Born in Malaysia, Ka Ming Tan is a diverse musician with extensive experience as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player and a music educator. Ka Ming began his musical studies on the piano at the age of 4, and picked up the violin two years later. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance at University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2011, and his Masters’ Degree at DePaul University, Chicago in 2013, both with High Distinction. During this time, Ka Ming studied extensively under Ilya Kaler, Felicia Moye and Vartan Manoogian, while receiving masterclasses from acclaimed musicians such as Pinchas Zukerman, Joseph Silverstein, Vadim Repin and Robert Chen.
While completing his Masters’ Degree in Chicago, Ka Ming performed with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago under a two year fellowship. During his time in the Civic Orchestra, he worked with many world renowned conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Mark Elder, Jaap van Zweden and Michael Tilson-Thomas. Additionally, Ka Ming performed in several chamber music settings with the esteemed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Other orchestral experiences include playing with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Madison Opera, Kent Blossom Festival Chamber Orchestra, Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra, and Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra. He also held concertmaster and principal positions in Roundtop International Music Festival Orchestra as well as both UW-Madison and DePaul University orchestras.
Equally well versed in chamber music, Ka Ming has collaborated with members of the Chicago Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra, Pacifica Quartet, Miami Quartet, and Pro Arte Quartet. In 2009, Ka Ming won the Roundtop International Festival Chamber Music Competition. As first violinist of the Lucido Felicie Quartet from 2007-2010, he has performed in many settings throughout the Midwest. He is also a founding member of Quartet Tito, which won first prize in the 2015 Plowman Chamber Music Competition held in Columbia, Missouri.
As a result of winning the 2010 University of Wisconsin-Madison Concerto Competition, Ka Ming was a soloist with the UW Symphony Orchestra, performing the Glazunov Violin Concerto. He was also a top prize winner in the 2007 HSBC String Concerto Competition held in Malaysia. Equally accomplished on the piano, Ka Ming won the 2007 Irving Shain Woodwind/Piano Duo, and is a highly sought after piano collaborator in both states of Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as Malaysia.
Ka Ming currently performs with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra as a section first violinist. He plays on a c. 1786 J. N. Lambert violin, made in Paris, France, and a Francois Lotte bow, made in 1930.