Eric James Watson

Watson was born in Cardiff, Wales^[1] but grew up in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England.^[2] He studied composition and conducting at the Trinity College Of Music at Greenwich, London, England and won the Ricordi prize in 1967.^[1][2]

After graduation, Watson taught music in schools and then became a conductor and pianist in musical theatre at London’s West End theatre.^[1]

Watson was the composer and music director of the 2001 Singapore National Day Parade (NDP).^[2] He also wrote and arranged orchestral music with four orchestras, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO), an Indian and a Malay ensemble, for the 2007 Singapore NDP.

Watson was also a senior lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.^[3]

In 2006, Watson won the inaugural Chinese Orchestral Composition organised by SCO.^[3]

From 2016 to 2018, he was the composer-in-residence of SCO.^[1]

Watson was awarded the Cultural Medallion on 15 October 2019.^[4]

In 1991, Watson moved to Singapore to be with his Singaporean wife.^[2] He later became a Singapore permanent resident.^[3]