The violin case was previously owned by Mr. Goh Soon Tioe (1911 – 1982), an instrumental figure in the development of classical music in post-war Singapore. Trained in the Geneva Conservatoire as well as Paris, Barcelona and Brussels as a violinist, Goh eventually founded the Goh Soon Tioe String Orchestra (1953), and later became the conductor of the Singapore Youth Symphony Orchestra (1971-1975). He was awarded Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Meritorious Service Medal) in 1963 in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music in Singapore.The case used to hold two violins made by famed violin-maker Alfred Vidoudez (1879 - 1943), who was appointed luthier to the Geneva Conservatoire (‘Vidoudez Geneve’ is on the label on the interior of the case).
