Melissa Ong

Singaporean cellist Melissa Ong is an RCM scholar currently pursuing her MMus (fast track) with the support of the Audrey Piggott Award and the St Marylebone Educational Foundation award. She graduated with a BMus (Hons) from the same institution with the support of a full scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Singapore. She is under the tutelage of Amanda Truelove, and also studies the baroque cello with Richard Tunnicliffe and Catherine Rimer. Prior to her studies at the RCM, she was enrolled in the Young Artist Programme at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Qin Li-Wei and Ng Pei Sian with a full National Arts Council - University of Music scholarship. As orchestral musician, chamber musician, baroque cellist and soloist, Melissa has performed in concert venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall and Carnegie Hall, including venues in Florence, Milan, Aberdeen, Salzburg, and all major performing venues in Singapore. As principal cellist she has led the RCM Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras, The Philharmonic Orchestra Singapore, Singapore Youth Orchestra and the Orchestra of the Music Makers (Singapore), and has worked with highly acclaimed artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Guy Johnston, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Jac van Steen and Sir Bernard Haitink. Highlights of 2015 include the rare of honour of performing for HRH Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace, and involvement in the prestigious English National Opera EVOLVE Scheme where she participated in productions of The Mastersingers of Nuremberg and The Queen of Spades. She was also one of the baroque soloists in the RCM Baroque Orchestra and Choir performances as part of the Brandenburg Choral Festival. Melissa has held two recitals in Singapore; the more recent 2011 recital was funded by the National Youth Council, with all proceeds donated to Very Special Arts Singapore. An avid chamber musician as well, Melissa has played with various combinations of chamber groups before and during her time at the RCM, including RCM CONSORT 21 which performs and premieres contemporary works on period instruments. Notably, her string trio (the Tercina Trio) was awarded a scholarship to participate and perform at the Chilingirian Quartet Summer Course at West Dean College in 2014. The trio has twice been invited to perform as part of the Zurich International Orchestral series at Cadogan Hall. Melissa has been invited to the Istana by former Singapore president S. R. Nathan in recognition of her work as the Corporate Relations Manager, and part of the Marketing & Outreach and Executive committees of the Orchestra of the Music Makers. She also created and manages the Chrysler String Quartet's Facebook and Web pages. As an educator, Melissa has conducted in-school workshops within the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in collaboration with RCM Sparks. She has also led Family Chorus and Orchestra workshops for the BBC Proms.