Abisheganaden, Paul

Paul Selvaraj Abisheganaden (1914 – 2011) was a pioneer in Singapore’s music history and was widely known as Singapore’s “Grand Old Man of Music”. He played a key role in establishing Singapore’s orchestral and choral traditions and was instrumental in bringing Western classical music to local audiences. Born in Penang and raised in Singapore from the age of two, Abisheganaden demonstrated an early aptitude for music, learning the violin at the age of four and singing in the choir at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. He studied at Serangoon English School, St. Andrew’s School, and Raffles College before graduating in 1934 with a Diploma in Arts. During the Japanese occupation after World War II, he played the violin in the Japanese-led Syonan Kokkaido Orchestra, gaining his first experience in conducting. He filled in when the orchestra’s leader was indisposed. In 1947, he became the first Singaporean to be awarded a British Council scholarship to study music in the United Kingdom, where he trained in singing and conducting at London’s Guildhall School of Music. Abisheganaden began his education career by teaching English and music at various schools. He introduced Singapore’s first school anthem at Geylang English School in 1935 and pioneered music programmes that would shape the future of school music education. Eventually, he rose to become Principal of Victoria School (1959–1962) and the Teachers’ Training College (1963–1968), and was later appointed as Chief Inspector of Schools.

A major milestone in his musical career came in 1950 when he founded the Singapore Chamber Ensemble (SCE), the first major local orchestra and choir group under Singaporean leadership. It evolved into the most active amateur orchestra and chorus in Singapore for almost 30 years, nurturing local talent and presenting major choral-orchestral works to the public. He was also instrumental in founding and conducting the Singapore Junior Symphony Orchestra, a precursor to today’s Singapore Youth Orchestra. His commitment to music education extended to mass community events, including conducting a 4,500-strong combined choir for Billy Graham’s evangelical rally in 1978. He also served in various cultural roles, including Chief of the Ministry of Education’s Cultural Affairs Unit and as a representative at regional music conferences. He promoted music and other arts to generate public appreciation of the arts.

In 1979, Abisheganaden was appointed the founding Director of the Centre for Musical Activities at the National University of Singapore (NUS), where he established and led the university’s symphony orchestra until 1993.  In 2005, the NUS published his book Notes Across the Years: Anecdotes from a Musical Life, a semi-autobiography detailing the history of Western classical music performance and teaching in Singapore from the 1920s to the 1980s. Abisheganaden received many accolades, including the Member of the Order of the British Empire (1956), the Cultural Medallion (1986), the COMPASS Meritorious Award (2006), and the NUS Distinguished Alumni Service Award (2007). He passed away in 2011 at the age of 97. In 2012, his family established the Paul Abisheganaden Grant for Artistic Excellence at NUS to continue his legacy, which has inspired generations of musicians and educators. His brother Alex Abisheganaden was also a distinguished musician who is considered the “Father of the Guitar” in Singapore.



For more information
Paul Abisheganaden. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.nlb.gov.sg/main/article-detail?cmsuuid=492eda72-11e0-400e-962f-368e14694bea
Paul Abisheganaden. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/paul-abisheganaden
Paul Abisheganaden. Accessed 1 August 2025. https://pianofortephilia.blogspot.com/2011/09/we-remember-paul-abisheganaden-1914.html#:~:text=Guildhall%20School%20of%20Music%20and,the%20education%20and%20administrative%20service 

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The information in this article is valid as of August 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit here.