Biography

Emeritus Professor Edward Ho is highly regarded as one of the pre-eminent teachers and mentors in music performance and theoretical studies. Recognized for his wide-ranging musical expertise and versatility which combines practical and academic music in his teaching, Professor Ho dedicates much of his energies into professional development programs with the aim of improving the academic and teaching standards of full-time music professionals.

Now based in Hong Kong, Professor Ho divides his time between private coaching and consultancy and conducting lectures and seminars throughout Hong Kong and the rest of South East Asia, predominantly in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The demand for his teaching was recognized by the renowned Tom Lee Music Foundation, with whom Professor Ho was engaged for over ten years as Director of Piano Programs with the responsibility of overseeing the continued development and improvement in their teaching standards to the very highest level.

With two decades of experience as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Professor Ho offers specialist coaching in preparing students for practical and theory examinations. In recent years he has created, performed and published several sets of music tutorial videos covering general subjects such as "Practical Musical Knowledge" and specialist subjects on "Aural Tests" and several series on "Style and Interpretation" of piano music in the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods.

Edward Ho began his assault on musical qualifications early on in his secondary school days, during which he attained the LRSM diploma in piano performance of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music. He then received a scholarship to study piano performance and composition at Trinity College of Music and at the same time, choral conducting and organ at the Royal School of Church Music, both in London. His academic study continued again under scholarship at Durham University, where he completed the BMus course in eighteen months, followed by the MMus and culminating in the most prestigious DMus degree. The DMus is still recognized in the UK today as the highest doctorate in Music.

After several years of broadcasting and production work with the BBC World Service he embarked upon a long and illustrious lecturing career, starting with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, followed by two years at the former University of Singapore where he established the first music department, and culminating in 25 years of service as Head of School of Music at Kingston University, UK. His distinguished academic scholarship and leadership was recognized in 1990 by way of the award of a personal Chair.

During his time at Kingston University he was involved in the scrutiny and monitoring of academic standards in British universities and in quality assurance work. He has successfully supervised and examined over twenty PhD candidates in musicology, performance, composition and ethno-musicology. He has been external consultant and external examiner to several institutions and universities in the UK and overseas, including the Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Institute of Education and the Nanyang Institute of Education in Singapore.