Singapore, 14 September 2018 (Friday) – The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) has appointed 12 members as Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO)’s Board of Directors for a two-year term with effect from 15 September 2018 to 14 September 2020. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the Patron of SCO.
The current Chairman of the SCO Board of Directors, Mr Patrick Lee Kwok Kie, who started serving the orchestra from 2008 and thereafter as its Chairman from May 2012, will retire after 10 years of service and appointed SCO’s Honorary Chairman. Current SCO Board member and Audit Committee Chairman, Mr Ng Siew Quan, will be appointed SCO’s new Chairman from 15 September 2018.
Six other current SCO Board of Directors will also retire from the Board. They are Mr Choo Thiam Siew, A/P Ho Chee Kong, Mr Lau Kam Yuen, Mr Victor Lye, Mr Seng Han Thong and Mr Till Vestring. SCO thanks Chairman Mr Patrick Lee and the six retiring board members for their past contributions and efforts who, together, helped SCO attain its current achievements. Without their vision and leadership, SCO would not be able to play an active role in enriching the dynamic and creative arts scene in Singapore and beyond.
Five new members are appointed to serve in SCO’s Board. They are:
Associate Professor Chan Tze Law
Vice Dean
Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore
Associate Professor Eugene Dairianathan
Visual and Performing Arts, National Institute of Education
Mdm Heng Boey Hong
Director of Mother Tongue Languages Branch, Curriculum Planning and Development Division Ministry of Education
Mr Ho Tong Yen
General Manager of Group Corporate Communications
Keppel Corporation
Mr Jeya Poh Wan Suppiah
Partner
KPMG LLP Singapore
As one of the national arts and culture flagship organisations, Singapore Chinese Orchestra’s board renewal abides by the best practices in accordance of the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of Public Character. Since its inception 22 years ago as Singapore’s only national Chinese orchestra, SCO has been making continuous efforts to promote a greater appreciation of Chinese orchestral music through its pursuit of excellence and its creative approach to performances. Besides the Chinese music that traditionalists enjoy and mainstream favourites that music novices appreciate, SCO has also extended its repertoire to include music that transcends ethnic boundaries. With bold programming and distinctive style of music, this has enabled SCO to distinguish itself as a representative arts organization in the industry, to achieve our vision to be a world-renowned Chinese orchestra with a uniquely Singaporean character and our mission to inspire Singapore and the world with our music.
All Board of Directors will also serve in the sub-committees under the purview of SCO Board to help the orchestra achieve its vision as a world-renowned Chinese orchestra with a uniquely Singaporean character.
SCO Board of Directors 2018-2020:
Patron: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Honorary Chairmen: Mr Chew Keng Juea, Mr Robin Hu Yee Cheng and Mr Patrick Lee Kwok Kie
Chairman: Mr Ng Siew Quan
Deputy Chairman: Mr Wu Hsioh Kwang
Members
Associate Professor Chan Tze Law (new member)
Mr Chen Hwai Liang
Ms Michelle Cheo Hui Ning
Associate Professor Eugene Dairianathan (new member)
Mdm Heng Boey Hong (new member)
Mr Ho Tong Yen (new member)
Ms Susan Leong
Mr Jeya Poh Wan Suppiah (new member)
Mr Anthony Tan
Mr Paul Tan
Re-appointment of SCO Music Director
Singapore Chinese Orchestra signed a new three-year contract with Music Director Tsung Yeh, which will take effect from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022.
Tsung Yeh joined the Singapore Chinese Orchestra as Music Director in January 2002. In Tsung Yeh’s music directorship, SCO expanded its repertoire with innovative works and introduced Nanyang music to the orchestra in 2006. In 2004 and 2014, Tsung Yeh directed two mega SCO concerts at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and National Stadium, Singapore Sports Hub respectively, of which, 2014’s concert of 4,557 musicians broke 2 Guinness World Records and 3 Singapore Book of Records for SCO.
Tsung Yeh has brought SCO internationally and developed the special artistic identity of SCO through the orchestra’s sound and texture, comprising of East and West and Nanyang heritage, which is unique to SCO. In March and April 2005, he led the orchestra on a tour to Europe at Barbican Centre in London, The Sage Gateshead and the Budapest Spring Festival. In October 2007, SCO performed at the Beijing Music Festival, China Shanghai International Arts Festival, Macau International Music Festival, as well as at major concert halls in Guangzhou, Zhongshan and Shenzhen. In August 2009, SCO made history by becoming the first Chinese orchestra to perform in the opening week of the Edinburgh Festival.
In 2013, Tsung Yeh was awarded the Cultural Medallion, the highest accolade in the arts. He is also the advisor to the Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra.
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Media Contacts
Koh Mui Leng
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Terence Ho
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