Home-grown conductor Wong Kah Chun's US debut

Singaporean Wong Kah Chun likens conducting the New York Philharmonic to driving a Rolls-Royce

Mr Wong Kah Chun is the first Singaporean to conduct the New York Philharmonic. The 32-year-old is also the principal conductor of Germany’s Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra.
Wong Kah Chun conducting the New York Philharmonic during a Chinese New Year concert at the David Geffen Hall on Wednesday.
Wong Kah Chun conducting the New York Philharmonic during a Chinese New Year concert at the David Geffen Hall on Wednesday. PHOTO: CHRIS LEE
Nirmal Ghosh US Bureau Chief in New York
Updated
Feb 11, 2019, 11:24 AM
Published
Feb 09, 2019, 05:00 AM
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It is a Tuesday morning backstage at the David Geffen Hall in the Lincoln Centre in New York City.

And Wong Kah Chun stands in the wings as the orchestra tunes up. He has his score and baton. The sound then dies abruptly, disappearing into a few seconds of perfect stillness.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 09, 2019, with the headline Home-grown conductor Wong Kah Chun's US debut. Subscribe

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