Described by the Daily Telegraph as "unique among countertenors" and "a real discovery" by the Financial Times, TAY CHENG-JIM, countertenor, was born in Singapore. He studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and continued his studies with Vera Rozsa. He also made a special study in the art of French Song, studying with Pierre Bernac in Paris. His several London recitals have included a solo recital of French Song at the invitation of the French Institute.
Since his debut as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, he has acquired a reputation as a distinguished international countertenor, and has sung in Europe in concert recitals, oratorio and opera, and also here in England and in the Far East.
Tay Cheng-Jim now has a busy teaching practice giving singing lessons to all voices near Clapham Common, South London, UK.
Songs that have been written for Tay Cheng-Jim include:
- Lennox Berkeley I carry your heart with me (for mezzo and piano)
- Buxton Orr 8 Songs from the Yuan (for countertenor and piano)
- Christopher Brown Soliloquy (for mezzo and orchestra)
- John Metcalf Auden Songs (for mezzo and piano)
- John Metcalf Tagore Songs (for countertenor and guitar)
- Anne Toler 3 Magic Songs (for countertenor and piano)