In 2005, Singaporeans celebrated the centennial of the Victoria Concert Hall, where the SSO performed as series of concerts with star tenor José Carreras and violinist Pierre Amoyal. First built as a memorial hall in 1905 following the death of Queen Victoria of England, Victoria Concert Hall was refurbished and reopened to house the year-old SSO on 1 October 1980.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (third from left) officiates the SSO concert marking the 100th birthday of the Victoria Concert Hall, 5 October 2005. He is joined by tenor José Carreras (second from left), Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong (second from right) and SSO chairman Professor Cham Tao Soon (rightmost).
Star tenor José Carreras performs with the SSO on 5 October 2005, to mark the 100th birthday of the Victoria Concert Hall.
Star tenor José Carreras performs with the SSO on 5 October 2005, to mark the 100th birthday of the Victoria Concert Hall.
Celebrating its 100th birthday in October this year, the entire Victoria Concert Hall was wrapped with a 9.8 feet wide blue ribbon, complete with a huge ribbon bow (sponsored by Chopard) sitting on its roof, resembling a big present from afar.
The founding of the national orchestra also meant sharing the love of music with both young and old. The orchestra’s Circle of Friends and SSO Ladies’ League – passionate volunteers who helped promote the enjoyment of classical music – would come up with various initiatives to induct the young into the concert hall. These included “Experiences with Music” programmes that introduce instruments to students, as well as music quizzes and newsletters to interest young readers. Today, the orchestra continues to organise these activities throughout the year, through its community outreach.
The first issue of Sound Bites, a newsletter of the Young Friends of the SSO.
Open house at the Victoria Concert Hall for the Young Friends of SSO, 2000.
Letters from concertgoers about SSO Young People’s Concerts, an interactive format with that enjoins young audiences to hum, clap and sing along. Today, SSO continues to hold Concerts for Children and Babies’ Proms, for ages 0 and up.
The orchestra gets on its feet to present an SSO crowd favourite, Peter and the Wolf, the beloved fairytale with music by Sergei Prokofiev.
Choo Hoey blows out the candles on SSO’s 10th anniversary birthday cake, flanked by SSO musicians, from left to right: percussionist Tang Chong Leong, violinist Er Yenn Chwen, SSO Leader Pavel Prantl, trumpeter Pek Sin Chuan, and double bassist Karen Yeo. Credit: Courtesy of Karen Yeo
SSO celebrates with an anniversary concert at the Victoria Concert Hall.
Listen to Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew’s speech at the re-opening of the Victoria Concert Hall on 1 October 1980, where SSO gave the inaugural concert in the new hall. Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Mrs Lee Kuan Yew is greeted by Alexandra Choo, wife of SSO Founding Music Director Choo Hoey Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
SSO Founding Patron Dr Goh Keng Swee and Mrs Goh Keng Swee arrive at the VCH for its inauguration concert, 1 October 1980. Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
SSO makes its debut in 1979 in a series of three inaugural concerts from 24 to 26 January 1979, at the Singapore Conference Hall. The concerts, led by Founding Music Director Choo Hoey, features Ives’ The Unanswered Question and Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto performed by Singaporean pianist Ong Lip Tat. Twenty-one year-old Singaporean violinist Lynnette Seah is the Acting Leader of the orchestra for these concerts.
SSO makes its debut at the Singapore Conference Hall, 24–26 January 1979. Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Maestro Choo Hoey was invited by SSO Founding Patron to help set up the national orchestra, together with SSO chairman Tan Boon Teik (then Singapore’s Attorney-General) and Associate Professor Bernard Tan (of the National University of Singapore, who was involved in the Singapore Youth Orchestra). Choo Hoey was a veteran who had years of experience conducting across Europe. Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
SSO Founding Music Director Choo Hoey at the concert reception. Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Singapore, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Choo Hoey Autograph for Concertgoer at SSO inaugural concert_credit Harry Chua.jpg Caption: A fan’s autography from Choo Hoey, from SSO’s inaugural concert in on 24 January 1979. Credit: Courtesy of Harry Chua
