​Dr Onishi received a Ph.D. in music theory in 2004 from the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, USA. While there, he taught at the UW and University of Puget Sound, Tacoma. He came to Singapore in 2005 and was assistant professor at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YST), National University of Singapore (NUS). He also taught at LaSalle College of the Arts and the School of the Arts (SOTA). Currently, Dr. Onishi currently teaches at the Natinal Institute of Education (NIE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Dr Onishi also holds an MA in historical musicology from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. This complements his strength in music theory and make his approaches to music more comprehensive and contextual. He has taught music history courses at YST and LaSalle.

Dr Onishi’s credential is made even more unique with his rare experience as a performer and scholar of the Philippine kulintang. He started taking kulintang lessons with ethnomusicologist Dr. Pamela Grace Costes Onishi at the UW and soon began to perform in public. He also had lessons with such master musicians as Danongan Sibay Kalanduyan (a winner of the 1995 National Heritage Fellowship Award by the National Endowment for the Arts, USA), and the University of the Philippines lecturers Kanapia Kalanduyan and Aga Mayo Butocan. After working with Dr Pamela for his interdisciplinary researches, Dr Onishi co-founded Sari-Sari Philippine Kulintang Ensemble in 2009 with her and has been actively performing with the Ensemble since then, both islandwide and overseas (Bandung, Indonesia and Hong Kong). As a kulintang teacher, he taught at NIE for five years (2014-2019) and has led several workshops.

While it may be possible to find somebody who is versed with one of the three specialisations (music theory, music history, and the Philippine kulintang/world music) separately, very few individuals are equipped with all three of them. Dr Onishi can convey all of them not only as knowledge but also as actual skills of living music. His students truly “live” (in) these different musical cultures and gain unforgettable and invaluable musical experiences that are sure to stay and enrich their lives. His current clients include the National Institute of Education (part-time lecturer, 2014-), the Ministry of Education (as SYF adjudicator, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022), and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (2022).

Dr. Onishi currently runs his own company, Hideaki Onishi Music, and offers music lessons (primarily piano and music theory) to both kids and adults while teaching music theory at NIE. For more information, please visit: https://hideakionishimusic.com/

Dr. See Ning Hui (b. 1996) is a pianist recognised for her ‘refined touch, voluminous sound, and all-rounded musical personality’ (The Straits Times). Ning Hui has concertised throughout London and the UK, including the Steinway Hall, St James’s Piccadilly, Austrian Cultural Forum, Victoria & Albert Museum, and the Leeds International Concert Series.

She has also performed in France, Belgium, Italy, Sweden, and the Harris Hall at Aspen, Colorado. Her performances have been broadcast on BBC Four, BBC Radio 3, and Singapore Symphony 92.4FM. 2025-26 highlights include the SSO Chamber Series at the Victoria Concert Hall and her specially curated programme ‘ReSounding’ in Manila, London, and Singapore.

In March 2025, Ning Hui was invited to the Singapore Embassy in Manila in celebration of International Women’s Day, SG60, and SG-PH relations, where journalist Yoko Tsunekawa highlighted her ‘rich palette of colours and striking vitality’ (Manila Bulletin).

Ning Hui attained her PhD, MMus, and BMus (Hons) at the Royal College of Music London as a scholar, with guidance from Profs John Byrne, Dmitri Alexeev, Deniz Gelenbe, Sergio de Simone, Natasha Loges, Rosie Perkins, and Danny Driver. She was a laureate of the ‘Citta di Padova’ and Cesar Franck International Piano Competitions, a 2014 BBC Young Musician keyboard finalist, and Grand Prize Winner of the 2012 Singapore Steinway Youth Competition.

At the RCM, she won the Esther Fisher Prize for best undergraduate at the Chappell Gold Medal and was a finalist in all the major keyboard and concerto competitions. Ning Hui experienced her early musical training at NAFA-SYT and studied privately with Prof Albert Tiu.

In August 2024, Ning Hui joined the faculty at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (University of the Arts Singapore), teaching principal study piano, chamber music, and academics. Her research interests include performance and pedagogical practices to integrate music by underrepresented composers.

Ning Hui was previously a Teaching Assistant at the RCM for Historical Studies. Her students’ achievements include prizes at the Stratford & East London, North London, and Woking Festivals, and offers to study at the RCM and RNCM.

Ms. Eunice Ng Peng Kit is a dedicated music educator and performer with over three decades of experience as a piano teacher, vocal coach, choral conductor, and music mentor. She is the Director and Principal of Artz Platform, and holds advanced certifications including the LTCL Teaching, LLCM, and a DMus from Japan.

Eunice was awarded a prestigious scholarship to study at the renowned Musashino Music University (武蔵野音楽大学) in Japan, where she majored in Music Education with a focus on both piano and singing. She was appointed Chairperson of the Musashino Music University Alumni Association (Singapore) by Principal Naotaka Fukui.

