MEET THE ARTIST

Chan Wei En | Countertenor

"Perhaps the conundrum is this – why does the most unnatural of singing voices sound so natural? Years of intense and strenuous training have brought Chan to the point where his voice sounds remarkably pure and his vocal delivery looks completely effortless." (The Straits Times, Singapore)

Wei En features in concerts internationally, and solo highlights include Bach cantatas with the Malaysia Bach Festival and East Malaysia Bach Singers, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms with the NEC Philharmonia and Concert Choir, and alto solos in B Minor Mass with the American Bach Soloists and Malaysia Bach Festival. Wei En has been a winner and finalist at various vocal competitions in the US and was awarded the Ernst Bacon Prize for “Outstanding Performance of an American Song” at the 38th Annual Competition for Singers, organised by Civic Morning Musicals.

Wei En’s repertoire also includes Ramiro from Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera, Carmina Burana, Haydn's Mass in Time of War and Nelson Mass, Messiah, St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, and Cantatas Nos. 4, 39, 56, 72, 80, 140, 144, 187, 225, and 230.

Wei En has performed with the Association of Toronto Chinese Evangelical Church Musicians, Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Bach Festival, MIT Concert Choir, Opera Ithaca, and the R. I. Civic Chorale & Orchestra.

Wei En holds a M. M. in Voice Performance from New England Conservatory, where he studied with Dr. Ian Howell, and a B. M. in Voice Performance from Ithaca College, where he studied with Professor Carol McAmis. In Singapore, Wei En studied with Toh Ban Sheng.

For the 2018-19 season, Wei En joins the roster of Boston Opera Collaborative with the Boston premiere of Stefan Weisman’s The Scarlet Ibis, and sings with early music vocal groups, Carduus, directed by Holly Druckman, and Canto Armonico, directed by Cheryl Ryder. Wei En can be found regularly singing at the First Lutheran Church of Boston, directed by Jonathan Wessler.

An avid recitalist, Wei En enjoys premiering works of living composers and breaking repertoire stereotypes for countertenors. He enjoyed the company of a full house at his 2016 recital at The Arts House in Singapore and hopes to bring another recital back home soon!

Wei En's love for music began in choirs. He was a member of Hallelujah Oratorio Society, directed by Rev. Lee Chong Min, and sang with the Amoris Singers, directed by Toh Ban Sheng. Apart from being a singer, Wei En also served as a flautist with the Singapore Armed Forces Band, directed by ME5 Steven Tan Aik Kee.

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