SELANGOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ACADEMY
(SSO ACADEMY)

The SSO Academy is the educational arm of the Selangor Symphony Orchestra, dedicated to nurturing young musicians through structured and progressive orchestral training programmes.

At the academy, we provide a safe, inspiring, and professionally guided environment where children develop not only strong musical skills, but also discipline, teamwork, confidence, and a lifelong love for music. Beyond musical excellence, the academy encourages young people to appreciate the value of music in their lives—regardless of the career path they may eventually choose.

Through regular weekly rehearsals, expert coaching, and meaningful performance opportunities, the SSO Academy prepares young musicians for higher artistic standards while supporting their personal growth, both on and off the stage

SSO Academy offers three orchestra programmes:

Junior String Orchestra

The Junior String Orchestra is designed to nurture young musicians at the early stages of their orchestral journey, preparing them for progression into the Selangor Symphony Youth Orchestra (SSYO).

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Selangor Symphony Youth Orchestra (SSYO)

An advanced full symphony orchestra dedicated to large-scale orchestral repertoire, offering rigorous performances under the guidance of professional musicians from the Selangor Symphony Orchestra.

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SSO Fellowship

The final pathway for highly advanced young musicians, preparing them for regular performance with the Selangor Symphony Orchestra (SSO) at the highest professional standards.

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THE TEAM
of the SSO Academy

Eugene Pook

Founder, Music Director

& Conductor

Dr Andrew Filmer

Associate Conductor

Ashley Lai

Co-Director

& String Coach

Shum Hing-Chuong

Co-Conductor, Woodwind & Brass Coach

Currently Founder, Music Director and Conductor of the Selangor Symphony Orchestra and Selangor Symphony Youth Orchestra, Eugene Pook is known for his passionate of creating performances that resonate with diverse audiences, pushing boundaries while maintaining a high level of musical integrity. As a conductor, Eugene Pook has guest conducted professional orchestras such as the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Daegu International Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Henan Symphony Orchestra, Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chamber Orchestra, Pleven Philharmonic, and many others. In 2016, Eugene served as assistant to Maestro Charles Dutoit at the Verbier Festival. Eugene Pook also has a passion for music education for the youths as well as underprivileged organisations and has developed orchestra programs for local schools and various orphanage organisations. Since 2009 Eugene has helped raise funds for the Alzheimer Disease Foundation Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah Foundation, Dementia Society Ipoh, National Stroke Association Malaysia, Make-A-Wish-Malaysia, Assunta Palliative Care Center, and Perak Palliative Care Society. Eugene Pook’s selfless contribution to the music industry has benefited youths and communities of all races and backgrounds in Malaysia and around the world; in 2012, he was awarded the 10 Outstanding Young Malaysians Award for his cultural contributions and achievements in Malaysia. In addition to conducting, Eugene Pook is also a professional clarinet performer. His clarinet recitals have been much sought after and performed at prestigious venues such as the Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Malaysia Embassy (Washington DC, USA), and the European Union Embassy (Washington DC, USA). Eugene was a winner of the Concerto Competition of at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (USA) where he performed Copland's Clarinet Concerto with the University's Conservatory orchestra, and has performed and toured with the American Wind Symphony Orchestra and Eastman Wind Ensemble. Eugene Pook studied aboard at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Canada), University of Missouri – Kansas City (U.S.A), and the Eastman School of Music (U.S.A), his mentors include Professor Jane Carl (clarinet) and Brad Lubman (conducting). Eugene was born in Ipoh, Malaysia.

Dr. Andrew Filmer is versatile in the arts, combining his musicology training with that of violin and viola performance and a passion for teaching. Andrew has won commendations and prizes in teaching, public speaking, research, performance, and leadership. He is an associate professor and coordinator of strings at the Institute of Music, UCSI University in Malaysia, and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy of the United Kingdom. Andrew performs frequently as a chamber musician and narrator, with occasional roles as orchestra conductor and concerto soloist. Andrew was a Festival Artist at the 48thInternational Viola Congress in Thailand and has performed and presented at Congresses in Brazil, New Zealand, Germany, France and Poland. He was Editor of the Journal of the American Viola Society and is an advisor for the Australia and New Zealand Viola Society. His research has been presented twice at Cambridge University, and he was a scholar-in-residence there in early 2023. He has presented and performed across three continents, and has facilitated masterclasses and guest lectures at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore, the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in the UK, the Elder Conservatorium in Australia, the Montiverdi Conservatory in Italy and the New Zealand School of Music. Andrew has conducted the Penang’s Sinfonietta, Ensemble Virama, the Selangor Symphony, and Euroasia Sinfonia, including two appearances at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. With a dedication towards teaching, Andrew has facilitated string pedagogy workshops for Trinity College London and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), and has been on adjudication panels for music competitions across the country for over a decade. He spent eight years working at Sunway University, and two years at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Violinist Ashley Lai is an active performer with extensive orchestral experience, having appeared with the National Symphony Orchestra, Selangor Symphony Orchestra, Tutan Festival Orchestra, Kuala Lumpur City Opera Orchestra, WVC Orchestra, RondoFest 2024 Festival Orchestra, and SOG Reimaginasi. She is also proficient in viola and cello, and is a dedicated violin and piano educator, regularly engaged as an orchestral violin coach. A recipient of the UCSI University Trust Scholarship, Ashley graduated with First-Class Honours in Violin Performance from the UCSI University Institute of Music under Ergys Koni.

Shum Hing-cheung is a renowned horn player based in Hong Kong, recognized for his brilliant, flexible, and focused sound. He is a member of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and has performed extensively in chamber music, including with the Hong Kong Oriental Brass and in various horn quartets.