Florence Khei Kuan Chong
Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur
Soprano
in current round
in current round
Biography
Florence Chong, a Malaysian Coloratura Soprano, began her music training as a pianist. She was awarded a full scholarship to study for the Diploma in Music course at SEGI College Subang Jaya, Malaysia, in 2007, where she graduated with distinction in 2011. In September 2013, she was accepted into the prestigious BA in Vocal Studies at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. She was awarded this degree, which is validated by Trinity College Dublin, with first-class honours in 2017. Florence was then awarded a Master's Degree in Solo Singing with cum laude by the Conservatorium Maastricht, Netherlands, in August 2020, where she studied with Yvonne Schiffelers and Mya Besselink and coached by Abigal Richards and Jeremy Hulin. Florence was one of the young artists of The Fat Lady opera group in the Netherlands for the season 2021/22, where she was coached by Tamir Chasson.
In July 2021, Florence has sung the role of Frasquita from Bizet's Carmen with the Junge Oper Schloss Weikersheim in Germany. She was also an understudy of the First Niece for the Wadopera Peter Grimes opera production in Friesland, the Netherlands, in September 2021. Florence made her operatic debut with the Kuala Lumpur City Opera in the role of Queen of the Night from Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute in November 2019. Other operatic roles performed included Lucy from Menotti's The Telephone, Clori from Handel's comic cantata, Clori, Tirsi e Fileno, Moth (Second Fairy, First Woman and Night) from Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, Suor Genovieffa and Suor Dolcina from Puccini's Suor Angelica. Those productions took place in Ireland, Hungary, the Netherlands, Italy, and Bosnia.
Besides that, Florence has left her mark on international audiences as a compelling recital artist. In August 2023, she performed at the Festival Via Musica in Emmerloord as a soloist and performed with the Performing Opera School at the Grachten Festival in Tolhuistuin, Amsterdam. She was also invited to sing at the Klang Music Festival 2019 in Malaysia, as well as a featured soloist at the Festival de la Musique in France for two consecutive years, 2016 and 2017. An invitation to perform as a contemporary music artist at the esteemed Tallinn Town Hall in Estonia in April 2016 solidified her reputation. She consistently delivered solo recitals in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Malaysia. Florence's oratorio performances included works such as Messiah (Handel), Exsultate Jubilate, Vespers, Mass in G Major KV140, and Requiem (Mozart). Florence was one of the featured singers on the CD album "A Musical Portrait" by Hans Leenders, where she recorded two compositions by Hans in 2022.
Florence received many accolades for these performances including one from the music critic of the Sunday Business Post in Ireland for playing the role of Clori. She also received an excellent review from The Reviews Hub for playing the role of the fairy Moth. She was also given this special recognition by the Examination Board of the Conservatorium Maastricht on her graduation report: A beautiful artist performing with poise, elegance, and charm.