FY2024/25 (April 2024 – March 2025) marked a year of lively momentum for the Singapore Symphony Group (SSG) – one defined by artistic excellence, community connection, and a return to the international stages. Across borders and within our own communities, our music continued to inspire, engage, and unite.
The following highlights are drawn from our FY2024/25 Annual Report - you can read the full report here.
A Year of Reach and Renewal
For the FY, we presented over 110 live concerts, welcoming more than 112,000 audience members and sustaining a 90% average attendance across ticketed events. Online, our reach continued to grow, achieving 8 million digital views and 7.5 million streams on Spotify and Apple Music. Notably, over 30% of attendees were first-time concertgoers – a reflection of the Group’s widening audience base and enduring appeal.
Under the baton of Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) presented a season of world-class performances, from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to an all-Brahms programme featuring violinist Sayaka Shoji. We also welcomed distinguished artists such as Maxim Vengerov, Hélène Grimaud, Vasily Petrenko and Steven Isserlis, alongside Singaporean talents including violinist Chloe Chua, composer Koh Cheng Jin, conductor Kahchun Wong, as well as over 30 programmes featuring Singaporean composers.
A highlight of the season was the long-awaited collaboration between the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO), SSO and Choruses in August 2024. United under MSO Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, a trio of soloists, a combined orchestra and more than 200 choral voices joined forces for a stirring performance of Orff’s Carmina Burana – a triumphant celebration of artistic partnership between Singapore and Australia. (Read more about the collaboration here.)
Back on the World Stage
After nearly seven years away from international touring, SSO embarked on two overseas tours that marked a renewed chapter in its artistic journey.
The first came in October 2024, when the SSO performed to a sold-out audience at the Kyoto Concert Hall as part of the Asia Orchestra Week, led by Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf and joined by French pianist Hélène Grimaud. The programme combined Western repertoire with a Singaporean composition, Luciola Singapura by Koh Cheng Jin, which drew inspiration from the discovery of a new species of firefly in Singapore. The performance marked the orchestra’s first international appearance since its 2017 concert in Kuala Lumpur.
Building on that momentum, the SSO travelled to Australia for the first time in February 2025, performing to over 6,000 audience members across three sold-out concerts in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Under Hans Graf’s baton, the orchestra presented Brahms’s Concerto for Violin and Cello featuring violinist Chloe Chua and SSO Principal Cellist Ng Pei-Sian, alongside Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5 and Luciola Singapura. The concerts drew standing ovations and glowing reviews, including a 4.5-star rating from Limelight, one of Australia’s leading arts publications and were attended by distinguished representatives, including the High Commissioners of Australia and Singapore. (Read more about SSO’s Japan Tour and Australian Tour from our previous Bravissimo articles.)
That same spirit of excellence resonated beyond the concert hall. Following the Australian tour, four SSO recordings entered Australia’s ARIA Classical Top 20. Together with the earlier global success of Butterfly Lovers & Paganini, which topped Apple Music’s Classical Top 100 and reached the Top 10 in Australia, the UK and the US, these milestones underscored the growing international recognition of Singapore’s national orchestra.
Nurturing the Next Generation
Over 400 young musicians continued to develop their artistry through the SSG’s youth ensembles, with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) achieving milestone performances – including its first-ever concert under the baton of Maestro Hans Graf. The Straits Times described how the “SNYO pulls off [an] ambitious programme under Hans Graf’s baton” and noted how “the young players [distinguished] themselves under the direction of Hans Graf,” reflecting the continued growth of the SNYO’s musicians.
The President’s Young Performers Concert 2024 shone a spotlight on pianists Toby Tan and Adrian Tang, the winners of last year’s competition. Performing their own solo pieces to a full-house audience graced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the duo concluded the concert with an impressive four-hand rendition of Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance from Gayane – now available to watch on the SSO’s YouTube channel.
Through school engagements and mentorship initiatives, the SSG reached thousands of students, offering curated concert experiences and demonstrations that brought them closer to the world of orchestral music.
Connecting Communities Through Music
Throughout the year, SSG’s outreach programmes brought music into hospitals, schools, and public spaces. More than 250 beneficiaries from ten social impact organisations were invited to attend SSO concerts with the support of Temasek Foundation – and this number is set to grow. The SSO String Quartet’s first live performance at Woodlands Health Campus brought cheer to 170 patients and healthcare workers, while community concerts at various venues such as Gardens by the Bay, Eunoia Junior College, Raffles Hotel and Woodlands Health invited audiences of all ages to come together through the shared experience of live music.
Innovation, Support and Organisational Growth
In FY2024/25, SSG raised a record S$6.95 million in donations and in-kind sponsorships, including the Group’s largest-ever individual contribution of S$3 million. We are grateful for the trust and support of our donors, who help us to continue our work as the pulse of Singapore’s music ecosystem.
On the digital front, the SG Symphony app received its third international award as an Honoree at the 28th Webby Awards (Apps & Software – Art, Culture & Events), furthering our reputation for innovation and accessibility.
In May 2024, we relocated our administrative office to the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, marking a new chapter in the Group’s evolution. Alongside this move, SSG remains steadfast in its efforts to be an Employer of Choice, nurturing a supportive and inclusive culture for its musicians and staff.
Looking Ahead
With artistic horizons expanding and new leadership on the horizon, we step into our next chapter with confidence and purpose. From sold-out halls abroad to inclusive performances at home, FY2024/25 was a year of resonance and renewal – proof that Singapore’s national orchestra continues to extend its reach while remaining deeply rooted in its community.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!