The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is excited to announce the appointment of Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu as its new Music Director with effect from the 2026/27 season. He will be appointed for an initial three-year term, and takes over from Maestro Hans Graf who was appointed Chief Conductor in the 2020/21 season and later Music Director in 2022/23, and who has decided to end his tenure with the 2025/26 season.

“I am delighted to be joining the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as its next Music Director,” said Lintu. “The SSO is an orchestra with a vibrant energy as well as a passion and dedication to artistic growth. I look forward to collaborating with these wonderful musicians and the wider community, and to exploring new creative heights and engaging deeply with audiences both here in Singapore and internationally.”

Lintu’s appointment marks a new chapter for the SSO as the orchestra continues to expand its artistic reach and deepen its connection with local and international audiences. The 57-year-old conductor is renowned for his dynamic interpretations and broad repertoire, which spans symphonic, operatic, and contemporary music. He has held key positions, including Chief Conductor of the Finnish National Opera & Ballet, Music Director of the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir, Artistic Partner of the Lahti Symphony Orchestra and Chief Conductor of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. His innovative approach has garnered acclaim for championing new works and reviving lesser-known compositions, contributing significantly to the growth of contemporary classical music. Lintu’s performances are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical precision, solidifying his status as a respected figure in the global music community. A regular guest conductor with orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony, Suisse Romande, Tokyo Metropolitan, Boston Symphony, BBC Symphony and London Philharmonic,  recent debuts have included concerts with the New York and Berlin Philharmonics as well as a production of Pelléas et Mélisande with the Bayerischer Staatsoper.    

“I am thrilled to welcome Hannu Lintu to the SSO family. He is an artist of uncommon breadth who from his debut concert with the SSO in 2017 demonstrated an immediate and warm rapport with both musicians and audience.  We look forward to an exciting musical journey together under his artistic leadership,” said Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chair of the Singapore Symphony Group.

In 2023, a search committee was formed to identify Graf’s successor. The committee, led by Mr Goh, consulted the orchestra through a poll of potential candidates in early 2024, taking into account the musicians’ commendation for Lintu’s past engagements with the SSO.  They were also kept updated on the year-long search at townhalls and Musicians’ Committee meetings. 

“We are very fortunate to have had Maestro Hans Graf as our Music Director,” said Mr Kenneth Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Symphony Group.  “He brings with him tremendous acclaim, experience, and knowledge as a conductor who has been on the world stage for many years. It was especially challenging for him to lead the orchestra through his first season (2020/21) due to the COVID-19 restrictions. However, it is because of Maestro’s formidable skill in pulling musicians together and building them up as a dynamic unit that we have emerged so strongly from the pandemic, playing again excellent concerts with memorable programmes to full houses of enthusiastic concertgoers who have remarked on the unity of the musicians and the growing musical strength of the orchestra. 

“We understand his decision to step down after the 2025/26 season to adopt a less hectic pace of life, and we wish him all the best. More than our Music Director, he has also become a very good friend of the Group and Singapore, having conducted not only in our concert halls but also for community programmes.”

Reflecting on his time with the orchestra, Graf said: “I have always deeply valued the privilege to work with the SSO, this dedicated and passionate group of musicians. It will have been an extraordinary journey of artistic growth, particularly after the initial challenges we faced together due to the pandemic. The musicians’ resilience and energy are a testament to the spirit of the orchestra and its audiences, and it is with joy and confidence that I look forward to seeing Hannu Lintu further inspire and elevate this wonderful ensemble.”

Lintu will conduct the SSO for two weeks in the 2025/26 season as guest conductor and Music Director-designate. More details will be announced in May 2025.

Following a major donation to the orchestra by a donor who prefers to remain anonymous, the Music Director position will now be named Quantedge Music Director, effective immediately and extending into Maestro Lintu’s tenure as well. This is the first named Music Director in the history of the SSO. This milestone builds on the establishment of four named chairs since 2017.

“How wonderful to start 2025, our SG60 year, with this very generous gift from a Singaporean who is passionate about symphonic music and personally committed to the continued success of our national orchestra. This is the largest single personal donation we have received to our endowment since the orchestra’s inception and is a significant contribution to securing the long-term financial sustainability of the Singapore Symphony,” Mr Kwok added.