Kam Kee Yong

Kam Kee Yong (; born 28 February 1938) is a violinist, conductor, visual artist and educator. He founded the Singapura String Orchestra and the People's Association String Orchestra. He was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1984 for his contributions to music in Singapore.

Early life and education Kam was born the eldest of six children on 28 February 1938 in Penang, Malaysia. His father was schoolteacher and freelance jazz musician Kam Beng Soo. He attended the Li Tek School from 1946 to 1953. From 1954 to 1957, he studied at the Chung Ling High School. His father began teaching him the violin when he was ten years old. He then studied under Louis Lim until he was fifteen. He would play the violin and the drums in his father's jazz band. He came to Singapore in 1958 and began studying painting at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts the following year on a scholarship obtained from a friend. He held a violin recital in Penang later that year to raise funds as he was seeking to study music overseas. Prominent rubber tycoon and philanthropist Tan Boon Peng attended the recital and helped Kam in raising money. The TOKK Ensemble commissioned him to revise Kuang Xiang Qu for solo violin with piano, harp and percussion in 1975. His revision was performed by the ensemble during their Asia concert tour. In 1978, he toured Australia under the Cultural Award Scheme and performed at several universities and conservatories there. In 1981, he established the People's Association Children's String Orchestra and began serving as its conductor. Kam Ning and pianist David Laughton recorded and released the album Cicada: The Complete Works for Violin and Piano by Kam Kee Yong in the following year.

Personal life Kam is married to Jean Van. Violinist Kam Ning and drummer Kam Lei are his children.