This award-winning 16-year-old classical violinist hopes to perform all over the world

After gaining international fame through winning the joint-first prize at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists in 2018, local child prodigy Chloe Chua has since found her place on the concert stage.   

In her most recent endeavour as Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s youngest artist-in-residence, Chloe is concluding its 2022/2023 season with a digital concert on Mar 16 as well as two performances on Mar 31 and Apr 1.

“I feel thrilled and honoured to be given the residency title,” said Chloe. “I know that I’ll have a lot of opportunities to play with the orchestra.”

Her first interaction with music came when she started learning the piano at the age of two. Later on, Chloe began learning the violin at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) School of Young Talents, which continued even after she began going to primary school. 

“Unlike other students in school, I guess the challenge of being a violinist is that I had my full focus on the instrument,” she said. 

Taking notes from American violinist Hilary Hahn and Israeli musician Maxim Vengerov, Chloe aspired to also carve her path to become a skilled soloist on the world stage. 

Fast forward to 2018 when she received the joint first prize at the competition in Switzerland, Chloe remembers it as her first milestone.

“From then on, I had engagements to play in different places, it was a turning point for me,” said the musician, who has since performed in concert halls and orchestras across America, United Kingdom, Italy and Asia. 

Now wrapping up her residency in SSO’s 2022/2023 concert season, Chloe will showcase the works of Antonio Vivaldi, Pietro Locatelli and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in her upcoming digital and live performances. 

The journey seems to have just begun for the young violinist, who has also released her debut album earlier this month and is hoping to produce more works in time to come, alongside performing in various parts of the world. 

To other musicians seeking to follow in her footsteps, Chloe said: “Love your instrument and work hard on it. And most importantly, love the music you play.”

Those looking to tune in to her pre-recorded digital concert, to be released on Mar 16 at 8pm, can head to the SSOLOUNGE website. 

Chloe’s final live performances for SSO’s season will be held at Victoria Concert Hall at 7.30pm on Mar 31 and Apr 1. Concert tickets, ranging from $15 to $88, can be purchased on SSO’s website.