Gateway Double Bass Faculty: Chee Wah Yong
Chee Wah Yong plays both double and electric basses, in various diverse musical situations.
He was the Principal Double Bassist for Phantom Of the Opera (Singapore) in 2007, played for The Lion King (Singapore) in 2011, Company in 2012, Next To Normal in 2013, Getai the Musical (2016); as well as LaSalle’s musical productions of Cabaret, Once On This Island, Spring Awakening, The Pajama Game, The Lucky Stiff (2009 & 2014), The Wedding Singer amongst various others.
He also plays classical music with Re:mix HK (2013), Strings of Hope Charity (2014), JB Arts Festival (2013, 2012), Mediacorp Gold FM orchestra (2014). He was the Principal Double Bassist for Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra performing the songs of Oh Joonsung (Feb 2010), as well as Principal Double Bassist & Electric Bassist for Russell Watson (Jan 2011), Principal Double Bassist for SLO Orchestra as part of Paris Ballet Opera’s production of Giselle in Jan 2012. He also played for Sarah Brightman when at the Grand Opening of Resorts World Singapore in Dec 2012. He has played for SLO’s operas Turandot (2016), Madama Butterfly, Salome, Manon Lescaut, Cosi Fan Tutte, The Merry Widow, and double-bill opera Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci & Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi (Sept 2015). He has played for Swan Lake by Bolshoi Ballet Company in Nov 2013, Stuttgart Ballet’s Onegin (Nov 2014), and English National Ballet’s Corsaire (May 2015). He has also played The Flying Dutchman with the Richard Wagner Association (Singapore) (2016).
He has played jazz with The Jazz Kitchen Quartet (featuring Melissa Tham on vocals) for 3 years at The Barstop (2007-2009), and Imelda at 1 Degree 15 Marina Club (2009), Mei Sheum and Sebastian Ho for 3 years at Pan Pacific Hotel. He has also played jazz with Anne Weerapas, Umi Yushida, Mayanova, Aubrey Ng, Andayoma, Marcella Pinilla, Alemay Fernandez and Thomson Big Band.
He has played regularly for local singers like Olivia Ong, Bevlyn Khoo, Tay Kewei, Tay Kexin.
He is teaching double bass at CHIJ (Kellock) and Catholic High, and has taught double bass for Nanyang Poly CO, St Nicholas Girls (String Ensemble and Chinese Orchestra), St Margaret’s Sec (Symphonic Band and String Ensemble), Temasek Sec (CO), German European School Singapore, Damai Sec (Symphonic Band) as well as conducted jazz and bass workshops for Nanyang Girls, Raffles Institution, RJC, Hwa Chong JC.