Singapore Symphony Orchestra

12/06/2026

The spirit of discovery continued through music-making at the SSO Open House, as families and young participants explored sound, voice and rhythm through a series of hands-on workshops.

At 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗲𝘀 & 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀, little ones and their parents joined Dr Natalie Alexandra Tse of LittleCr3atures® in an unstructured, multi-sensory workshop, discovering sound through natural materials such as seed pods and dried leaves.

In 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝘁, lyric baritone Jeremy Koh led participants through the foundations of singing, from breath and voice to vowels, games, and songs from around the world, before everyone came together for a choral finale.

At 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗨𝗽 𝗔 𝗥𝗵𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗺, children aged 7 to 12 joined SSO Associate Principal Percussionist Mark Suter to discover how rhythm and movement come together through the world of percussion.

We hope these workshops offered families and young participants a welcoming space to explore sound, rhythm and voice, and to experience the joy of making music together!

Photos: Chris P. Lim / +

10/06/2026

There was something to discover around every corner at the SSO Open House, as visitors explored the Victoria Concert Hall through tours, musical exhibits and hands-on instrument stations.

At our 𝗦𝗦𝗢 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀, visitors went behind the scenes with our SSO Tour Guides, visiting spaces such as the SSO Library, the Klais Organ and backstage areas, while learning more about the work that goes into bringing each performance to life.

𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗔𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 featured a series of free interactive exhibits inviting visitors to explore music notation, identify different instruments and engage with music in new ways. At the Atrium, 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆! gave families the opportunity to try instruments such as the keyboard, flute, glockenspiel, toy trumpet, djembe and tambourine.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for a day of exploration and discovery! We were delighted to open our doors and welcome the community into Victoria Concert Hall, home of the SSO.

Photos: Chris P. Lim / +

29/05/2026

The timeless charm of Vienna came alive at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore as 390 guests gathered for the SSO Symphony Ball 2026 on 16 May. With the theme 𝘌𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘦𝘯 (“A Night in Vienna”), the evening celebrated SSO Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf and his seven-year tenure with the orchestra, while paying tribute to his Austrian roots through a Viennese-inspired programme and curated experience. Guests were treated to a captivating performance by the SSO under the baton of Hans Graf, featuring beloved works by Johann Strauss II and culminating in 𝘖𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘣𝘦 as the ballroom came alive in dance.💃🏼

We extend our deepest gratitude to all donors, guests, benefactors, and sponsors for your generous support, through which we raised over S$1.5 million in support of the Singapore Symphony Group. Your contributions help sustain the work of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and Singapore Symphony Choruses as we continue creating memorable shared experiences through music.

We look forward to welcoming you to the next edition of the SSO Symphony Ball on 15 May 2027! ✨

Read more here: https://www.sso.org.sg/bravissimo/a-night-of-viennese-elegance

23/05/2026

We bid a heartfelt farewell to Maestro Hans Graf and thank him for six seasons of artistic leadership as he concludes his tenure as Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra this May.

Since joining the SSO as Chief Conductor in the 2020/21 season before becoming Quantedge Music Director in 2022, Hans Graf has led the orchestra through a significant chapter in its history. Under his leadership, the SSO navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthened its international presence through tours to Japan in 2024 and Australia in 2025, and achieved record audience numbers at home in Singapore.

During his tenure, the SSO also continued to expand its recording catalogue with a range of critically acclaimed releases on international labels, including Richard Strauss’s A Hero’s Life, Kozłowski’s Requiem and the complete Mozart Violin Concertos with Chloe Chua which reached #1 on the Apple Music global chart. Highlights of his tenure also include conducting the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and leading the SSO at the Botanic Gardens for the Mother’s Day Concert in 2024.

Beyond the music itself, Hans Graf’s warmth, generosity, and close collaboration with the musicians have left a lasting impression on the orchestra. We are deeply grateful for his guidance, artistry, and friendship over the years.

Thank you, Maestro Hans Graf, for this remarkable chapter with the SSO. We wish you a happy and fulfilling retirement.

22/05/2026

While popular myth may remember them as rivals, last evening brought Mozart and Salieri together as the culmination of the Hans Graf Farewell Series. Specially curated by Maestro Hans Graf, the programme explored the enduring legend and psychological drama surrounding the two composers.

The first half was a wonderful showcase of home-grown talent, featuring two of our 2024 President’s Young Performers. Adrian Tang brought out the charm of Salieri’s Piano Concerto in C major, followed by Toby Tan in Mozart’s contemplative Piano Concerto No. 14. The two friends later returned for an encore performance of the third movement from Mozart’s Sonata for Four Hands in D major, K381.

After the intermission, Adrian returned to the stage with guest artists Boris Stepanov (tenor) and Mikhail Svetlov (bass) for Rimsky-Korsakov's dark and introspective operetta 𝘔𝘰𝘻𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘪. They were joined by Matthias Oestringer (blind violinist) and the Singapore Symphony Chorus led by Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan.

We return to the stage tonight at 7.30pm for our final performance with Maestro Hans Graf as our Music Director. See you there!

19/05/2026

17/05/2026

The SSO Symphony Ball 2026 raised a record over S$1.5 million in support of the Singapore Symphony Group’s mission to inspire audiences, nurture young talent, and make music more accessible to communities in Singapore and beyond.

Held on 16 May at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, the annual fundraising gala welcomed 390 guests, with Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Mr David Neo gracing the occasion as Guest-of-Honour. With the theme 𝘌𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘦𝘯 (“A Night in Vienna”), the evening paid tribute to SSO Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf and his Austrian roots through a Viennese-inspired programme and curated experience.

Donors and guests showed their support through table reservations starting at S$15,000, outright donations, and a live charity auction featuring eight exclusive items generously contributed by benefactors.

Our deepest thanks go to all donors for their generosity and support, as well as to our in-kind sponsors for their valuable contributions to the event.

For more information: https://www.sso.org.sg/press/symphony-ball-2026-raises-1.5m-for-sso

16/05/2026

As we continue our Hans Graf Farewell Series, last evening at the Victoria Concert Hall brought together two remarkable young musical stars in a programme showcasing the many facets of French musical art – from the alluring and thought-provoking to the spontaneous and exuberant.

The evening opened with Dutilleux’s 𝘔𝘺𝘴𝘵è𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦 𝘭’𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 for 24 Strings, Cymbalum and Percussion, before violinist He Ziyu joined the orchestra in Saint-Saëns’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘰 as well as Ravel’s fiery 𝘛𝘻𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘦. He later returned to the stage with an encore of Nathan Milstein’s 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 for solo violin.

After the intermission, saxophonist Samuel Phua joined the orchestra for Milhaud’s 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦 and later performed an encore of the Finale from 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘮 by Singaporean composer Wang Chenwei, before the evening concluded with Poulenc’s 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘢, a work full of vivacious finesse and spontaneity.

Photos: Yoricko Liu

14/05/2026

What goes into shaping an SSO season?

In this edition of , Head of Artistic Planning Christopher Cheong reflects on his journey from a decade as a lawyer to leading artistic planning at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the unseen work behind shaping an orchestral season.

Read his story here: https://www.sso.org.sg/bravissimo/life-ssg-christopher-cheong-head-of-artistic-planning

12/05/2026

Thank you for spending your Mother’s Day evening with us at the Singapore Botanic Gardens! 🌷

Conducted by Boon Hua Lien and hosted by Mediacorp Symphony 924 presenters Andrew Lim and Khim Oei, the programme featured beloved orchestral favourites from renowned operas, alongside the SSO premiere of Chen Zhangyi’s 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 (𝘚𝘰𝘯’𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘯𝘨) from 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺, featuring tenor Jonathan Charles Tay.

We hope you also enjoyed the special pre-show performance by clarinetist Chua Jay Roon, who opened the evening with Paul Harvey’s 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘌𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘸𝘪𝘯.

Our next free concert at the Singapore Botanic Gardens will be on 1 August 2026 - we look forward to seeing you there!

Photos: Clive Choo