Au revoir, Lynnette

Au revoir, Lynnette

By Haslina Hassan & Peggy Kek

Nov 2019

Our Co-Concertmaster Lynnette Seah retires from the orchestra this month after an incredible 41 years with the SSO.

A Lifetime Commitment to Music

After an incredible career spanning four decades, Lynnette Seah, acclaimed violinist and co-concertmaster of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), will retire at the end of November 2019.

Over the last 40 years, for generations of music lovers in Singapore, Lynnette became the face of the SSO. For numerous visiting musicians, she became a warm constant presence. Lynnette joined the orchestra in 1978, and she made her debut as Acting Concertmaster and Assistant Leader at the inaugural SSO concert in January 1979. She is the only musician to have performed with the SSO full-time since 1979.

In 2006, Lynnette received the Cultural Medallion for Music from then-President of Singapore, S R Nathan, as an acknowledgement of her contribution to the development of Singapore’s national orchestra. She was one of the first two recipients to be receiving the Cultural Medallion from the President of Singapore as it was previously conferred by the Minister of Culture/ Minister of Information, Communications and the Arts before 2006.

quote

If you ask anyone in the orchestra what it’s like working with Lynnette, you’ll hear the word passionate before long. She believes passionately in music, in the art and craft of making music to the highest standard possible.

- Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chairman, SSG

Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chairman of the Singapore Symphony Group, who has known the SSO veteran since the early 1990s, paid tribute to Lynnette at a special concert on 14 November. He also shared an anecdote attesting to her generosity, telling the audience about an incident that took place when the orchestra was touring Europe in 2000. One of the orchestra’s violinists was asked to perform as soloist for the Butterfly Lovers Concerto but had only brought for the tour a violin more suited to orchestral playing as he had not been scheduled to play any solos.

quote

Without any hesitation, Lynnette’s first reaction was to offer her precious Gagliano violin to him, so that he would have a better violin to perform with.

Mr Goh Yew Lin, SSG Chairman

Resplendent in red, Lynnette then joined Mr Goh on stage to thunderous applause. She took her first bow of the evening to an outpouring of love from fans and friends in the audience. She then joined harpist Gulnara Mashurova and other SSO musicians in an enchanting evening of French works where she took centrestage in Massenet’s Meditation from Thaïs and Fauré's Piano Quartet No.1.

The evening ended with multiple curtain calls and a standing ovation from the audience. It was hard to let go, indeed.

Special thanks goes to the Embassy of France who supported the concert as part of the Voilah! France Singapore Festival.

Lynnette is invited onstage by SSG Chairman Goh Yew Lin at the start of the concert.
Lynnette is invited onstage by SSG Chairman Goh Yew Lin at the start of the concert.
Lynnette and the SSO musicians perform Meditation from Thaïs for Violin and String Ensemble
Lynnette and the SSO musicians perform Meditation from Thaïs for Violin and String Ensemble
Lynnette and fellow SSO musicians performed Fauré's Piano Quartet No.1. At the end of the concert, there were multiple curtain calls and bouquets for Lynnette.
Lynnette and fellow SSO musicians performed Fauré's Piano Quartet No.1. At the end of the concert, there were multiple curtain calls and bouquets for Lynnette.
During the autograph session that followed the concert, fans queued to show their appreciation to Lynnette.
During the autograph session that followed the concert, fans queued to show their appreciation to Lynnette.
41 years on.
41 years on.
quote

Everything turns beautiful when the music starts. It's my true enjoyment in life.

Lynnette Seah, SSO Co-Concertmaster, 1979 - 2019

Lynnette Seah's career in photos

Lynnette joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1978, and she made her debut as Acting Concertmaster and Assistant Leader at the inaugural SSO concert in January 1979.
Lynnette joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 1978, and she made her debut as Acting Concertmaster and Assistant Leader at the inaugural SSO concert in January 1979.
Soon after joining the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Lynnette went on tour with the SSO to Malaysia and the Philippines in 1980.
Soon after joining the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Lynnette went on tour with the SSO to Malaysia and the Philippines in 1980.
Lynnette at a NTUC TV rehearsal in 1993. An integral part of the SSO’s evolution, Lynnette has performed in over a thousand concerts.
Lynnette at a NTUC TV rehearsal in 1993. An integral part of the SSO’s evolution, Lynnette has performed in over a thousand concerts.
In 2004, Lynnette received her SSO Long Service Award for 25 years of service.
In 2004, Lynnette received her SSO Long Service Award for 25 years of service.
Lynnette receiving flowers at SSO’s 27th Anniversary in 2006.
Lynnette receiving flowers at SSO’s 27th Anniversary in 2006.
Lynnette with PM Lee Hsien Loong and Maestro Lan Shui at the SSO 30th Anniversary Concert in 2009.
Lynnette with PM Lee Hsien Loong and Maestro Lan Shui at the SSO 30th Anniversary Concert in 2009.
Lynnette with Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich in 2017.
Lynnette with Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich in 2017.
Lynnette with [L-R] Mr Goh Yew Lin, Mrs Heng, Mr Charlie Siem and DPM Heng Swee Keat at the SSO Benefit Dinner 2019.
Lynnette with [L-R] Mr Goh Yew Lin, Mrs Heng, Mr Charlie Siem and DPM Heng Swee Keat at the SSO Benefit Dinner 2019.

For those hoping to catch Lynnette in a few more performances this year, she will be playing in these upcoming concerts:

SCHEDULE
Fri / 22 Nov 2019 / 7:30PM
Sat / 23 Nov 2019 / 7:30PM

VENUE
Victoria Concert Hall

FEATURING
Gabriel Bebeşelea, conductor
Lucas Jussen, piano
Arthur Jussen, piano

SCHEDULE
Thu / 12 Dec 2019 / 7:30PM
Fri / 13 Dec 2019 / 7:30PM

VENUE
Esplanade Concert Hall

FEATURING
Joshua Tan, conductor
Singapore Symphony Choruses
Eudenice Palaruan, choral director
Wong Lai Foon, choirmaster

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