Han Oh is widely recognized as one of Singapore’s most internationally influential violists. A consummate artist whose career spans performance, education, conducting, and artistic leadership, he currently serves as Artist Faculty of Viola, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Institute at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. He is also the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the National Junior College (NJC) String Ensemble.

Han Oh’s career extends across four continents and encompasses classical, contemporary, and crossover genres. He has performed with global icons such as Paul McCartney, David Foster, Linkin Park, and Michael Bublé, and has graced premier international stages including the Grammy Awards, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. As the founder of Boutique Chamber Players and Dynamic String Arts Consultancy, he is deeply committed to nurturing high-level artistic talent, with students successfully admitted to leading music institutions across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Beyond his exceptional artistry, Han Oh is known for his distinctive humanistic approach and visionary educational philosophy. Centering his teaching and creative work around the belief that “sound must be thought, and thought must be sung,” he is devoted to shaping a new generation of musicians who possess artistic originality, cultural depth, and a global perspective.

In May 2025, Han Oh was invited to join the Asian Art Association Singapore (Traditional Western Instruments) as a Lifetime member and was appointed a juror for the Singapore International Cultural Festival 2025.

At the heart of my musical philosophy lies the pursuit of authenticity—not merely in tone, but in emotional and lived experience. I believe that the artist is an alchemist of culture, distilling time, technique, and inner life into a force that resonates, pierces, and unites. My mission as a performer, creator, and educator is to help young musicians forge expressive integrity and depth in their artistic voices.

As a violist, I recognize that my role is never limited to harmonic middle ground; it is the spine of musical structure and the pulse of emotional narrative. On stage, I seek more than precision or beauty—I aim for sound that carries both intellectual and spiritual tension. In teaching, I encourage students to question, to embrace multiplicity, and to refine their own artistic language through the dual forces of doubt and breakthrough.

I also care deeply about the place of music in society. Music is not merely an aesthetic display—it is a tool for civic engagement, emotional healing, and intellectual awakening. Whether through the projects I lead or the programs I curate, I strive to create musical spaces that spark dialogue, deepen thinking, and build human connection.

My art is an ongoing journey—an inward search for truth and an outward manifestation of meaning. May every sound I produce be a lasting echo worthy of this time.

Education & Conducting

Han Oh currently serves as Artist Faculty of Viola, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Institute at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. Since 2024, he has also been appointed as faculty at the Conservatory’s Orchestral Institute. In addition, he is the Resident Conductor of the National Junior College (NJC) String Ensemble, which he has led since 2014 to multiple Gold Awards and Certificates of Distinction at the Singapore Youth Festival.

In 2024, under his direction, the NJC String Ensemble represented Singapore at the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna, earning Third Prize with Outstanding Success in the string orchestra category. He also previously served as conductor of the Methodist Girls’ School String Ensemble, guiding the group to consistent top-tier results from 2011 to 2015.

Han Oh has also played a long-standing role in developing youth string education in Singapore, having served as viola tutor and string conductor for the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) and its training wing, Youth Sinfonia, where he was actively involved in auditions,sectional rehearsals, assessments, and repertoire planning.
Honours & Competitions

In 1993, at the age of nineteen, Han Oh was the sole prize winner in the Open Category for Lower Strings at the National Singapore Music Competition. In the same year, he received the prestigious Certificate of Distinction from the National Arts Council of Singapore, establishing his prominence as a young musical talent.

He also represented Singapore at the Asian Youth Orchestra and the Australian National Music Camp, showcasing his performance excellence on international platforms.

Performances & Festival Highlights

Han Oh has performed as principal or section violist with numerous esteemed orchestras around the world, including the Colorado Mahler Festival Orchestra, Asian American Philharmonic Orchestra, San Francisco Lyric Opera Orchestra, Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra, and the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra.

As a member of the T’ang Quartet from 2009 to 2011, he performed alongside the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in the Singapore premiere of Benjamin Lees’ Concerto for String Quartet and Orchestra in 2010. With the quartet, he toured internationally to Azerbaijan, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand, Macau, Malaysia, and Indonesia, appearing at major chamber music festivals.

Crossover Collaborations & International Stages

Han Oh is the first Singaporean violist to perform at the Grammy Awards, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. As an original touring member of the Grammy-winning band Gnarls Barkley, he toured extensively across the United States and Canada, contributing live string arrangements for their debut album St. Elsewhere, which received four Grammy nominations and won two.

He has performed alongside international stars including Jay-Z, Paul McCartney, David Foster, Linkin Park, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, KD Lang, Sarah McLachlan, Cee-lo Green, Natalie Cole, and Jamie Cullum. His television appearances include performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Theatre & Multimedia Performances

A dynamic presence in musical theatre and multimedia production, Han Oh has performed in numerous shows including Into the Woods, Spring Awakening, The Phantom of the Opera, La Cage aux Folles, RENT, The Addams Family, The Great Wall, *