The Straits Times, Nov 8, 1996
By Ong Sor Fern
THE Singapore Symphony Orchestra has found a new music director.
China-born Mr Lan Shui will be taking over the post on Jan 1.
The position was vacated by maestro Choo Hoey, who left the SSO in July this year after a 17-year tenure.
As music director, Mr Lan will spend just 16 weeks a year in Singapore.
This may seem like an inadequate amount of time but he said: "I think it is healthy for the music director to be engaged with other orchestras -- it provides me greater exposure to different styles and orchestras of international standing which in turn can be translated into greater exposure for the SSO.
"The SSO will also benefit from working with other good conductors."
The 39-year-old has conducted the SSO twice.
On his plans for the orchestra, Mr Lan said: "We will definitely take the SSO on tours and do more recordings as all these mean greater exposure and experience. We will also commission works specially for the SSO."
Mr Lan began studying violin at the age of five but his studies were interrupted by the Cultural Revolution.
His professional conducting debut was with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing in May, 1985 and he became the conductor of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra two months later.
Since then, he has won accolades at the Beijing Arts Festival and the 37th Besancon International Conductors Competition.
Among the orchestras he has worked with are the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the Cleveland Orchestra.
He is associate conductor of the Detroit Symphony.
Copyright © 1998 Singapore Press Holdings. All Rights Reserved.
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