Choo Hoey
Encyclopedia
Choo Hoey is a Singapore
an musician and conductor
. His father, Choo Seng, was an immigrant from Chaozhou
and his mother from Nanjing
. He founded the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
and was also its first resident conductor and music director.
In 1947, Choo Hoey started his violin training under Goh Soon Tioe
. Using only two years of study in Singapore, he obtained his Grade 8 with distinction from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
in London, England. Upon completing his secondary education in 1951, Choo Hoey went to the Royal Academy of Music
in London to study the violin under David Martin
, the French horn under Aubrey Brain
, and conducting under Maurice Miles.
Igor Markevitch
In 1954, Choo Hoey studied conducting under Igor Markevitch
and the violin under André Gertler
. In 1955, He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, awarded with the Mann's Memorial Prize and the Earnest Read Prize. In 1957, he continued his violin training at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels
in Belgium.
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
, the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
, Oslo Philharmonic and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
. From 1968 till 1977, he was the principal conductor of the Greek National Opera
and guest-conducted with other symphony orchestras.
Choo Hoey was invited by the Singapore government in 1978 to set up the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and become the Music Director in 1979. He was one of the recipients of the inaugural Cultural Medallion
in 1979. He also proposed the creation of the Singapore Symphony Chorus
in 1980. With the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, he led them to their international debut in Scandinavia
. In 1996, Choo Hoey stepped down as music director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and was appointed as Conductor Emeritus, in recognition of his contribution.
and London, where his sons live.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an musician and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
. His father, Choo Seng, was an immigrant from Chaozhou
Chaozhou
Chaozhou is a city in eastern Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. It borders Shantou to the south, Jieyang to the southwest, Meizhou to the northwest, the province of Fujian to the east, and the South China Sea to the southeast...
and his mother from Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
. He founded the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a 96 members professional symphony orchestra. Its main performing venue is the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore although it has also toured widely in Asia, Europe and the United States...
and was also its first resident conductor and music director.
Musical education
Choo Hoey's encounter with classical music started from listening to his father's collection of records and was drawn to the violin. His father noticed his attraction and started his lessons in violin with a Teach Yourself book. After Choo Hoey's primary education in 1945, his family migrated to Singapore and he continued his secondary education at The Chinese High School.In 1947, Choo Hoey started his violin training under Goh Soon Tioe
Goh Soon Tioe
Goh Soon Tioe is known in Singapore musical history as a key player in the development of classical music for the post-war Singapore. He is also the father of Singaporean violinist-conductor Vivien Goh....
. Using only two years of study in Singapore, he obtained his Grade 8 with distinction from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world...
in London, England. Upon completing his secondary education in 1951, Choo Hoey went to the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
in London to study the violin under David Martin
David Martin
-Politicians:*David Martin , Republican party U.S. Representative from Nebraska *David Martin , Australian admiral and Governor of New South Wales...
, the French horn under Aubrey Brain
Aubrey Brain
Aubrey Brain was a British horn player and teacher. He was the father of Dennis Brain.-Biography:Aubrey Harold Brain was born in London in 1893. He came from a musical family. His father, A. E. Brain sr. was a member of the London Symphony Orchestra horn quartet...
, and conducting under Maurice Miles.
Igor Markevitch
In 1954, Choo Hoey studied conducting under Igor Markevitch
Igor Markevitch
Igor Markevitch was a Ukrainian, Italian, and French composer and conductor.- Origin :Igor Markevich was born in Kiev, to an old family of Ukrainian Cossack starshyna ennobled in the 18th century...
and the violin under André Gertler
André Gertler
André Gertler was a classical violinist and teacher.Born in Budapest, Hungary, he fled the country under the Nazis. He was a teacher at the Royal Conservatory of Music, in Brussels, Belgium....
. In 1955, He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, awarded with the Mann's Memorial Prize and the Earnest Read Prize. In 1957, he continued his violin training at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels
Royal Conservatory of Brussels
The Royal Conservatory of Brussels is a drama and music college in Brussels, Belgium. An academy for acting and the arts, it has been attended by many of the top actors and actresses in Belgium such as Josse De Pauw, Luk van Mello and Luk De Konink....
in Belgium.
Career
In 1958, Choo Hoey debuted his career with the Belgian National Orchestra. He has performed with many famous European orchestras, including the London Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony Orchestra
The London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
, the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
, the Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire
The Orchestre de la Société des concerts du Conservatoire was a symphony orchestra established in Paris in 1828. It gave its first concert on 9 March 1828 with music by Beethoven, Rossini, Meifreid, Rode and Cherubini....
, Tonhalle Orchester Zürich
Tonhalle Orchester Zurich
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich is a symphony orchestra founded in 1868 in Zürich Switzerland, where it established its residence in the neue Tonhalle in 1895....
, Oslo Philharmonic and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
Orchestre de la Suisse Romande
The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is a Swiss symphony orchestra, based in Geneva at the Victoria Hall...
. From 1968 till 1977, he was the principal conductor of the Greek National Opera
Greek National Opera
The Greek National Opera is the country's state lyric opera company, located at 59 Akadimias Street in centralAthens. It is a public corporation under the supervision of the Greek Ministry of Culture and administered by the Board of Trustees and its Artistic Director.The organization is responsible...
and guest-conducted with other symphony orchestras.
Choo Hoey was invited by the Singapore government in 1978 to set up the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and become the Music Director in 1979. He was one of the recipients of the inaugural Cultural Medallion
Cultural Medallion
The Cultural Medallion is a Singapore cultural award conferred to those who have achieved artistic excellence in dance, theatre, literature, music, photography, art and film....
in 1979. He also proposed the creation of the Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Chorus
The Singapore Symphony Chorus is the performing choir of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra . The SSC performs solely with the SSO, presenting an average of three programmes a year. The SSC was initiated in 1980 under the direction of Choo Hoey, then Music Director of the SSO...
in 1980. With the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, he led them to their international debut in Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
. In 1996, Choo Hoey stepped down as music director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and was appointed as Conductor Emeritus, in recognition of his contribution.
Personal life
Choo Hoey is married to Alexandra, a Greek archaeologist, and had two sons. He resides in AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
and London, where his sons live.