Singapore Symphony Chorus

The Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) is the performing choir of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). The SSC performs solely with the SSO, presenting an average of three programmes a year. The SSC was initiated in 1980 under the direction of Choo Hoey, then Music Director of the SSO. The SSC gave its first performances in June 1980.

The SSC's present chorus master is Lim Yau, and most concerts are performed at Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall.

The associated children's choir is SSCC - Singapore Symphony Children's Choir.

Application may be made through SSO to join SSC and SSCC.

Repertoire and Collaborations

The Chorus has performed under the baton of Choo Hoey, Lan Shui, Lim Yau, Okko Kamu, Gilbert Kaplan, Andrea Quinn, Justin Brown, George Cleve, Wang Jin and John Nelson. Vocal soloists that have appeared with the Chorus over the years include Sir Willard White, David Wilson Johnson, Michael George, Neil Mackie, Susan Chilcott and Nathan Berg.

The repertoire of the SSC includes Hindemith’s Requiem, Holst’s "The Planets", Lambert’s "Rio Grande", Orff’s "Carmina Burana", Rachmaninov’s "The Bells", Stravinsky’s "Symphony of Psalms", Tippett’s "A Child of Our Time", and the masses and oratorios of J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Berlioz, Gounod, Dvořák, Elgar, Fauré, Verdi and Mendelssohn.

The chorus has taken part in opera productions such as "Carmen" (1990), "Cosi fan tutte" (1999) and "The Other Wise Man" (2000), and is a regular feature in the Singapore Arts Festival.

Most recently, the SSC has performed Janáček's "Glagolitic Mass" (2004), Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor "Choral" (2005), Mendelssohn's "Elijah" (2005), Beethoven’s "Missa Solemnis" in April 2006 and Haydn's "The Creation" later in 2006, followed by John Rutter works in the Christmas concert. In 2007, two particular highlights are "Seven Last Words from the Cross" by James MacMillan and Handel's "The Messiah" performed without scores!

For first half of 2008, works performed are Mahler's 3rd Symphony, and "Misa Tango" by Luis Bacalov. Later in the year, Brahms "Deutsche Requiem" is planned.

Chorus Masters

* 1980-1981 Susan Ashton
* 1981-1997 Lim Yau
* 1983 William Zimmerman (Caretaker)
* 1997 Robert Casteels (Caretaker)
* 1998-2000 Bart Folse
* From 2001 Lim Yau

External links

* [http://www.symphonychorus.sg/ The Singapore Symphony Chorus] - Official Website
* [http://www.sso.org.sg/ The Singapore Symphony Orchestra]