New Artistic Director for Singapore International Piano Festival 2026

With this program, I was thinking about "American music", how influences from European émigrés and Black traditions were instrumental to forming multiple strands of "American" sounds, from the songwriting of Tin Pan Alley to the film scores of Hollywood. I was thinking about moments of contact, physical and otherwise, real or imagined, between composers: Gershwin showing Ravel around New York and taking him to the jazz clubs of Harlem, Rachmaninoff hearing Art Tatum play in said jazz clubs, Debussy and Ravel echoing through Billy Strayhorn's smoky harmonies, Gershwin and Schoenberg playing tennis together in Los Angeles. In this tapestry, perhaps we can hear Schoenberg's liberation of intervals in dialogue with other rich chromatic voice-leading from the time; perhaps any fixed sense of what "American" musical identity is can be destabilized; perhaps seeming distances between different traditions and practices can get smaller. - Conrad Tao (USA)

Conrad Tao, piano

$88, $68, $48, $38, $28

In this programme, I intersperse my own compositions with the classical works that inspired them. The sequence traces a personal lineage of sound—where contemporary influences that pervade my musical language are brought into dialogue with the repertoire that first formed my ears and hands. The intention is to unite these worlds without forcing them into hierarchy: to let new music breathe inside an inherited tradition, and to return, again and again, to the classical canon as the source of craft, clarity, and ultimately, strength. - Churen Li (Singapore)

Churen Li, piano

$48

This programme unfolds along the fragile line between dream and nightmare, vision and reflection, shaped by music rooted in childhood across generations. It opens in an intimate world of lullabies and personal reverie, with pieces I wrote for my own children, before descending into the darker, hallucinatory imagination of Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, where fantasy becomes unsettling and obsessive.

Bach stands at the centre as a composer whose music was once created in the moment and relied on the performer to improvise, personalise, and give voice to it—reminding us that what we now consider fixed was originally fluid and alive. Debussy’s childlike miniatures, written for his daughter, are reimagined by Gwilym Simcock, who reshapes this familiar material through a contemporary improviser’s lens while preserving its innocence and clarity. A parallel approach informs Leszek Możdżer’s transformation of Chopin, where Romantic intimacy is refracted through a modern, jazz-inflected language while remaining faithful to the composer’s essence.

Joo’s Five Pieces from Childhood reflect on his own early memories—wonder, vulnerability, longing, melancholy, and joy—moments both painful and precious that shape identity over time. The programme culminates in Ravel’s La Valse, conceived on the eve of the First World War, where elegance fractures into obsession: a glittering dream collapsing into delirium. Together, the works frame the pianist as interpreter, composer, and improviser, navigating the shifting boundary between memory and imagination, innocence and disquiet, nightmares and dreams. - Hyung-ki Joo (United Kingdom)

Hyung-ki Joo, piano

$88, $68, $48, $38, $28

We bemoan, we dream, we fantasize…

Restless Natures is an ode to how composers perceive the world and the fuzzy ways we preserve these perceptions. Sometimes we contemplate a beautiful subject, as Lili Boulanger passes her eye over a garden in several ways in Trois Morceaux, or Yoshimatsu's memory of a star in ...to a disappeared pleiad. Sometimes music itself becomes the subject: we relive ghosts of hands past in Ge's To a Memory of a Little Grasshopper and Andres's How Can I Live in Your World of Ideas? Muhly's Move shows that even the most intimate conversations between musicians can become a font of inspiration in the way we remember the world. Two world premieres from Peabody colleagues Parks and Shin suspend distance, technologies, and time. - Jonathan Shin (Singapore)"

Jonathan Shin, piano

$48

Improvisation used to be an established tradition in the life of a pianist and composer from the 17th century up until the early 20th century, with exponents ranging from Bach to Liszt, Mozart to Chopin. Today, improvisation seems to have been relegated to something more niche. The versatile American pianist and Cliburn Competition prize winner Sean Chen regularly includes improvisations and his own arrangements in recitals. Unlock the spirit of improvisation in this workshop conducted by Sean, designed to get you started and how to explore further.

Sean Chen / Albert Tiu, host

$20

A winner of the Leeds International Piano Competition, Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker is a veteran of the international concert stage, having performed regularly at such venues as the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, London’s South Bank, the Sydney Opera House, and the Beijing Concert Hall. He has performed/collaborated with such artists as Osmo Vänska, Karina Canellakis, Ken-David Masur, Doc Severinsen, Audra McDonald, Bobby McFerrin, Pablo Ziegler, and Sanjaya Malakar. As a founding member of Off the Score, he also performed with Stewart Copeland – the legendary drummer of The Police.

A committed educator, Mr. Parker is Professor of Piano at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. His students have won prizes in major competitions internationally, and given concerto performances in the US, Europe, Russia and China. He has also lectured at The Juilliard School, given master classes at Yale, and is Artistic Director of the Honens International Piano Competition and Artistic Advisor for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.

