Singapore Symphony Orchestra founder Choo Hoey dies at 90

Maestro remembered as a demanding leader who placed SSO on the classical world map

- Aqil Hamzah Shawn Hoo

The founder of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), conductor Choo Hoey, died on Aug 11, aged 90.

His son, Dr Yen Choo — an associate professor at Nanyang Technological University's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine — said the maestro died at his summer house in Greece with his wife Alexandra Avieropoulou by his side.

Dr Choo told The Sunday Times: "It was a peaceful death due to old age."

Recalling his father's life, Dr Choo said: "I have wonderful memories of him — but, of course, he was very busy when we were children. I've always wondered why it was that he never steered us towards music. When I asked my mother, she said it was because he had spent so much time in his youth playing the violin that he felt he had squandered his childhood years and that he wanted us to live."

Former SSO co-leader and Cultural Medallion recipient Lynnette Seah told ST she was saddened by the news. "He was strict but also kind towards me especially, appointing me as acting leader for a year and a half. He placed SSO on the classical world map."

Ms Tisa Ho-Ng, the SSO's general manager from 1990 to 1999, said: "He was great to work with because he was sincere, forthright and open-minded in a way that made it possible to convince him to agree to something he might have opposed to begin with."

She recalled that he disapproved of pop concerts, but nonetheless agreed when Ms Ho-Ng organised one with Singaporean singer-songwriter Dick Lee.

Choo was finicky about the details, demanding that musicians be impeccably turned out for concerts, so she kept a spare cummerbund in the office for male wardrobe emergencies.