Maestro Woon Wen Kin is a recipient of Australia’s Overseas Culture Award in 1979, he was awarded a conducting scholarship given by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1980. In 1984, he was invited to be the guest conductor and head judge of the 14th International Mozart Competition for the Young Musicians Festival in Pucblo, Colorado, USA where he conducts the Opening Concert Season by the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra. His US debut was highly praised and he was made an Honorary Citizen of Pueblo for his service at the festival.

Woon Wen Kin was awarded the State Cultural Award for Music by the State Cultural Council of Penang in 1985 in conjunction with the closing of the Penang Cultural Exposition 1984/85. For his many efforts in music activities in Malaysia, he was awarded the PJM in 1983, the PJK in 1985 and the PKT in 1990 from the Penang State Government. In 1998 he was awarded AMN from the Yang DiPertuan Agong for his services to the nation.

Under his direction and supervision, the Penang Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has turned out to be a full symphony orchestra of high standard in the country. In 1985, by invitation of the South Australian Government, he led the PSO’s participation in the “Come Out Festival” in Adelaide. The same year, POS was also invited to perform in South Thailand for the Birthday celebration of the Princess of Thailand. A successful concert tour followed in 1989 to Taiwan and in 1993, the PSO gave highly acclaimed performances in five cities in South Australia at the invitation of the South Australian Country Arts Trust Organisation.

With his vast experience and knowledge in orchestra conducting and training, Woon Wen Kin’s dedication and contribution to promoting classical music locally is greatly appreciated by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism, Malaysia. In 1994, he was appointed the official advisor to the National Symphony Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur.

In May 1994, he was invited to represent Malaysia as a guest conductor at the Minneapolis 22nd Annual Youth Festival to conduct the Greater Twin Cities’ Youth Symphonies and the Lakewood Philharmonic Orchestra. In March 1995, he was the only Malaysian invited to the world Youth Orchestra Conference in Toyohashi, Japan and in 1998, Woon Wen Kin become the first Malaysian to have the honour of being invited to conduct the 100-year old Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Woon Wen Kin was awarded the Schubert Medal Award by the Vienna City in 1996 for his ongoing contribution and promotion of classical and Viennese music in Malaysia. He is the first Asian recipient of this prestigious award. In August 1996, by invitation of the Governor of Kumamoto and Kumamoto Prefecture Theater, he led the PSO to participate in the 12th Kumamoto International Youth Music Festival; Japan followed by successful concert in the Prefecture Theater was televised nationwide by KTV (Kumamoto Television).