Striking a chord: How three NUS music graduates found their rhythm

As they prepare to take the stage at Commencement 2026, three music graduates from the Class of 2026 look back on how NUS empowered them to bridge disciplines, push musical boundaries and enrich Singapore’s arts scene.

Huang Chao Hung: Of data science and musical numbers

While Huang Chao Hung, a double bassist with the NUS Chinese Orchestra (NUSCO), enjoyed composing multimedia “diaries” featuring his own synthesised music and drawings, he didn’t always hit all the right notes. His friend had told him, “You have good intuition, but you don’t have strong training.”

This prompted the Data Science and Analytics major to take up music courses at the NUS Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), such as “Introduction to Classical Composition” and “Classical Styles and Romantic Spirits”. When NUS launched its Second Major in Performing Arts at YST as part of its Arts for All initiative to increase student participation in the arts and enhance interdisciplinary learning, he seized the opportunity.

“Music theory has always intrigued me. Though data science and music seem unrelated, both involve breaking down complex concepts into understandable ideas,” shared Chao Hung, 26.

For his YST capstone project in 2026, he took on multiple roles: as producer, composer, performer and script writer. The multimedia performance explored loneliness through instruments including the violin, double bass and piano, with visuals he had drawn projected on screen.

“I wanted to tell people that if you’re going through a phase of loneliness, you are not alone,” said Chao Hung.

He took the same storytelling approach when he organised NUSCO’s annual concert “In Bloom” in 2024 as a student leader. Rather than simply performing pieces, he led his team to create a narrative journey using seeds as a metaphor for people who blossom despite life’s challenges, complete with original graphics and synchronised projections.

Throughout his time leading NUS arts initiatives, Chao Hung found mentors in Ms Sing Mohli, Deputy Head of the Centre for the Arts at the NUS Office of Student Affairs and Mr Moses Gay, NUSCO conductor. “Working with them brought me to a higher level from just a student who follows instructions to someone who creates with a clear purpose and strategy,” he explained.

Beyond NUS, he performs with the Singapore Foochow Association and The Purple Symphony, an inclusive orchestra comprising musicians with and without disabilities. “It’s meaningful to play with people from different backgrounds and age groups who enjoy music like I do – hearing their stories and sharing mine,” he said.

Chao Hung will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics with Honours (Highest Distinction) and will notably be among the first batch of graduates from the Second Major in Performing Arts course. He plans to continue his twin passions after completing a Master’s in Data Science and Machine Learning at NUS, aiming for a public sector career while pursuing music. “I want to use data science to help citizens, while continuing to create and perform music that connects people.”

Toh Chang Hui: Trombonist has a blast giving back to the community

Toh Chang Hui was set to graduate with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering when he made the bold decision to change course. The reason: He had just secured a scholarship from YST to pursue a Bachelor of Music. It was a dream come true.

“I was already in the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) and knew I wanted to do music one day. I think I spent more time in the youth orchestra than in polytechnic studying,” said the 24-year-old wryly.

At YST, Chang Hui discovered that music education extended beyond performance. His Music, Collaboration & Production major required him to conceptualise and execute independent projects – developing skills in ideation, planning and community engagement.

Having received abundant support from YST and SNYO during his musical journey, he felt compelled to pay it forward. This shaped much of his time at YST, where he took on projects that created opportunities for young and developing musicians to perform, learn from professionals and grow as a community.

Amongst them was a YST Trombone Weekend in 2023, which he organised to allow budding musicians to perform side by side with Singapore Symphony Orchestra brass musicians. “I learnt a lot as I had to do everything from marketing to finance to securing sponsorships. I’m thankful to have YST faculty mentors like Mr Sam Armstrong and seniors who guide me along,” he shared.

That same year, he also co-founded SingaBones, a community trombone orchestra, encouraging trombonists of all levels to play together so less experienced players have the experience of playing alongside professionals. The group has since grown to about 100 members, ranging from secondary school students to professional musicians.

Chang Hui credits the overseas travel opportunities in YST for broadening his musical horizons. His exchange semester at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague in 2024 proved formative as he immersed himself in intensive hours of practice and was inspired by European peers who balanced rigorous musical training with part-time work.

The experience strengthened his belief in creating opportunities for others. Noticing that students there had limited opportunities to perform orchestral repertoire, he rallied peers to sight-read, rehearse and record Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony – all in one day. The project, which mirrored the intensity and discipline of professional music making, also marked his first time conducting an orchestra.

“Music is all about playing with others. I want to share my love for music and try to get as many people on board, just like my seniors did for me,” he said.

In August, Chang Hui will head to Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music in Texas to pursue a Master’s in Trombone Performance on a full scholarship.

Kuah Hui Min: Stringing worlds together with the guzheng

When Kuah Hui Min arrived at YST for orientation week, she faced an unexpected challenge: performing with 59 other students – all playing different instruments – to deliver a concert.

For over a decade, Kuah, 26, had played only traditional Chinese music on her guzheng, a traditional Chinese plucked string instrument. This collaborative exercise was unlike anything she had experienced before.

It was a refreshing foretaste of what her time at YST would be like, as her peers and mentors pushed her to explore how the guzheng can be presented beyond its traditional context. YST’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration from day one influenced her artistic identity.

“My peers were very spontaneous. We could just go into the practice room and start jamming music. Those small moments made my YST life enjoyable,” she said.

To expand her understanding of music, she enrolled in YST’s Music, Collaboration & Production programme. Through courses like Area Studies, she explored jazz and blues on guzheng, performing with her peers who played electric bass, percussion, drums and keyboard. She also experimented with electronics, connecting pickups to her guzheng and using digital audio software to explore new sonic possibilities.

She shared, “It made me realise the guzheng has many possibilities for experimentation.”

These multicultural influences inspired her 2026 capstone project titled “In Another Light”, featuring guzheng with a string quartet. She wanted to break the assumptions that Chinese instruments can only exist in the Chinese music world.

“The most challenging part was learning about western string quartet instruments, like their range, technique and what kind of phrasing would be suitable,” said Hui Min, who also teaches young children to play the guzheng.

She feels YST has helped shape her into a confident musician who can think critically, perform, collaborate and curate concerts across musical traditions.

“I don’t see myself as a traditional Chinese guzheng player, but as a musician who can do a lot of things, who just happens to play the guzheng,” she explained.

She hopes to continue collaborating with players of western instruments while imparting her knowledge to the younger generation. “I want to share my knowledge with younger students, and help them build a strong foundation,” she said.

This story is part of NUS News’ coverage of Commencement 2026, celebrating the achievements of our graduates from the Class of 2026. For more, read our stories and graduate profiles, check out the official Commencement website, or look up and tag #NUS2026 on our social media channels!