Chuen Tam

OCMS President

OCMS-PO Music Director & Conductor

OCMS-YSO Music Director & Principal Conductor

Chuen Tam is a well-respected conductor, violinist, and music educator. In 1965, he was appointed first violinist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He received ongoing private training from reputable conductors and violinists Lim Kek-tijang and Lim Kek-han, before furthering his studies at the Vienna Conservatory. During his studies in Vienna, he performed with the Vienna Operetta Orchestra as a first violinist. In 1976, Mr. Tam obtained a high-level Diploma in Violin Performance from the Vienna Conservatory. Upon return to Hong Kong, he was engaged as a first violinist with the Hong Kong philharmonic Orchestra, as well as concertmaster of the Hong Kong City Symphony Orchestra, Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra and the Lim Kek-han Philharmonic Orchestra. He was also a guest conductor of the Pan Asia Symphony Orchestra, and music director and conductor of the Hong Kong Music Institute Orchestra.

Mr Tam was one of the foremost advocates of classical music among schools in Hong Kong. As the violin instructor and violinist of the string quintet of the Hong Kong Music Office, Mr. Tam toured dozens of schools in Hong Kong, introducing students to musical instruments and giving talks on great composers and their works. In 1984, he founded the Hong Kong Music Institute Orchestra. He led the orchestra, performing regularly in Hong Kong and Mainland China cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, where he conducted the local orchestras as well. In 1985, he organized and directed a string ensemble of over 400 students at a joint school graduation ceremony. In 1992, by special invitation of the Lions Club (Hong Kong), Mr. Tam organized and conducted a gala concert in which he received great acclaim and congratulatory remarks from His Excellency, Lord David Wilson, Governor of Hong Kong.

In 1994, Mr. Tam immigrated to Canada with his family. He applied to be a music teacher with the Ontario Registered Music Teacher Association (ORMTA), and continued his violin teaching. Over the years, many of his students obtained excellent results in examinations conducted by the Royal Conservatory of Music (from Grade 3 to ARCT) and received awards at various music competitions. In 1996, Mr. Tam founded and was elected President of the Overseas Chinese Music Society (Ontario). He is also the music director and conductor of the Overseas Chinese Philharmonic Orchestra and Overseas Chinese Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Overseas Chinese Music Society is officially registered as a non-profit and charitable organization. Its objectives are to provide various musical training to local Chinese, to offer performance opportunities to professional musicians, and to support local communities through fund-raising concerts. To date, the Overseas Chinese Music Society has grown to over 200 members.