2015 has arrived! We kick off the year by looking back at ten of the most memorable moments in Singapore's classical Music scene last year.

Best Concert: Shimmering Sounds of the Soul

When it comes to a recital by Shaun Choo, all that glitters is indeed gold. Look past the pomp and pageantry and one finds a consummate performer, eloquent communicator, bewitching artist.

Most enjoyable concert series: More Than Music

In an age where classical music is regarded as an artefact of a bygone era, More than Music concerts are a breath of fresh air, bringing to life centuries of glorious tradition and finding every excuse to have fun. Needless to say, these concerts were the most relaxing and enjoyable we’ve attended in a long while.

Rookie of the Year: Samuel Tan

Following in Gabriel Ng's footsteps, Samuel Tan bagged the Postacchini Prize - awarded to the overall winner of the International Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition. Samuel was all of nine!

Best Concept: Listen to the 20th Century

Four concerts devoted to 20th century music might seem a terrible idea, but SIFA nailed it with fantastic programming and partnership with London’s Southbank Centre. Featuring musicians from the London Sinfonietta, BBC Radio 3 broadcaster Sara Mohr-Pietsch and pre-concert talks by Jonathan Cross, the magical experience would have converted the most ardent dissenters of new music, if not for the obscene ticket prices.

Botched Experiments: Classical music in theatres

The prospect of watching the Lord of the Rings to live music thrilled us for days, but the music, so far from transporting the audience to Middle-Earth, made us painfully aware of the limitations of The Star Theatre's acoustics.



Unfazed, the organizers of Israel Philharmonic's fourth appearance in Singapore chose the Marina Bay Sands MasterCard Theatres, but not even the world-renowned orchestra could not save the concert from an acoustical disaster.

The Chameleon 

Whether as an accompanist, soloist or chamber musician, Lim Yan’s remarkable ability to tailor his playing to his circumstances gives the much-loved reptiles a run for their chromatophores.

The Dark Knight

Acknowledged by Rozhdestvensky to be the best Shostakovich 15 solo in his entire career, Ng Pei-Sian’s sterling contributions to a performance headed for the rocks are one of the reasons SSO concerts remain so rewarding to watch. He's the hero they don't deserve, but one they need right now.

Online Sensations

The Lorong Boys’ rise to fame - meticulously planned, executed to perfection - epitomizes just why success for a musician is equal parts musical ability and
enterprising spirit.

SSO at the BBC Proms

Though stricken by the flu, Lan Shui led the jet-lagged SSO to a rousing performance at their first BBC Proms appearance. Curiously it was their encore, Walton's March for A History of the English-Speaking Peoples - unheard of by most of the English gathered that night - which took the cake.