A Year in Review: 2024

2024 has been a year of significant milestones for the Singapore Symphony Group.

From gala spectaculars to community performances, we are thrilled to share that SSO’s music has broadened its reach over the past year, attracting nearly 110,000 live audience members across over 100 live events, and achieving a record-breaking 6.8 million views across our digital platforms.

With the pandemic behind us, the SSO finally resumed cross-border collaborations this year, namely a joint production with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on home ground, and our first overseas performance in Kyoto as part of Asia Orchestra Week. In addition, Chloe Chua’s second album with the SSO, Butterfly Lovers and Paganini, debuted in the Top 10 of the UK Official and Billboard Classical charts and claimed the No. 1 spot on Apple Music’s Classical Top 100.

The year started on a high note with Music Director Hans Graf leading the SSO in a performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 3, featuring South Korean pianist Jae-Hyuck Cho. The two-night concert concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate SSO’s 45th anniversary and honour the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, founding patron of the national orchestra.

Later in the month, the Group participated in Light to Night Festival 2024: Reimagine, alongside other programming partners in the Civic District. Festivalgoers visiting the Victoria Concert Hall enjoyed a specially curated selection of activities, including the popular VCH Backstage Tours and a heart-thumping performance by the percussion ensemble from the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO).

From 6 to 9 March, Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez led the SSO in three community concerts, each held at a different location: Victoria Concert Hall, Republic Polytechnic, and Gardens by the Bay. Months later, Music Director Hans Graf led the SSO in our annual Mother’s Day concert in the heart of the Singapore Botanic Gardens on 12 May.

On 1 April, the SSO brass musicians brought musical cheer to patients and staff at St. Luke’s Hospital in an intimate performance of beloved oldies in Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English. Later in November, the SSO string quartet visited the newly opened Woodlands Health Campus, where they performed a mix of classics and comforting favourites to 170 patients, healthcare workers, volunteers and residents.

April saw the return of The SSC Affair that offers aspiring singers an inside look into the art of choral music with the Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC). This half-day workshop, led by Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan, Assistant Choral Conductor Ellissa Sayampanathan, and members of the SSC, featured classical choral training, performance tips, and vocal techniques. The event culminated in a choral showcase, where participating choristers performed alongside the majestic Klais organ at the Victoria Concert Hall.

Now in its 40th edition, the SSO’s annual fundraising gala returned on 11 May 2024 as the SSO Symphony Ball, under the leadership of a new committee chaired by Ms Paige Parker. The evening’s highlight was an enchanting all-French programme performed by the SSO, under the baton of Music Director Hans Graf. The performance showcased the talents of two young Singaporean soloists—mezzo-soprano Jade Tan and saxophonist Samuel Phua—alongside SSO Section Violin Tseng Chieh-An. Welcoming over 460 distinguished guests and patrons, including Guest-of-Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the social event raised more than $1.17 million in donations, for which we are deeply grateful.

On 20 May, we bade farewell to our administrative office at the NAFA building and moved into our new place at the Esplanade — the Performing Home of the SSO. This relocation brings our administrative team closer to both of our main concert venues, the Esplanade and Victoria Concert Halls, enhancing operational efficiency and streamlining our workflow during concerts. Our new space also provides a welcoming environment for all staff across the Group—a place to rest, recharge, and foster connections through cohesion activities like Chill Time, our bi-monthly bonding and welfare session.

Singapore International Piano Festival

The 30th edition of the Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF) took place from 6 to 9 June at the Victoria Concert Hall. The SIPF featured four solo recitals by Jin Ju, Yeoul Eum Son, Ashley Wass and Mei Yi Foo hailing from China, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Malaysia respectively. In addition to their performances, Ashley and Mei Yi also conducted two insightful masterclasses during the festival.

Over two nights of 25 and 26 July, the SSO presented Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in its first Gala concert of the 24/25 season. Led by Music Director Hans Graf and performed by a diverse ensemble of choristers, soloists and the SSO, the concert received a seal of approval from the audience as it culminated in a standing ovation and thunderous applause. In the months that followed, the SSO Gala series also featured internationally acclaimed virtuosos Maxim Vengerov and Hélène Grimaud.

The annual SSO National Day Concert took place at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 11 August. Now in its seventh year, the annual occasion continues to celebrate and nurture Singapore’s music identity by spotlighting original works by homegrown composers. The orchestra was joined this year by a combined Choir and band, comprising members of the Singapore Symphony Choruses, the SNYO, and eight different schools, including students with special needs from Pathlight School. The concert was also livestreamed on the SSO’s YouTube channel for our digital audiences.

Across two evenings of 22 and 23 August, the Singapore and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and Choruses united to present choral-orchestral spectacular Carmina Burana, alongside other works by Grenfell, Falla and Stravinsky. This historic partnership marked the beginning of a stronger arts and cultural exchange between Australia and Singapore.

This year’s President’s Young Performers Concert saw young pianists Toby Tan and Adrian Tang performing to a full-house audience with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam in attendance on 13 September. Together, the extraordinary duo surprised concertgoers with a four-hand rendition of Khachaturian’s iconic Sabre Dance from the ballet Gayane as the concluding encore.

October was an exciting month as the SSO set off to Kyoto, Japan for its first overseas engagement since 2017. Led by Music Director Hans Graf, the SSO presented a sold-out concert at Kyoto Concert Hall on 19 October, featuring French pianist Hélène Grimaud. In addition to the orchestra’s powerful rendition of works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven, the audience was treated to a taste of Singapore with the multi-award-winning composition Luciola singapura by local composer Koh Cheng Jin.

On 8 December, the SNYO presented their third and final ticketed concert of the year at the Victoria Concert Hall. Led by conductor Peter Stark, the young musicians performed the profound works of Sibelius, Rautavaara, and Stravinsky, demonstrating a musical maturity far beyond their years. This performance capped off a successful year for the SNYO, following two memorable concerts earlier in 2024: on 17 March, featuring SNYO Concerto Competition winner Claudia Toh, and on 22 March, when the orchestra brought Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 to life.

As we approach the end of 2024, we want to thank you for your steadfast support of our national orchestra and its affiliated performing groups. In 2025, we look forward to making our Australian debut with a whirlwind multi-city tour, and commemorating Singapore’s 60th anniversary with an exciting line-up of events.

Happy New Year!