Christine Yun-May Yong

Christine Yun-May Yong

Christine Yun-May Yong

  • Lecturer
Department of Film and Performing Arts
Google Scholar
SDGs Focus
Quality Education
Partnership for the Goals

Biography

Christine Yun-May Yong is an ethnomusicologist and gamelan musician by training. She graduated with a MA (Performing Arts) from University of Malaya, where she conducted research on Rhythm in Bronze, one of Malaysia's leading contemporary gamelan ensembles. In 2013, she was selected as a recipient of the Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study and Research Program, which allowed her to pursue her doctoral studies in Wesleyan University, Connecticut, USA. She is currently completing her dissertation on the practice and development of Kelantanese shadow play (Wayang Kulit Kelantan) while she lectures World Music and Malaysian Music subjects at the School of Arts, Sunway University.

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • MA (Performing Arts), University of Malaya, Malaysia (2012)
  • Bachelor of Music, Melbourne University, Australia (2006)

Research Interests

  • Ethnomusicology
  • Contemporary practices of performance traditions in Malaysia
  • Performing arts of Southeast Asia
  • Practice and development of shadow play in Southeast Asia

Teaching Areas

  • Ethnomusicology
  • Malaysian arts and culture
  • Final year projects
  • Applied musicianship

Courses Taught

  • World Music
  • Malaysian Music
  • Creative Project
  • Research Project

Notable Publications

  1. Yong, C. M. (2019). A new hope: Peperangan Bintang Wayang Kulit. In P. Matusky & W. Quintero (Eds.), Proceedings of the 5th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on the Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (pp. 232–235). Sabah, Malaysia: Department of Sabah Museum, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
  2. Yong, C. M. (2017). Wayang at the temple: Contesting religion, religiosity, and identity in Wayang Kulit Kelantan. In P. Matusky, W. Quintero, Tan S.B, J. Pugh-Kitingan, & D.A. Quintero (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on the Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (pp. 134–137). Penang, Malaysia: School of the Arts, Universiti Sains Malaysia.
  3. Yong, C. Y. M. (2015). Alih PungGONG: Expressing femininity through Gamelan Theatre. In Mohd Anis Md Nor, P. Matusky, S.B. Tan, J. Pugh-Kitingan, & M. Hood (Eds.), Proceedings of the 3rd Sympoisum of the ICTM Study Group on Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (pp. 26–29). Bali, Indonesia: Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI).
  4. Yong, C. Y. M. (2013). Monkey Business: Interweaving stories, transformation and the construction of Gamelan Theatre. In Mohd Anis Md Nor, P. Matusky, S.B. Tan, J. Pugh-Kitingan, & F. Prudente (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on the Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (pp. 214–218). Manila, Philippines: Philippine Women’s University.
  5. Yong, C. Y. M. (2012). Dancing mosaic: Issues on dance hybridity. Tirai Panggung, 12, 83–87.
  6. Yong, C. Y. M. (2011). Contesting boundaries of the Malay Gamelan: The postcolonial response of Rhythm in Bronze. In Mohd Anis Md Nor, P. Matusky, S.B. Tan, J. Pugh-Kitingan, & F. Prudente (Eds.), Proceedings of the 1st Symposium of the ICTM Study Group on Performing Arts of Southeast Asia (pp. 171–175). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Nusantara Performing Arts Research Center.
  7. Yong, C. Y. M. (2011). Living tradition: The contemporary movement of Rhythm in Bronze. In G. Jähnichen & J. Chieng (Eds.), Preserving Creativity in Music Practice (pp. 89–100). Serdang, Selangor: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.
  8. Yong, C. Y. M. (2009). Reconstructing gender in the Malay Gamelan: A case study of Alih PungGONG. In Y. Xie (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Social Science and Humanities (ICSSH 2009) (pp. 115–119). Singapore: International Association of Computer Science and Information Technology.
  9. Yong, C. Y. M. (2008). Music in healing: A Melanau Berbayoh ceremony. In G. Jähnichen & C.J. Chan (Eds.), Observing, Analysing, Contextualising Music (pp. 45–52). Serdang, Selangor: Universiti Putra Malaysia Press.

Achievements & Accolades

  • Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2022
  • Student Appreciation of Teaching Award, 2021, 2023
  • Fulbright Malaysian Graduate Study and Research Program, 2013-2014

Professional Associations

  • International Council for Traditions of Music and Dance (ICTMD), member
  • ICTMD Study Group on Performing Arts of Southeast Asia, Secretary-Treasurer
  • ICTM Malaysia, member
  • Society for Ethnomusicology, member