A Musical Odyssey of the Middle East

Eugene is a percussionist who’s active in both the local percussion performance and the education scene. He has performed under the baton of Tsung Yeh, Lan Shui, Lim Yau, Tan Dun, Chan Tze Law, Quek Ling Kiong, Günther Herbig, among others. Some highlights of his orchestral appearances include the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, Singapore Festival Orchestra, Orchestra of the Music Makers, The Philharmonic Orchestra, and The Philharmonic Winds.

Eugene first studied Chinese percussion with Mr Quek Ling Kiong when he joined the Dunman High School Chinese Orchestra at the age of 13. Since then, he has actively explored various fields of percussion under the guidance of teachers such as Ngoh Kheng Seng and Tan Loke Chuah. Eugene holds a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree conferred by the Royal College of Music, under the tutelage of Mark Suter. From 2015 to 2017, he was a full-time chamber musician with Ding Yi Music Company. He teaches at School of the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and currently studies South Indian percussion under the tutelage of Sri D Rajagopal at the Temple of Fine Arts. He has also studied Middle Eastern percussion with Yshai Afterman, and konnakol with Pete Lockett.

James was first introduced to Middle Eastern music in 2014 while studying Ethnomusicology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Much inspired by the sound of the oud, he studied with Italian oud player Francesco Iannuzzelli at SOAS. Particularly drawn towards the Turkish oud, James began studying the Turkish oud tradition and Turkish classical music with Baha Yetkin, a London-based Turkish oud performer. Since his return to Singapore, James has collaborated with several groups including early music ensemble Cappella Martialis and SG Oudist, a community of local oud players. He has also been involved in several cross-cultural projects where he collaborated with artists from the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society, Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra and Siong Leng Musical Association.

Boasting an illustrious career spanning well over a decade, Nadia has established herself as one of the most captivating belly dancers in the region. She achieved the groundbreaking feat of being the first Japanese belly dancer to win the top prize at the Asia Global Bellydance Competition in 2010. Nadia was also invited to be guest judge and performer at several international competitions and festivals.

Beyond performing and choreography, Nadia is also the founder of NADIA Oriental Dance Arts Singapore where she nurtured a community of dance enthusiasts and aspiring artists, sharing her expert