Concerts for Children: Journey Around the World

SSO Concerts for Children Journey

The World Around

18 & 19 MAR 2023

Sat & Sun, 11am & 2pm

Victoria Concert Hall

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

We are the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, or you can call us the SSO. The SSO has many musicians: some play string instruments (like violin and cello), wind instruments (like flute and trumpet) and percussion instruments (like timpani and cymbals). We often play great symphonies and concertos by famous composers like Mozart and Beethoven, and other wonderful music that we hope will touch your heart and make your life more colourful.

The SSO usually plays in a big concert hall like the Esplanade Concert Hall, which can seat 1,800 people. But the Home of the SSO is the beautiful Victoria Concert Hall, where we grew up. We want to show everyone in Singapore how beautiful classical music is, so sometimes we have fun concerts near your home. We even play at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - you can enjoy fresh air and nature while listening to beautiful classical music!

My name is Jessica and I really love music! I especially love the incredible sound that a symphony orchestra makes, which is why I became a conductor. I am very fortunate as I get to conduct orchestras all over the world including Australia, Malaysia, America, New Zealand, Korea and of course Singapore! Singapore is one of my favourite cities to visit because I love the people, the food and the richness of the culture.

My family are all very musical, and we grew up playing many instruments and listening to music together. I performed as a violinist first which led to discovering my passion for conducting!

I love conducting all kinds of music; film scores, opera, ballet, choral, chamber music and big classical symphonies as well. I also love to create family programmes so families can discover the joy of music together. In addition to my podium work I have a job as Head of Orchestral Studies and Conducting at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts teaching people all about my love for the symphony.

I live in Perth, Western Australia with my husband and two children, who play the trumpet and violin. We have a house by the beach and we all love to spend time in the sun and the surf.

'Journey Around the World' was inspired by two of my passions; travelling and music. Through my work as a conductor, I am lucky enough to experience many different countries and cultures and hope that our audience will enjoy coming with me on this musical whirlwind trip around the globe!

JESSICA GETHIN conductor and presenter

THE ORCHESTRA

HANS GRAF

Music Director

RODOLFO BARRÁEZ

Associate Conductor

CHOO HOEY

Conductor Emeritus

FIRST VIOLIN

(Position vacant) Concertmaster, GK Goh Chair

Kong Zhao Hui1 Associate Concertmaster

Chan Yoong-Han2 Fixed Chair

Cao Can*

Chen Da Wei

Duan Yu Ling

Foo Say Ming

Jin Li

Kong Xianlong

Cindy Lee

Karen Tan

William Tan

Wei Zhe

Ye Lin*

Zhang Si Jing*

SECOND VIOLIN

Tseng Chieh-An Principal

Michael Loh Associate Principal

Nikolai Koval*

Sayuri Kuru

Hai-Won Kwok

Chikako Sasaki*

Margit Saur

Shao Tao Tao

Wu Man Yun*

Xu Jueyi*

Yeo Teow Meng

Yin Shu Zhan*

Zhao Tian*

LAN SHUI

Conductor Laureate

EUDENICE PALARUAN

Choral Director

WONG LAI FOON

Choirmaster

VIOLA

Manchin Zhang Principal

Guan Qi Associate Principal

Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair

Joyce Huang

Marietta Ku

Luo Biao

Julia Park

Shui Bing

Janice Tsai

Dandan Wang

Yang Shi Li

CELLO

Ng Pei-Sian Principal, The HEAD Foundation Chair

Yu Jing Associate Principal

Guo Hao Fixed Chair

Chan Wei Shing

Jamshid Saydikarimov

Song Woon Teng

Wang Yan

Wu Dai Dai

Zhao Yu Er

DOUBLE BASS

Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal

Karen Yeo Fixed Chair

Olga Alexandrova

Jacek Mirucki

Guennadi Mouzyka

Wang Xu

FLUTE

Jin Ta Principal, Stephen Riady Chair

Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal

Roberto Alvarez

Miao Shanshan

PICCOLO

Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal

OBOE

Rachel Walker Principal

Pan Yun Associate Principal

Carolyn Hollier

Elaine Yeo

COR ANGLAIS

Elaine Yeo Associate Principal

CLARINET

Ma Yue Principal

Li Xin Associate Principal

Liu Yoko

Tang Xiao Ping

BASS CLARINET

Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal

BASSOON

Liu Chang Associate Principal

Christoph Wichert

Zhao Ying Xue

CONTRABASSOON

Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal

HORN

Gao Jian Associate Principal

Jamie Hersch Associate Principal

Marc-Antoine Robillard

Associate Principal

Hoang Van Hoc

TRUMPET

Jon Paul Dante Principal

David Smith Associate Principal

Lau Wen Rong

TROMBONE

Allen Meek Principal

Damian Patti Associate Principal

Samuel Armstrong

BASS TROMBONE

Wang Wei Assistant Principal

TUBA

Tomoki Natsume Principal

TIMPANI

Christian Schiøler Principal

Mario Choo

PERCUSSION

Jonathan Fox Principal

Mark Suter Associate Principal

Mario Choo

Lim Meng Keh

HARP

Gulnara Mashurova Principal

*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments.

1 Kong Zhao Hui performs on a J.B. Guadagnini of Milan, c. 1750, donated by the National Arts Council, Singapore, with the support of Far East Organization and Lee Foundation.

2 Chan Yoong-Han performs on a David Tecchler, Fecit Roma An. D. 1700, courtesy of Mr G K Goh. Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.

By Copland

By Humperdinck

By Debussy

GERMANY

4) The Witches’ Ride

FRANCE

6) Clair de lune

(orch. Caplet)

USA

7) Hoe-Down

Sat 17 Jun, 2pm & 5pm

Victoria Concert Hall

Tom Scott piano and animator

Jonathan Scott organ

Tickets from $20 sso.org.sg/ VCHpresents

In this animated double-bill, the evergreen children’s classic, The Carnival of the Animals, is paired with The Composer and the Mouse, created by Tom Scott. The latter tells the story of a talented yet hapless composer who finds his own musical style with the help of a mouse. A fun introduction to classical music combining film and original music for organ and piano, performed live by the Scott Brothers Duo.