🥁 Rhythm Meets Strategy: Kiki Plays MuJong with SSO Percussionist Mario Choo!
What happens when a world-class percussionist meets an 8-year-old music game inventor — and brings along his own 5-year-old secret weapon?
You get a MuJong showdown that’s equal parts brilliance, bonding, and bonus tiles.
Today, we were honoured to host Mario Choo, celebrated Percussionist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), at our studio — and it wasn’t just a musical visit. Mario brought his whole family, turning what was meant to be a friendly MuJong session into a masterclass in rhythm, musicianship, and musical parenting.
🎶 About Mario Choo
A familiar face on Singapore’s concert stages, Mario Choo has been with the SSO since 2015, after graduating from the Royal Danish Academy of Music with a Master of Music in Percussion under the legendary Prof. Gert Mortensen.
He has performed under the batons of world-renowned conductors such as:
- Sir Simon Rattle (Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy)
- James Levine
- Leonard Slatkin
- David Zinman
His extensive international experience includes guest appearances with orchestras across Asia, festivals like the Aspen Summer Music Festival, and collaborations with percussion ensembles like Percurama. His arrangements have been featured in Denmark’s Globo Beats, a multicultural percussion showcase that blends global rhythms into electrifying performances.
In addition to his role in the SSO, Mario also serves as Artist Faculty, Percussion at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, where he mentors Singapore’s next generation of percussionists.
🧩 The Game: Mario vs. Kiki (+ a Plot Twist)
As expected, Mario came in strong during Round 1, scoring a whopping 6 points in a single MuJong game. A record score that’s unprecedented by any of our guest players:
- ✅ 1 point for the win
- ✅ 2 bonus points for Double Accidentals
- ✅ 2 bonus points for identifying Relative Minors
- ✅ 1 bonus for razor-sharp flawless sightreading of his winning tiles using the MuJong Time app keyboard
🎯 Total: 6 points — and it felt effortless.
But in Round 2, Kiki made a comeback — not alone, but with a surprise ally: Mario’s 5-year-old son, who quickly proved himself a prodigious strategist in his own right.
Together, Team Kiki recovered 4 points with a clean win — complete with musical reveals, giggles, and a few strategic whispers from the junior percussionist.
“I didn’t lose,” Kiki said. “I had a secret duet partner.”
Final tally:
Mario: 6
Kiki + Mario Jr.: 4
🎉 Our Takeaway
Watching Mario and Kiki (and Mario Jr.!) play MuJong together was a beautiful, unscripted lesson in what music really is — a shared language.
Whether it was the flawless sightreading, the gentle coaching between father and son, or the friendly competition with Kiki, this session was more than a game. It was a celebration of mentorship, musicianship, and multigenerational magic.
Thank you, Mario, for bringing your world-class artistry — and your wonderful family — into our world of musical play.
