Jason Ong

Executive Committee, Choral Directors’ Association (Singapore)

Conductor of:

Fajar Secondary School Choir

Dunearn Secondary School Choir

Peirce Secondary School Choir

Jason Ong is a conductor, composer, arranger and singer. By and large a self-taught musician, he has studied voice under Ms. Carol Stone and Prof. Chia Wei Kuen. An active Committee Member of the Choral Directors Association Singapore (CDAS), he helps to promote choral activities in Singapore.

Jason is the choral director of several secondary schools, and has helped the students to develop their self confidence and love of music through singing. Under his direction, his choirs have progressed from strength to strength, winning awards and gaining recognition as choirs who are entertaining and fun. He is also the resident choral director of the Singapore Men’s Chorus, which he co-founded in 2005. Since then, the chorus has put up quite a few successful public concerts, charming the audience with their colourful repertoire and occasional show-stopping choreography.

Jason’s forte lies in a cappella music. Since co-founding the all-male a cappella group, In-A-Chord in 1987, Jason has been a pioneering force behind the Singapore a cappella scene, promoting this genre of music to the public. In-A-Chord was the first a cappella group in Singapore to be signed on by a Taiwanese label (Forward) in 1995, and released two successful albums. In 2001, Jason joined Key Elements, widely considered as Singapore’s best jazz a cappella group. In Oct 2004, Key Elements took part in Taiwan’s 4th National “Sing Sing Together” Choral/Vocal Competition, and took home the 2nd place prize. Furthermore, Jason was awarded Best Arranger for his work on “A-Cent-Chu-ate The Positive”.

Jason also coaches students who participated in talent classes, helping them with their voice training lessons. As a voice teacher, he also helps his students to develop their talents as a performer, working on their singing techniques and performing skills.

As an arranger, he has arranged many songs for his a cappella groups In-A-Chord and Key Elements. He has also been commissioned by many schools and societies to arrange songs for many occasions, from concerts to special events like the Singapore Youth Festival. Having played in a combo band during his NUS years, he also arranges “minus ones” for many schools and people.

Among his many compositions Jason co-wrote the school song for Pioneer Junior College. In 2007, he collaborated with Singaporean short-film director Jeremy Sing, and wrote all the music for his short film, “Girl in a Red Sarong”. The film has since been screened around the world, from Tokyo to Berlin.

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