By Marcel Lee Pereira

SINGAPORE drumming prodigy Ethan Ong is probably best known for busking along Orchard Road from the tender age of five, and wowing audiences at numerous events since then. Just last month, the nine-year-old added another feather to his cap – a gold medal at a China-wide youth talent competition in Qingdao.

His performance of Casiopea's Mid Manhattan and a three minute drum solo beat over a dozen junior drummers from all over China, making him the winner of the only gold medal in his category.

But the Grade 4 pupil at the American International School of Guangzhou is really just a regular kid at heart.

Speaking to my paper from Guangzhou on Sunday night, the boy gushed about science projects such as building telegraph machines and rockets.

Asked whether he loves science more than playing drums, he said: "I love them equally, but I'd rather play drums than be a scientist."

A year ago, Ethan's family relocated to Guangzhou because his father, Mr Bernard Ong, 35, was posted there. Mr Ong is now general manager at Exxon Chemical (Panyu).

The family will be there for three years, but Ethan has already started making his mark on China's music scene.

He was recently the opening act for drum maestro Steve Smith at the latter's drum show in Guangzhou.

His next gig will be at the October Shanghai Music Show, alongside famed drum artists such as Akira Jimbo and Marco Minneman. Ethan added that he was surprised to have done well in the Qingdao contest.

He said: "I thought other people did quite well too. Still, I feel great about it and it encourages me to take part in more."

In November, he and younger brother, Noah, six, will be back in Singapore to support ChildAid, an annual children's charity concert organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times.

Though they encourage his drumming, a full-time drum career is not on the cards yet, said Ethan's mother Christina Lim, 35.

In fact, after last month's contest, he was invited to be part of a nationwide TV show, but his parents turned down the offer because he would have to miss even more classes.

Ethan also limits his drum practice to just 10 minutes a day.

He gets bored beyond that, said Ms Lim. "He wants to go out and play. He's oblivious to fame. He's a very simple kid, he likes to be one of the boys."

Asked if he missed playing the drums along Orchard Road, Ethan said: "Certainly. Sometimes I miss
it so much, I'm afraid someone will take my place there."

marcelp@sph.com.sg

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