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The Malaysian bass-baritone and choral conductor, Chi Hoe Mak, studied the violin and piano as a child and later singing, winning First Prizes in the 1997 and 1998 Malaysian National Art Song Competition. His professional debut with Penang Arts Council Opera as Morales in Georges Bizet’s Carmen was followed by subsequent solo engagements with the Penang Symphony Orchestra, Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, which he has collaborated with on numerous occasions.
A graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, Chi Hoe Mak studied Voice and Choral Conducting, graduating with Master Master of Music degree in Voice Performance with Distinction (2006); Advanced Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Performance, Voice (2007); Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting (2009), winning several prizes. He is the first Asian to win a conducting fellowship with the London Symphony Chorus and his highly successful debut at the 2011 Lichfield Festival launched his career as a choral conductor in the UK.
Chi Hoe Mak enjoys a busy and varied career as an award-winning choral conductor, singer, clinician and adjudicator. He was Resident Chorus Master of Birmingham Conservatoire (September 2009-July 2012). Currently, he is Artistic Director of Young Choral Academy in Kuala Lumpur (since 2012), Resident Chorus Master and Principal Artist of Kuala Lumpur City Opera (since 2012), Artistic Director and Conductor of the Penang Philharmonic Chorus (since April 2019).
International activities include engagements in China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Spain, Singapore and throughout the UK. Chi Hoe Mak has shared the stage, performed and collaborated with ensembles and companies such as Arton Ensemble, Adur Vocalensemble, Birmingham Bach Choir, Birmingham Opera Company, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia, English Chamber Orchestra, Ex Cathedra, London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, London Voices, Festivalensemble Stuttgart, Singapore Lyric Opera, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, The Swingle Singers, et al. In Malaysia, he has made solo appearances with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, EST Opera, High Winds Ensemble, Penang State Symphony Orchestra and Penang Symphony Orchestra. As a performer of new music, he has performed at Frontiers Festival in Birmingham (UK), Sounds New! Contemporary Music Festival (UK), 2013 BBC Proms (UK), 2013 SoundBridge Festival (Malaysia) and the 2014 2nd China-ASEAN Music Week (China).
In 2019, Chi Hoe Mak was conferred Honorary Membership (HonRBC) of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for his outstanding contribution to his profession. |
