Eugene Seow
Bass
Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Dr Eugene Seow began his musical journey at the age of 6 with classical piano. Displaying an innate gift for music, he later pursued percussion at the age of 15, discovering the drum set at 17. His dedication to continuous growth led him to self-teach the electric bass and, later, the upright bass. During his residency in New York City, he developed a passion for world percussion instruments, including the tabla, pandeiro, congas, riqq, and darbuka, and explored each in depth. With remarkable versatility across genres—ranging from pop and rock to jazz and classical—Eugene thrives in diverse musical settings, including big bands, combo bands, symphonic bands, orchestras, and marching bands.
As a composer and arranger, Eugene has written for ensembles ranging from jazz combos and big bands to symphonic and hybrid groups. His works have been performed by the Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra and at notable venues including Lincoln Center, The Esplanade in Singapore, and Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS, where he appeared as a big band drummer with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. When not immersed in music, he maintains balance through yoga and long-distance running, advocating physical and mental wellness as integral to artistic excellence.
Academically accomplished, Eugene earned a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University’s School of Music, graduating with High Distinction and receiving the Gold Medallion for academic excellence. He also holds a postdoctoral fellowship in music research. He completed a Master of Music in Jazz Studies at the Aaron Copland School of Music (Queens College, CUNY) and a Bachelor of Music at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated summa cum laude with dual majors in Jazz Composition and Professional Music. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), he also holds Fellowships from the London College of Music (FLCM) and Victoria College of Music [FVCM (Hons)], among other specialist fellowships in rhythm-section performance and pedagogy. His research focuses on rhythm pedagogy and global ensemble practice.
Eugene’s professional experience includes collaborations with Terence Blanchard, Samuel Torres, Dr Lonnie Smith, and Cécile McLorin Salvant, as well as mentorship under David Berkman, Greg Hopkins, Michael Mossman, Gary Burton, Bill Charlap, and Mark Walker. His honours include the Duke Ellington and Benny Golson Awards for jazz composition, the Pro Music Academic and Performance Excellence Award, and the Steve Gadd Award for percussion.
His reputation as an educator is equally distinguished; Dr Seow lectures at LASALLE College of the Arts and other tertiary institutions, teaching harmony, aural skills, pedagogy, ensemble studies, and applied music, and supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations. He also serves as an examiner for the London College of Music Examinations and other international boards, contributing to advisory and academic review panels in higher music education. His holistic approach reflects forward-thinking educational philosophies, helping students cultivate a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of music.
Balancing an academic career with his performance commitments, Eugene continues to engage with the evolving global music scene, committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians.