Message from the Music Director

Welcome to a special Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) “mini” concert season! Following the successfully 2009 Edinburgh Festival, SCO has always prided itself being innovative, and views connecting the world as its objective.

As such, SCO is adjusting its seasonal program to follow the international trend. After a small sampling of seven months mini concert season, we shall greet you with an all new season from 08/2010 to 07/2011!

The "mini" season gala concert, “Rhapsodies of Spring 2010”, will no doubt be filled with a youthful spirit – all the DJs from Y.E.S 93.3 will be working with us for the first time, infusing their creativity by integrating a skit into Chinese music, while the finale will be comprised of a refreshing medley, with songs compiled by Y.E.S 93.3 from the past 20 years of annual chart topping hits; famous local young violinist Tang Tee Khoon will also play the Guadagnini violin, adding fresh melodies to the concert.

The season may be short, but the classics are plentiful and all major works. In February, join us as the famous "Prince of Yue opera" Zhao Zhi Gang and SCO, presents major production, Yue Opera in Concert ‘ Dream of the Red Chamber’ during the Huayi Festival; with the grand finale being “ Viva La Nature(tbc)” at the Esplanade concert hall, together with piano master Liu Shih Kun, who will be performing the legendary Youth Piano Concerto, a piece that he personally composed. The reputation of SCO has spread far and wide abroad so we have no shortage of artists congregating over the years, joining us in our musical feast.

In addition, SCO's very first Music Director Hu Bing Xu, will be revisiting Singapore after three years since his last sojourn as a guest conductor in 2007, and displaying his artistic attainments in the "Music ·Life" concert; another heavyweight, the Chairman and Artistic Director of Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, Wang Fu Jian, will be our invtied guest to Lion City. Being committed to innovation in folk music, he will be bringing us "Modern Chinese Music". In May, SCO Associate Conductor Quek Ling Kiong, together with well-known pop singer and 95.8DJs, will be celebrating Mother’s Day for all the mothers in the world; Casual Classical will once again be hosted by well-known local DJ Robin Goh and me truly.

Moreover, the Yue opera singers Fang Ya Fen, Sun Zhi Jun, Teochew music master Yang Xiu Ming, Cai Jian Chen, SCO musicians , Guo Chang Suo, Huang Gui Fang, Qu Jian Qing, Ling Hock Siang, Li Bao Shun, Zhao Jian Hua, Zhang Rong Hui, Lim Sin Yeo, Shen Guo Qing, Wong Sun-tat and Yu Jia, will all be gracing the stage.

We have continued last year’s theme of "Embrace the Traditional, Experience the Contemporary" by unveiling the 2011 SCO Composition Competition. Not forgetting the classics at the same time, we have continued to promote unique Nanyang Chinese music, blending characteristics of multi-cultural South-East Asian and Western elements; all for the sake of establishing our own characteristics and identity, in order to set the trajectory for musical development in the future.

SCO, a prominent music hub located in the bustling Central Business Distinct along Shenton Way, is an excellent way to rejuvenate oneself while listen to the rhythms of the Chinese instruments. Come and experience the music of SCO and let your inner soul be moved with the enchanting melodies.

Look forward for your presence in our performances.

Music Director
Tsung Yeh