Lynnette Seah Mei Tsing (Chinese: 佘美幸; pinyin: Shé Měixìng) is a Singaporean violinist, serving as co-leader of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO).[1][2] She received the Cultural Medallion for Music in 2006.[3]

Lynnette Seah
佘美幸
Birth nameSeah Mei Tsing
(Chinese: 佘美幸; pinyin: Shé Měixìng)
Born1957 (age 66–67)
Singapore
GenresClassical music
Occupation(s)violinist, concertmistress
InstrumentViolin

Early life

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Seah began her formal music training on the piano with her mother, Lau Biau Chin, when she was five. She started playing the violin at the age of six with Goh Soon Tioe, and later with Alphonso Anthony, a professional violin teacher.[4] When she was 15, Seah was appointed as Associate Concertmaster of the Bishop Symphony Orchestra, at the International Music Camp in Adelaide, Australia. That same year she represented Singapore in the Southeast Asian Violin Competition, and won a scholarship to study at the Hannover Hochschule for Music in Germany.[5] Renowned violin teachers she had worked with include David Mankowitz of Toronto, Professor Friedrich von Hausegger of Hannover,[6] Professor Karel Sneberger of Prague, Yfrah Neaman of London,[5] and Dorothy DeLay of New York.[5]

Musical career

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As a violin soloist, Seah has performed with various orchestras around the world, such as the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Gstaad Menuhin Festival Orchestra, Orebro Chamber Orchestra, Teplice Symphony Orchestra, and Zurich Symphony Orchestra. Seah has also played in many festivals, which include the Bergen International Festival, Singapore Arts Festival and the Swiss Festival. In 2005, Seah commissioned Singaporean composer Bernard Tan to compose a concerto, Violin Concerto, dedicated to her.[7] The concerto premiered on 7 January 2006 at Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall by Seah herself with the SSO with Chinese-American conductor Lan Shui.[7]

Seah is also active in the chamber music scene. She is the leader and founder of the Jade String Quartet,[8] one of the few professional chamber music groups in Singapore.

Seah is one of the founders of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

 
Seah (center)

Other than being a soloist or a concertmaster, Seah is also a member of the Advisory Committee for the "Violin Loan Scheme," a scheme by the Singapore National Arts Council. She is a member of Singapore's Education Ministry's Arts Education Committee, which oversees various arts institutions such as the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and the LASALLE College of the Arts.

In 1997, the Composers and Authors Society of Singapore conferred on Seah the Excellence Award in recognition of her contribution to Singapore's classical music scene. In 2006, Seah was awarded the Cultural Medallion for Music of 2006, the highest award for the arts in Singapore.

Awards

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In 2006, SSO nominated Seah for the Cultural Medallion for Music of 2006. The SSO later informed her that she was awarded the cultural award.[9] Seah received the award from the then President of Singapore, S R Nathan at the Istana. She performed Bach's Partita No.3 and Elgar's Salut d'Amour during the award ceremony.

Personal life

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Seah is divorced from Hans Simon.[10] They have two sons, Maurice and Andre.[11]

References

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  1. ^ Yap, Stephanie (22 January 2009). "Classic act". Straits Times Life!. p. 3.
  2. ^ Yap, Stephanie (19 January 2009). "Take a bow". Straits Times.
  3. ^ Chow, Clara (21 October 2006). "SSO co-leader, versatile artist get highest award for the arts". The Straits Times.
  4. ^ "Lynnette Seah wins Cultural Medallion, Singapore's highest accolade in the arts" (PDF). Bravissimo!. 8 (1). Singapore Symphony Orchestra. January 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2009.
  5. ^ a b c ""文化奖"得主佘美幸陈楚智 不言倦不知足". Lianhe Zaobao (in Chinese (Singapore)). 21 October 2006. p. 34.
  6. ^ "小提琴手佘美幸 由德国学成归来". eresources.nlb.gov.sg (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Bernard Tan (陈 忠 义): The Science of Music" (PDF). National Library Board. p. 5.
  8. ^ "SSO 30th Anniversary Concert" (PDF).
  9. ^ "The Great Artists". The Living Room. 23 October 2006. Mediacorp. 938LIVE!.
  10. ^ "Lynnette Seah | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Lynette takes on a new name and a hectic schedule". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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