Ho Chi Mei

Having learned the piano from the age of five, Chi Mei obtained her first degree in voice under the tutelage of Ian Lim from University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur. She was awarded a bursary to pursue Master of Music (Vocal Performance) in Birmingham Conservatoire, United Kingdom, and graduated with a distinction. While in UK, Chi Mei studied with soprano Catherine Benson and worked with other notable vocal coaches namely Robin Bowman, Jane Robinson, Helen Yorke, Stephen Barlow, Julian Pike and Simon Nicholls.

Chi Mei has featured as a soloist in various concerts and recitals in Malaysia and UK; namely Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy (2012) with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO), Appassionata II: A Voice and Piano Recital (2012), Mad About Mozart (2011) with the Bentley Repertoire Orchestra, An Ornithological Liederabend (2010), Fortepiano Recital (2010), and Appassionata: A Voice and Piano Recital (2009), among others. She was highly commended in Mario Lanza Opera Prize 2010 and a finalist in Ashleyan Opera Prize 2010 in Birmingham. She is also an Award Winner for obtaining the Fellowship of Trinity College London (FTCL) for Singing in 2010.

Also an adept chorister, Chi Mei is the first Malaysian soprano selected to join the prestigious World Youth Choir and World Chamber Choir, both projects by the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM), which she has performed with in South Africa, Namibia, Macao, China, Sweden and in the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony in Hong Kong. Her most recent engagement with the World Youth Choir was performing at the exclusive Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony (2011) in Oslo City Hall and Nobel Peace Prize Concert (2011) in Oslo Spektrum Arena, Norway, which was broadcasted live worldwide. Notable conductors that Chi Mei has worked with include Peter Djikstra, Sidumo Jacobs, Steve Zegree, Hak-Won Yoon, Fred Sjoberg, Nikolaj Znaider and Grete Pedersen. Currently, Chi Mei is a senior member of Dithyrambic Singers under the direction of Ian Lim. The ensemble won the Grand Prix Championship from Busan Choral Festival & Competition 2008 in South Korea and had performed in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and in New York’s Carnegie Hall with reputable composer, Eric Whitacre. Chi Mei also sings with Time Ensemble, a group of singers originating from all over the world, which she has performed and toured with in Malaysia and Singapore (2012). Other than performing, Chi Mei enjoys teaching and lecturing in subjects related to classical solo and choral singing in UCSI University, SEGi College and Bentley Music Academy.