As a conductor, the 34-year-old has developed an astute understanding of both the Eastern and Western styles of music, in order to shape the sound of the ensemble. For him, the key is to understand the cultural influences. “You can’t compare the ways you approach both Chinese and western compositions because they each come with different contexts and sets of difficulties,” Wong explains. “My time at the China Conservatory of Music in Beijing, where I pursued a master’s degree in orchestral conducting, provided me the chance to familiarise myself with Western compositions and orchestras.”

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Despite being a natural musician—Wong plays the Chinese suona, a traditional wind instrument used during weddings and funeral processions—his journey to becoming a conductor has not been easy. He faced his first hurdle at age 16 when he had to fight for a spot in his secondary school’s Chinese orchestra, and his decision to pursue a music diploma course at Nafa later on received much resistance from his parents. But it was at the renowned arts education institution where he discovered his true calling.

“Conducting is difficult because you need to know the character and sound of each instrument to bring out the best of each of them,” he shares. “It’s also a career where you’ll find yourself getting better at over time. It’s always a learning process when you work with musicians and artists during rehearsals and performances.” Today, Wong has nine full-time musicians under his wing, working alongside Ding Yi’s principal conductor, Quek Ling Kiong.