A passionate advocate of the arts, Rebecca Chew has also been recognised for her innovative leadership as an educator.
In 2004, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commended her outstanding leadership in his inaugural speech, praising her for providing opportunities for pupils to experience a comprehensive arts programme in Naval Base Secondary School, where she was then the Principal.
Rebecca’s expertise as a musician and an arts educator is also outstanding. Among her other contributions, she currently serves as the National Arts Council Arts Resource Person for Music and Executive Board Member for the Talent Development Fund for Young Artists.
She is also well-known for her work with youth choirs, having been involved in setting up the Ministry of Education’s Choral Excellence Programme upon her return to Singapore from her Public Service Commission-Ministry of Education scholarship in the United Kingdom. A graduate and associate of the Royal Academy of Music (UK), she is also credited with raising the standards and rigour of the Singapore Youth Festival and National Day Parade choirs. Under her direction, the Anglo-Chinese Junior College Choir embarked on seven choral tours, culminating in the 4th World Symposium on Choral Music in 1996, where her work was nominated for the UNESCO prize for Bridging Peace and Culture. In 2000, she was accorded the highest honour of being the first Singaporean to be appointed as the conductor of the inaugural Asian Youth Choir hosted by Japan.
She presently leads the School of the Arts as Principal and is the appointed Chief Executive Officer for the Singapore Arts School Ltd.