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The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO)

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the SSO, was formed in 1979 under the baton of Resident Conductor and Music Director Choo Hoey. Choo Hoey was brought back to Singapore from his position as conductor of the Athens State and the Hellenic Radio and Television orchestras in Greece.

The first concert was performed at the Singapore Conference Hall on 24 January 1979 with 41 musicians. The program included Rossini's Overture to The Barber of Seville, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 (Emperor), Ives' Unanswered Questions, Schubert's Unfinished Symphony and Dance of the Yao People.

The present SSO came about after several attempts for a permanent orchestra in Singapore. The Singapore Musical Society had established a Singapore Symphony Orchestra in the 1950s as did the National Theatre Trust with their Singapore National Orchestra in the 1970s.

Adding to the ranks of the Symphony was the Singapore Symphony Chorus. It began in 1980 under the direction of Chorus Master Lim Yau.



Author
Joseph Paul Kennedy



References
Wong, R. (1994). Singapore symphony (pp. 7-8, 15). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 784.2095957 WON)

Happy birthday SSO. (1989, January 1). The Straits Times, pp. 1, 5.


Further Readings
Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: Then and Now (p. 32). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE) 

The information in this article is valid as at 1998 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Arts>>Performing Arts>>Music
Symphony orchestras--Singapore
Arts>>Music

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>> Orkestra Melayu Singapura


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