Violist Lionel Tan, founding member of Singapore’s T’ang Quartet, dies at 60

SINGAPORE – Founding member of T’ang Quartet violist Lionel Tan has died of a lung infection after battling oesophageal cancer. He was 60.

T’ang Quartet co-founder and his brother, cellist Leslie Tan, told The Straits Times that Lionel died at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital on May 31 at 8.35pm, surrounded by friends and family.

Leslie said: “He knew what was happening. He left instructions for me to take care of mum. He was witty, he was warm. He withdrew from public life towards the end, but he enjoyed reaching out to people. He was a great musician and a great teacher.” 

Leslie, who turns 62 in 2026, paid a moving tribute to his younger brother in a lengthy post on Facebook: “When we were younger, I always looked up to him... Lionel led – I was always a step or two behind...

“Tonight, Lionel beat me to it again. He should not have departed before me, but he did.” 

Lionel’s partner of 16 years, Marcia Tan, 54, accompanied him through his chemotherapy treatments from his diagnosis in January 2025. Given months to live, he survived for 1½ years. It was long enough to make clear his final wishes to loved ones, Marcia said, adding: “He didn’t want a funeral. I’m going to sort out the cremation and organise a beer party later.” 

Lionel’s close friend and oncologist Benjamin Chuah, who treated him, said he was “a true warrior who gave me hope”.

The Tan brothers, along with violinists Ang Chek Meng and Ng Yu-Ying, burst onto the classical scene in 1992 as the T’ang Quartet. Packaged in stylish black outfits as well as posing bare-chested like pop stars rather than conservative classical musicians, they were a phenomenon combining technical skills with marketing flair, attracting full houses to their chamber music concerts. 

While other home-grown string quartets debuted in the early 1990s and faded away, T’ang were remarkably long-lived. Over three decades, they became one of Singapore’s most prominent cultural ambassadors, performing extensively locally and overseas.

The Tan brothers left T’ang shortly before the quartet's 30th anniversary in 2022. They were succeeded by Han Oh in 2020 and Wang Zihao in 2021.

They chalked up successes including releasing three albums, winning the third prize as well as the Special Jury Prize at the International Joseph Joachim Chamber Music Competition in Weimar, Germany. They were also invited by the British Broadcasting Corporation to record for its World Recital Series in 2006.

Born to a teacher father and homemaker mother, Lionel was the second of three boys. His father is “a music enthusiast, self-taught, and gave all his children the opportunities he never had”, said Marcia.

Lionel began viola lessons with the then principal violist of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Jiri Heger, and won the viola/cello section of the National Music Competition the following year. He was awarded a Public Service Commission scholarship to study at London’s Royal College of Music and won the prestigious Lionel Tertis prize for outstanding performance. 

He spent 11 years with the SSO before leaving for T’ang Quartet. In 2003, he was appointed to the faculty at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at the National University of Singapore and the faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.

Kenneth Kwok, chief executive officer of SSO, told ST: “The founding members of the T’ang Quartet were all musicians with the SSO when they started what would go on to become a truly iconic force in the classical music scene in Singapore, the quartet also making the country proud with their international success.

“A sterling performer, Lionel has been an inspiration and role model to so many young musicians and music lovers over the years, and will be much missed, including by friends in the SSO.”

Goh Yew Lin, chairman of the SSO board, remembered Lionel as part of a cohort of brilliant young musicians who were funded by government scholarships. He told ST: “I have fond memories of many of those early T’ang concerts, and also those from later on when they joined the faculty of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. Lionel’s viola gave a distinctive and expressive middle voice to the ensemble.”

Lionel remained an active member of the classical music community and founded Tangent Moves, a collective of rotating musicians celebrating classic works.

He is survived by his parents, two brothers and partner.