ME5 Tan Aik Kee Ken Steven

ME5 Tan joined the SAF as a military musician in late 1993 as a clarinettist and was appointed both the Concertmaster and Drum Major of the SAF Central Band shortly after. In 1998, he attended the Drum Major Course at the Defense Force School of Music in Melbourne, Australia, and was awarded the Excellent Award by the Defense Administrative Group (MINDEF) in recognition of his dedication to the organisation.

In 2001, under the scholarship of the SAF, ME5 Tan pursued the coveted 3-year Bandmaster Course at the Royal Military School of Music (Kneller Hall, United Kingdom), winning The Besson Cup, the Besson Graham Wallace Award, The Choral Prize, The Fred Mortimer Memorial Prize, The Jaeger Trophy, and The Principal Director of Music Prize. ME5 Tan graduated with the qualifications of Bandmaster from RMSM and a Bachelor of Arts in Music (1st Class Honours) from Kingston University (UK).

On 1 August 2004, ME5 Tan was commissioned as an SAF officer, assuming the position of Director of Music and Head of Publicity and Multimedia. In 2007, he took up the role of the Manpower Officer, and in 2011 was appointed Director of Music of the SAF Central Band. ME5 Tan's musical compositions and arrangements have been performed both locally, at the National Day and SAF Day Parades, and during overseas performances. ME5 Tan graduated from the 5th Command and Staff Course (Executive) at the prestigious Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College in 2015.

Outside his work hours, ME5 Tan adjudicates at the annual Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation for Concert Bands and Ensembles and the Singapore International Band Festival. Additionally, he is frequently invited as a clinician for wind band conducting and band performance. ME5 Tan has been the resident conductor of the concert band of his alma mater, Ngee Ann Polytechnic since 2004.

ME5 Tan graduated from the University of North Texas in 2024 with a Master of Music under the guidance of Regents Professor Eugene Migliaro Corporon, with additional instruction from Dr. Andrew Trachsel and Professor David Chester Itkin. His other accomplishments are his inductions into the Golden Key International Honour Society, the University of North Texas Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, and the Alpha Alpha Chapter of Pi Kappa Lambda, all of which are prestigious American honour societies.

ME5 Tan is presently the Director of Music of the SAF Ceremonial Band and the Head of the Operations Support Branch of the SAF Band. He is married and has two sons.