Singapore Chinese Orchestra

{{Infobox orchestra

| name = Singapore Chinese Orchestra
新加坡华乐团

| image = Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO Logo).jpg

| caption =

| origin = Singapore

| founded = 1996

| concert_hall = Singapore Conference Hall

| website = {{URL|www.sco.com.sg}}

|principal_conductor=Quek Ling Kiong|concertmaster=Li Baoshun}}

Singapore Chinese Orchestra SCO ({{lang-zh|c=新加坡华乐团|p=Xinjiapo Huayuetuan}}) is Singapore's only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1997, the 85-musician orchestra took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and culture and establishing new frontiers through the incorporation of Nanyang music elements in its repertoire.

History

In 1968, an amateur Chinese orchestra was established as part of the National Theatre under the auspices of the Minister of Culture. This is quickly followed by a performing unit formed by the People's Association Cultural Troupe, the People's Association Chinese Orchestra (PACO) on 1 July 1968 as part of the government's effort to cultivate racial harmony.{{cite book |title=Music in China |author=Frederick Lau |page= 151 |publisher= Oxford University Press |year= 2007 |isbn=978-0195301243 }}{{cite thesis |url=https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/14527/1/511965.pdf |title=Hua Yue: The Chinese Orchestra in Contemporary Singapore | author=Samuel Wong Shengmiao |date=2009 }} Ma Wen was the first conductor of PACO in 1971, followed by Li Xueling in 1973. This became a semi-professional orchestra in 1975 when Ng Tai Kong, the new conductor introduce 6 professional musicians. Ng left in 1977 to direct the newly formed Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and he was followed by Lim Tiap Guan in 1977 and Ku Lap Man in 1980. The number of professionals gradually increased and the orchestra had 32 full-time members by 1984.

In 1992, People's Association Chinese Orchestra changed its name to Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Qu Chun Quan took over as conductor after Ku retired in 1995.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FsjACwAAQBAJ&pg=PA225|title=50 Years of the Chinese Community in Singapore |last=Cheng Lian |first=Pang |date=23 October 2015 |pages=224–225 |isbn=9789814675413 |publisher=World Scientific}} In May 1996, at the initiative of the then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, this orchestra became independent of People's Association to operate as a private company, and was inaugurated as a fully-professional national orchestra.{{cite web|url=http://www.passioncard.com.sg/pa/PA-Arts/SCO.html |access-date=18 March 2009 |title=PAssion Arts Partners: The Singapore Chinese Orchestra |publisher=People's Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228134134/http://www.passioncard.com.sg/pa/PA-Arts/SCO.html |archive-date=28 February 2009}} The Singapore Conference Hall was provided as its venue for performances and rehearsals. Lee Hsien Loong who later became Prime Minister was appointed patron of the orchestra.{{cite news |url= https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-chinese-orchestra-raises-730k-at-virtual-concert |title=Singapore Chinese Orchestra raises $730k at virtual concert |date=24 October 2020|work=The Straits Times }}

File:Singapore Conference Hall interior (SCO Rhapsody in Spring) 20240127 213234.jpg

Hu Bingxu was appointed the new music director in 1996 with Qu the deputy music director, and the orchestra expanded to 45 members. It came under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts in 1999. On 1 January 2000, it staged a it most ambitious project yet, a Millennium concert featuring 1,000 performers. Later mega concerts in 2004 featured 2,000 performers and over 4,000 in 2014.{{cite news |url= https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/sco-hold-mega-concert-new-national-stadium |title=SCO to hold mega concert at new national stadium|date=29 January 2014|work=The Straits Times }} Hu left in 2000, and Tsung Yeh was appointed its music director in 2002, {{Cite web|url=https://sg.asiatatler.com/people/tsung-yeh|title=Tsung Yeh|last=Tatler|first=Singapore|date=2017-10-24|website=Singapore Tatler|language=en-SG|access-date=2020-02-20}} up till 2023, where he stepped down, being appointed Conductor Emeritus. Quek Ling Kiong then stepped up to become Principal Conductor in the same year, being the first principal conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra to have been born and bred in Singapore. {{Cite web|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/sco-names-tsung-yeh-as-conductor-emeritus-quek-ling-kiong-as-principal-conductor|title=SCO names Yeh Tsung as conductor emeritus, Quek Ling Kiong as principal conductor|last=Chin|first=Soo Fang|date=2022-11-30|website=The Straits Times|language=en-SG|access-date=2023-12-20}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sco.com.sg/en/orchestra/musical-leadership/principal-conductor.html|title=Principal Conductor|website=Singapore Chinese Orchestra|language=en-SG|access-date=2023-12-20}}

Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra

File:sycotainan1.jpg

The Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra (SNYCO) is a group of young musicians between the ages of 10 and 26 years old. It has been under the management of Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) since 2003 and held its premiere concert in 2004. Until January 2017, it was named the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra (SYCO).{{cite web |url=https://www.sco.com.sg/media/singapore-national-youth-chinese-orchestra-perform-esplanade-concert-hall-march-18/ |title=Singapore National Youth Chinese Orchestra to perform at Esplanade Concert Hall on March 18 |date=22 February 2017 |website=Singapore Chinese Orchestra}}