BIO

After picking up the classical guitar at the age of 12, Ernest developed a strong passion for creating and sharing the joy of music through his co-curricular activities in the St Patrick's School Guitar Ensemble. He was a member of the ensemble when it received the school’s first ever Certificate of Distinction in the Singapore Youth Festival in 2013.

At the age of 17, Ernest enrolled in Singapore Polytechnic to pursue a Diploma in Music and Audio Technology. During his time at the polytechnic, Ernest discovered the genre of jazz and felt an immediate connection with the music due to its cultural history and the humanity inherent in the genre. American jazz guitarists Peter Bernstein and Bobby Broom were two of the biggest influences in Ernest’s development as a guitarist. Bernstein’s ability to tell a story with the complexity of his melodies captivated Ernest and brought him closer to jazz, while Broom’s raw and soulful lyricism resonated with Ernest. 

Upon his graduation, as an alumnus of the Singapore Polytechnic Jazz Band, Ernest was placed under the mentorship and guidance of industry veteran, pianist-bassist-composer-producer Joshua Wan. With the latter’s guidance, Ernest has since performed at numerous venues such as The Esplanade and Blu Jaz Cafe.

Ernest is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance at LASALLE College of the Arts. He has since gained experience performing with bands including the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra (JASSYO!), and is a recipient of the 2020 Jazz Association (Singapore) Scholarship. Besides performing, Ernest shares his love of music with others by conducting lessons, working as a guitar teacher at The Music Lab since 2019. His long-term goal is to use jazz as a medium of expression to reflect our times and depict our struggles and celebrations in life.