Academic Profile : Faculty

Asst Prof Gene Lai
Assistant Professor, National Institute of Education - Visual & Performing Arts
Email
External Links
Controlled Keywords
User Keywords (optional)
Lai earned his PhD and MA in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University and an MMus in Western Music History and Literature from Ohio University. His research investigates the transnational impact of Indian folk drumming within Indian diasporic communities in Singapore and Malaysia, focusing on the uṟumi mēḷam, a localized Tamil folk drumming ensemble, and Damaru Singapore, a Singaporean pan-Indian folk street drumming ensemble. Lai has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Singapore, Malaysia, and Tamil Nadu, South India, and his research has been published in journals, including Asian Music, Ethnomusicology Forum, and the Yearbook for Traditional Music.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Lai has studied the mṛdaṅgam under David Nelson and karṇāṭak vocal music under B. Balasubrahmaniyan. He also performed with the Wesleyan Javanese gamelan ensemble under the guidance of Sumarsam and I.M. Harjito and is taking gamelan lessons from Wakidi Dwidjo Martono and Kitsie Emerson at Griya Seni Ekalaya in Solo, Indonesia.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Lai has studied the mṛdaṅgam under David Nelson and karṇāṭak vocal music under B. Balasubrahmaniyan. He also performed with the Wesleyan Javanese gamelan ensemble under the guidance of Sumarsam and I.M. Harjito and is taking gamelan lessons from Wakidi Dwidjo Martono and Kitsie Emerson at Griya Seni Ekalaya in Solo, Indonesia.
Musical traditions of the Singaporean Indian Community.
World Music Ensembles pedagogy
World Music Ensembles pedagogy
- Resonating Roots: How Damaru Singapore Shapes Singapore's Cultural Future
Fellowships & Other Recognition
Society for Asian Music Small Grant
American Musicological Society Eileen Southern Travel Grant
American Musicological Society Eileen Southern Travel Grant