Jon Kimura Parker / Albert Tiu, host

$20

Creativity is a vital spark that makes the performing arts come alive, and yet it seems that the way in which we learn and perform music nowadays is the antithesis of creativity. With the proliferation of media platforms, students often learn their music by imitating recordings, effectively bypassing the process of personal exploration and discovery. The multi-talented British-Korean pianist, Hyung-ki Joo, half of the highly successful comedic duo of Igudesman & Joo, will make a presentation on what it means to be creative, and how to unleash one’s creativity.

Hyung-ki Joo / Albert Tiu, host

$20

What excites me as a pianist is when I hear things in a new light, or see composers transform other material into something imaginative and fantastical. As a pianist, that means incorporating composition, transcription, and improvisation into my programs.

I start with my own Daydream, a prelude to the journey that unfolds in this recital. Then we will have transcriptions by Leopold Godowsky, one of the greatest exponents of this art, of Rameau’s keyboard works, as well as my own arrangement of Dukas’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Then, what better way to tie up the French connection than by having Rameau's own Gavotte and Six Variations, for which I will be improvising an epilogue. To bring in the literature connection, we will also have Ligeti’s Etude No. 10, which is also a musical retelling of Goethe’s ballade The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. Completing the journey is Liszt’s Second Year of Pilgrimage, in which he translates a painting by Rafael, a sculpture by Michelangelo, and literature by both Petrarch and Dante into music. I hope that this program full of interconnections, magic, fantasy, and virtuosic piano writing will be a delight for both the ears and the mind. - Sean Chen (USA)

Sean Chen, piano

$88, $68, $48, $38, $28

Two pillars of classical structure are represented by Mozart and Beethoven. Despite their similarity in form, and their having been written less than 30 years apart, Mozart has classical proportion on centre stage, yet Beethoven veers into raw and explosive displays of emotion and depth. The second half of the program showcases the 20th century and beyond, from Ravel’s impression of waterfalls to an early John Adams experiment in minimalism. I offer next my own improvisation, before the program concludes with the sensational Blues Etude - this score was a personal gift from the estate of the composer, Oscar Peterson to me. - Jon Kimura Parker (Canada)

Jon Kimura Parker, piano

$88, $68, $48, $38, $28

Update: The opener for the concert on 8 May 2026 will change from Prokofiev - The Love for Three Oranges: March and Scherzo, to Rachmaninoff - The Rock, Op. 7. Please note that there will also be an additional performance for this programme on Thursday, 7 May 2026.

In the first of his Farewell Concert Series as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Quantedge Music Director, Hans Graf conducts Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, transporting you into the magical world of One Thousand and One Nights. Let its titular heroine tell you of seafaring sagas, desert princes and the spiced festivals of Arabian legend, painted in five captivating canvases. Spanish violinist Leticia Moreno also joins the SSO in the intense, heady brilliance of the Second Violin Concerto by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski.

This concert will be livestreamed on medici.tv and the Singapore Symphony YouTube as a members-only exclusive on 8 May, 7.30pm (SGT).

Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Leticia Moreno, violin

$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15

From Dutilleux’s prismatic Mystère de l’instant to the vivacious finesse of Poulenc’s Sinfonietta, this programme encapsulates every facet of French musical art: alluring, thought-provoking, spontaneous. Hans Graf is joined by two young musical stars: violinist He Ziyu in two favourites of the virtuoso repertoire, Saint-Saëns’s rhapsodic Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Ravel’s fiery Tzigane; and Singaporean saxophonist Samuel Phua in Milhaud’s Scaramouche.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / He Ziyu, violin / Samuel Phua, saxophone

$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15

Legend has it that his contemporary, the composer Antonio Salieri, poisoned Mozart out of jealousy, leading to the latter’s premature death in 1791, aged just 35. Is this true? Consider for yourself in this psychological drama – in essence, Rimsky-Korsakov’s version of the celebrated film Amadeus, if in a much darker, introspective 2-act operetta based on Pushkin’s play.

Specially curated by our Music Director Hans Graf, this final concert in the SSO’s 2025/26 season keeps you thinking as we present a piano concerto by each of the two composers: Mozart’s contemplative No. 14 and Salieri’s charming Piano Concerto in C major. Our piano soloists are the SSO’s President’s Young Performers from 2024, the talented Adrian Tang and Toby Tan. We’re pretty sure they’re good friends!

Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Singapore Symphony Chorus / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Adrian Tang, piano ³ / Toby Tan, piano / Boris Stepanov, tenor³ / Mikhail Svetlov, bass³ / Matthias Oestringer, blind violinist³

$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15

The Singapore Ballet stars in Ravel's enchanting Mother Goose (Ma mère l'Oye), bringing scenes from tales such as Sleeping Beauty, Beauty and the Beast, Little Tom Thumb and more to life, accompanied by the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. The SNYO, under the baton of their Music Director Joshua Tan, also perform Schubert's lively Symphony No. 2 as well as Brahms's Academic Festival Overture, so named as a tribute to the University of Breslau for honouring him with a doctorate in music in 1881.

