champion: Tokyo International Choral Competition (Tokyo, Japan)
2016 – Performer: Taipei International Choral Festival (Taipei, Taiwan)
2013 – Champion: The 3rd Asia Pacific Choir Games (Manado, Indonesia)
2012 – Champion: The 7th World Choir Games (Cincinnati, United States)
International Competitions Musica Mundi World Ranking for Male Choirs: 1 (as of April 2012)
2011 – Triple Champions and Grand Prize Winner: The 7thInternational Brahms Festival (Wernigerode, Germany)
2010 – Champion: The 6th World Choir Games (Shaoxing, China)
2009 – Featured Performers: NCPA Chorus Festival (Beijing, China)
2008 – Champion: The 5th World Choir Games (Graz, Austria)
2007 – Champion: The 5th International Brahms Festival (Wernigerode, Germany)
2006 – Champion: The 4th World Choir Games (Xiamen, China)
2005 – The first runner-up: The 59th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod (Wales, United Kingdom)
Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Multiple Champions:
Outstanding School of the year; Best Choir of the Year; Best Mixed Choir of the Year; Best Boys Choir of the Year; Best junior Choir of the Year; Symphony, Strings and Wind Orchestra Awards