Highly sought-after in the local music scene, double bassist Eugene Chew has shared the stage with groups such as the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (JASSO), Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, and the Lorong Boys.
But if you ask him how he got to perform with these names, he might modestly tell you it was due to sheer luck. That element of serendipity, however, is just one part of the story.
Eugene (first from right) playing with the Lorong Boys in the Esplanade’s educational programme, A Classical Misadventure (2022).
Bold beginnings
One could say music is infused in every step of Eugene’s life, from childhood, to the present day as a soon-to-be graduate in Double Bass at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST).
Eugene’s love for music can be traced back to his childhood — he names his father, a bass player for getai shows, as one of his biggest musical inspirations. After teaching himself how to play the guitar, he picked up the electric bass in secondary school. While pursuing Singapore Polytechnic’s Diploma in Music & Audio Technology, he joined Singapore Polytechnic’s Jazz Band, which is when he started taking up the double bass.
After falling head over heels with the instrument, Eugene took the next step and applied to study Double Bass at YST — a choice he now sees as the best decision he’s ever made.
Building to a crescendo
Thanks to the conservatory's carefully-curated programmes that focus on both excellence and a breadth of experience, Eugene was able to challenge his mindset and approach to music. The school’s world-class facilities, quality instruments and state-of-the-art technological resources also helped him to hone his craft.
Its 5:1 student-teacher ratio at YST meant that he received dedicated training to nurture his artistry. In particular, he credits his quick development to the guidance of his double bass tutor, Mr Guennadi Mouzyka (who plays Double Bass in the Singapore Symphony Orchestra), who helped further enhance his versatility and understanding of classical technique.
Eugene is grateful to his double bass tutor Mr Guennadi Mouzyka for his guidance.
“My time at YST has broadened my perspective as a musician. Where I used to only focus on each performance that was before me, I now look at the bigger picture and think about how I can position myself within the music industry as an artist.”
A highlight of his school days was participating in LEAD! The Orchestra Project, a 12-day orchestra camp held in Finland. The trip was part of a collaboration between YST, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Geneva University of Music, and brought together students from the three schools alongside industry veterans in a collaborative learning environment. The combined orchestra performed three concerts in top venues across Finland.
There, Eugene learnt more than just music:
“The experience of performing and collaborating outside of Singapore exposed me to the ways my peers from other cultures learn and practise music, which has helped me refine my own working processes.”
Eugene bonded with international students at double bass sectional practices during LEAD!
Another highlight of his YST experience was the strong friendships he formed. He remembers with fondness how he and his friends would eat the dumplings at Food Clique in UTown almost every day in their first year. “We always go back there because it was affordable and tasty. But more importantly, it was something we could bond over!” he recalls cheerily.
Taking the reins
The road hasn’t always been easy. Eugene faced many doubts about being a musician in Singapore. Many assume it isn’t a sustainable career, as the pathways for growth and career progression are not as straightforward as many full-time corporate jobs.
Eugene begs to differ. While the music industry is undeniably competitive, he believes that with drive and preparation, there are ways to succeed.
Besides technical skills in their major, students at YST are also taught soft skills, such as project management and industry awareness. A strong dose of initiative and resourcefulness has also been crucial: Aside from his studies, Eugene also plays actively in the local music scene, maintaining a vibrant portfolio of activity across numerous genres.
“A music degree is what you make of it,” he says confidently.
A fresh voice in Singaporean jazz
Fuelled by the desire to diversify Singapore’s jazz scene with original compositions, Eugene founded Litmus Jazz Ensemble, a group of five young, like-minded musicians.
Eugene (centre) with members of Litmus Jazz Ensemble in their practice studio.
True to its name, Litmus Jazz is all about experimenting and going beyond their comfort zones. Aside from playing standards, members regularly rehearse and perform their own compositions and arrangements. It is already going places, with the group earning a contract with Esplanade for a three-episode jazz-explainer series and having performed at the Singapore Night Festival, the Asian Civilisations Museum and the jazz lounge Maduro.
Having to balance strategy and passion is an ongoing learning experience for Eugene. His best advice for aspiring music students to make the most of their schooling life is being open to new possibilities.
“Don’t limit yourself to a single endeavour and shun other things just because they don’t seem directly relevant. Broaden your horizons and take every learning opportunity that you get — because you never know what new paths and passions you may discover for yourself!”
With his perseverance and magnetic energy, Eugene exemplifies the ways in which you can forge a passion for music into a vibrant career.