A pioneer in arts education, Eunice was one of the founding teachers at LASALLE – SIA College of the Arts in 1984, the same year she won top prizes in the Singapore-Malaysia Song Competition

She has presented solo recitals at the Victoria Concert Hall, recorded for SBC Radio, and served as President of the Classical Singers’ Association (Singapore) in 2005.

For over a decade, Eunice has conducted the Japanese Association Ladies Choir, actively promoting Singapore-Japan cultural exchange through annual performances and community events.

She previously served on the judging panel for the ARS Nova Music Competitions and is often invited to give lectures on the lives of classical composers. She also organizes educational music tours to Europe, offering students deeper insights into music history and performance.

Throughout her teaching career—including her time at Yamaha, Kawai, and now at Artz Platform—Eunice has nurtured generations of students and aspiring teachers, many of whom have progressed beyond Diploma level and into professional careers. Her heartfelt approach to teaching and deep musical insight continue to inspire students and fellow educators alike.

Mr Wayne Neo is a highly accomplished classical pianist, ABRSM examiner, and music educator dedicated to helping students achieve distinction in their music and theory exams.

His musical journey began early – achieving Grade 8 (Distinction) at just 10 years old and earning his ATCL Diploma (Distinction) by 12. He later graduated with First-Class Honours from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), one of the prestigious Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM).

As an ABRSM examiner, Wayne has an in-depth understanding of what it takes to score top marks. His courses are designed to equip students with the exact techniques, insights, and strategies needed to excel.

Beyond music, Wayne is also a qualified hypnotherapist specializing in exam anxiety and stage fright. He has delivered talks at international music summer programs in Europe, helping musicians overcome performance nerves and build confidence.

With a unique combination of exam expertise, performance excellence, and psychological strategies, Wayne’s courses provide students with a structured, high-quality learning experience, giving them everything they need to perform at their best.

Mr Albert Shagimardanov is a dynamic violinist and passionate educator, currently serving as the first violinist of The Libitum Quartet and an active performer with freelance orchestras including Metropolitan Festival Orchestra and Joyeux Sinfonietta in Singapore. With a rich background in solo, orchestral, and chamber music performance, Albert brings both international experience and a refined artistic perspective to his role as a judge for the violin categories of The Happy Music Festival 2025.

Albert began his musical journey at the prestigious Uspensky Music School for Gifted Children. He later moved to Singapore, where he completed his academic education before pursuing advanced violin studies in Europe. He trained under the esteemed Professor Michael Kugel at the Royal Conservatory of Ghent in Belgium and continued his studies at the Conservatorium Maastricht in the Netherlands under renowned violinist Professor Robert Szreder. His chamber music studies were mentored by Professor Henk Guittart, founder of the Schoenberg Quartet.

During his time in Europe, Albert co-founded the Eurasia Quartet, which won 2nd prize at the Starioni Toonzaal Prize Chamber Music Competition in 2015.

Albert holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the Conservatorium Maastricht and continues to perform regularly in chamber settings across Southeast Asia. His versatility and depth as a musician are evident in his collaborations with various ensembles and festivals, both in Europe and Singapore.

Beyond performance, Albert is a dedicated teacher known for his thoughtful and student-centered approach. He places strong emphasis on mindful instrumental technique and student psychology, helping students build both skill and confidence. His holistic and empathetic teaching philosophy has made him a respected mentor among young violinists in Singapore.

Mr Daniel Hu is a distinguished violinist and seasoned educator with over a decade of professional performance and teaching experience.

Holding a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance, Daniel has performed alongside some of the world’s finest musicians and appeared at internationally renowned music festivals, including the Abu Dhabi Festival, Emilia-Romagna Festival, Ravello Festival, Ljubljana Festival, Macau Festival, and the Beijing International Music Festival.

From 2009 to 2015, Daniel was a violinist with the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, where he performed in operas and symphonic works and recorded critically acclaimed albums. He later joined the prestigious China National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra in Beijing, continuing his work at the highest levels of orchestral performance until 2017.

As a soloist and ensemble performer, Daniel has been featured in numerous high-profile concerts and has received multiple accolades for his artistic excellence, including Outstanding Staff Awards from the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra (2010, 2011, and 2015).

Since 2017, Daniel has dedicated himself to music education, mentoring students in violin performance, chamber music, and music theory. His students have consistently achieved Distinction and Merit in ABRSM and Trinity examinations and have gone on to receive offers from prestigious conservatoires such as Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (Bachelor and Master’s programs), Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Master’s program), Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (Master’s program), and Luca School of Arts, Belgium (Master’s program).

In recognition of his outstanding teaching, Daniel has been awarded Certificates of Excellence as a Prominent Instructor by both the Singapore Music Festival Western Instrument Championship (2019) and the International Ensemble Competition (2020).

Daniel brings to the judging panel a wealth of international performance experience, pedagogical expertise, and a deep understanding of violin and chamber music. His sharp musical insight and commitment to nurturing young talent make him an ideal adjudicator for violin and ensemble competitions.