SSO clinches third place in Gramophone's 2021 Orchestra of the Year award

Singapore, 6 October 2021 — Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has clinched third place in the Orchestra of the Year Award at the 2021 Gramophone Classical Music Awards, as decided by the music-loving community through public votes.

Held on 5 October at 7pm (BST), the awards show was held virtually on Medici TV and Gramophone’s website and YouTube channel.

SSO was among the 10 nominees, and the only Asian orchestra to be globally nominated for this year’s Orchestra of the Year award with the winner being decided by public vote. SSO is proud to stand amongst other outstanding nominees, and to emerge amongst the top three orchestras alongside Minnesota Orchestra and Accademia Bizantina. Nominees were shortlisted by Gramophone’s editors and reviewers based on the artistic excellence of their recordings. The Orchestra was awarded through the support it garnered from public votes.

This nomination is a testament to SSO’s orchestral virtuosity that has won votes with their widely-acclaimed releases, Rachmaninov – Symphonies and Orchestral Music and Richard Strauss – Rosenkavalier Suite. It also reflects the orchestra’s dynamic programming, ongoing initiatives, and the leadership of SSO’s conductors, both past and present. As a significant milestone for SSO, the recognition heralds an exciting chapter ahead as the orchestra seeks to widen its appeal to the international audience, and to inspire and engage the local communities through its work.

“Music has a universal power to lift spirits. This recognition and excellent ranking is an encouragement for the SSO, as we continue our work in a time greatly affected by the pandemic. We thank our supporters for voting for us, and will remain committed to continue touching lives through our music,” shared Maestro Hans Graf, Chief Conductor, Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who voted for us. We are very honoured to be placed alongside the world’s leading orchestras which have large home audience bases and a long tradition of recordings. This is a remarkable milestone in the orchestra’s 42-year journey, and would not have been possible without the support of the people of Singapore and the orchestra’s international fans. Our heartfelt congratulations to 2021 Orchestra of the Year Minnesota Orchestra and our long-time friend Maestro Osmo Vänskä,” said Mr Chng Hak-Peng, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Symphony Group.

Launched in 1977 by Gramophone, the Gramophone Classical Music Awards are one of the highest honours accorded to notable works in the classical record industry and draws parallels for being the Oscars for classical music and often viewed as equivalent to or surpassing America’s Grammy award.