Dr Nicholas Ong
QMO Advisory Panel & QMIF 2026 Judge
Dr Nicholas Ong is the recipient of many international prizes, including First Prize at the Yvonne Lefébure International Piano Competition in France and finalist at the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland. The New York Times praised him for his “firm rubber-ball touch and bounce” and Le Figaro for his “astonishing virtuosity.” He has performed in numerous concert halls across the United States, Europe, and Asia. As a versatile chamber musician, he has collaborated in chamber concerts with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra musicians, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts faculty chamber concerts, and concert tours with principals of major orchestras and young talented musicians. He received a Doctorate in Piano Performance at the Juilliard School in New York. Dr Nicholas Ong is Head of Keyboard at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), University of the Arts Singapore. He was on the jury for the Singapore International Young Pianist Competition, Steinway Youth Piano Competition, Ananda Sukarlan Award International Piano Competition, Singapore Raffles International Music Festival and Music Singapore International Piano and Violin Competition. He is in demand for masterclasses and a frequent guest faculty at the Asia International Piano Academy Festival (AIPAF) in South Korea.