Singapore National Youth Orchestra / Joshua Tan, SNYO Music Director / Singapore Ballet

$50, $40, $30, $20

Give mom the gift of music, brought to you live by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in our annual Mother’s Day celebration at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

This concert may be delayed or cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Please check our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Lien Boon Hua, conductor / Jonathan Charles Tay, tenor

Free admission

Little ones and parents are invited for an unstructured, exploratory session by LittleCr3atures®, and discover the wonderful world of music-making, using natural materials such as seed pods and dried leaves.

LittleCr3atures® is where younglings get to experience pure, unadulterated play with sound and soundful objects in a safe and immersive space. As the artistic practice, research and education advocacies of Dr. Natalie Alexandra Tse, LittleCr3atures® is part of her ongoing evolution and development as a performer, educator, researcher and mother.

Dr Natalie Alexandra Tse, LittleCr3atures®

$60 for 1 parent-child pair, $30 for 1 additional parent/child

Learn about music in fun, interactive ways in three musical exhibits inviting you to participate hands on, music notation and instrument identification.

3 free musical exhibits around the Victoria Concert Hall

• MOVE exhibit located at the Porch on level 1.
• LEAD exhibit located at Door 3, Concert Hall foyer on level 2.
• LISTEN exhibit located at the corridor along level 3.

Free admission

A cross-cultural collaboration between two contrasting genres of music, showcasing the unique musical texture created when two instruments are played together. The performance explores the intersections and uniqueness of Chinese and Indian music, pushing the boundaries of traditions.

Sreeranjani Muthu Subramanian, carnatic violinist / Khoo Sze Ning, guzheng

Free admission

Experience the thrill and beauty of classical music in this 45-minute concert featuring the jubilant Academic Festival Overture by Brahms, and the fairy tales of Ravel’s Mother Goose collection.

Singapore National Youth Orchestra / Seow Yibin, Associate Conductor

$20, $10

Reimagining the behind the scenes work of the Singapore Symphony within the Victoria Concert Hall! Cruise through 4 pit-stops in a 45-min tour, hear our stories and possibly catch the organ in action!

Tour kicks off at the VCH Atrium, do check in at the SSO Ticketing Counter beforehand.

Note: The tours will involve climbing up staircases and walks between rooms and areas. For your safety and comfort, only closed-toe footwear is permitted.

SSO Tour Guides

$25

Parents, learn the elements of singing together with your child in this interactive workshop led by singer Jeremy Koh. Combining professional techniques with games and songs from around the world, this two-hour session concludes with a finale with everyone singing as a choir.

Programme Highlights

Discover how great singing begins with strong, supported breaths; explore how phonation helps you understand how your voice works, and how sound is created; and learn how vowels help your voice shine and carry across the room. Have a chance to move, jump, and sing in a playful musical game of Solfège Hopscotch that reinforces learning through action. And finally, participants can bring everything together by learning and performing a two-part song as a choir, experiencing the joy of making music collaboratively.

About Jeremy Koh

Jeremy Koh is a lyric baritone and the first Singaporean winner of the Tan Ngiang Kaw/Ann Memorial Vocal Competition and a bronze award and special mention recipient at the Bangkok Opera Foundation International Singing Competition. His chamber duo, Double, also won first prize in both the Duo Performance and Chamber Group categories at the Vivaldi International Music Competition (2022). Passionate about bringing singing to new audiences, Jeremy has conducted workshops as a guest artist with organisations including the Singapore Symphony and the National Silver Academy. He has also co-developed an inclusive singing programme with Khoo Teck Puat Hospital for elderly individuals with breathing conditions, reflecting his commitment to making singing accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages.

Jeremy Koh, Vocal Workshop Facilitator and Educator

$50 for 1 parent-child (7 years and above) pair, $25 for 1 additional parent/child.

The string quintet is a genre steeped in lyrical and intimate tradition. Hear famous excerpts from composers across time such as Boccherini, Mozart, Dvořák and Piazolla, plus Pachelbel's popular Canon.

Ye Lin, violin / Nikolai Koval, violin / Gu Bing Jie, viola / Christopher Mui, cello / Yang Zheng Yi, double bass

$20

Go on a journey of creation through percussion - introduce your children to the world of percussion, where rhythm and action combine to produce sounds from nothing. Led by Singapore Symphony Orchestra Associate Principal Percussionist, Mark Suter.

This is a children-only workshop for ages 7 to 12.

Mark Suter, SSO Associate Principal Percussion

$25