Ernest is committed to making the performing arts accessible for people of all ages and backgrounds. He has led multiple collaborative initiatives with partners such as MOE schools, People’s Association, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, and Esplanade. He also founded the Nanyang International Music Competition and Academy, dedicated to creating a community of musicians of all ages. He chaired the organising committee of the ASEAN-China Arts Colleges Alliance (ACACA) Conference 2022 in Singapore, which aimed to promote cultural and artistic prosperity in the region.
At Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA), Ernest has held several leadership positions, including Deputy Head of Music, Vice Dean, and Dean of the School of Music. Since January 2023, he has been the Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts, overseeing the School of Music, School of Dance, and School of Theatre. Under his leadership, he spearheaded initiatives such as curriculum reviews for the Music Diploma and Degree programme and the development of new programmes such as the Specialist Diploma in Orchestral Conducting, Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Instrumental & Vocal Teaching, Master of Performance, and Master of Composition.
Ernest's philosophy is rooted in collaboration and ensemble building, which he believes are crucial skills for succeeding in the fast-changing world of performing arts. He has initiated exchange programmes with renowned overseas institutions, including the Royal College of Music, Central Conservatory of Music, Tainan National University of the Arts, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and The University of California, Los Angeles.
Ernest's research interests include intercultural studies, pedagogy skills, and curriculum design in performing arts education. He has presented at renowned events such as the International Society of Music Education (ISME) World Conference, Asia-Pacific Symposium for Music Education Research (APSMER), Ho Chi Minh City International Piano Festival, and National Institute of Education’s (NIE) Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference (RPIC) in Singapore. Recently, Ernest co-authored a paper with Professor Rose Martin and Georgette Yu, published in the International Journal of Music Education (IJME), which explored musician-educators’ reflections on a collaborative cross-cultural music-making encounter in Singapore.