BT and CapitaLand team up to stage a Sunburst of joy

Singapore

A CONCERT featuring some of Singapore's emerging musical talents will be held on Oct 20 to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore (MDAS) and the School of the Arts (Sota) student assistance fund.

To date, nearly S$230,000 has been raised for the two beneficiaries. The show, titled Sunburst: The Business Times-CapitaLand Fundraising Concert, will be staged at Sota's concert hall at 3pm and 8pm.

The Business Times (BT) is the organiser, and CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthrophic arm of CapitaLand, is the presenting sponsor.

StarHub and Standard Chartered Bank are diamond sponsors, while many other corporate and individual donors have also come forward to support the initiative.

Senior Minister of State (Culture, Community and Youth, and Trade and Industry) Sim Ann is the guest of honour for the concert.

The show is produced by Global Cultural Alliance, a non-profit arts and culture organisation, and curated by artistic director Jeremiah Choy.

Some of the highlights include a performance by former Nominated Member of Parliament, Eunice Olsen, together with members of MDAS, and a piano performance by Ron Tan, who has a hearing impairment.

Both current and former students of Sota are also slated to perform. One of them is vocalist Amni Musfirah, who has performed at major shows such as the opening ceremony of the 2009 Asian Youth Games, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

"The curatorial thought behind Sunburst is to capture the sunflower's qualities of warmth, vibrancy, nourishment and longevity," said Mr Choy.

"The petals are like sun rays bursting outward to the universe; we hope to bring a gift of joy and extend dreams of possibilities from our collaborators and sponsors to the beneficiaries."

In the days leading up to the concert, members of MDAS and Sota students are working together on a linoleum print-making project.

The prints will be copied and carved onto linoleum blocks, and go on display at Sota Gallery as part of the school's Year 1 and 2 showcase exhibition.

BT editor Wong Wei Kong said the newspaper has always engaged in charity and community work in the arts and cultural sectors, such as The Business Times Budding Artists Fund for children from lower-income families.

"In our aim to reach out even further and wider into the community, we have thus decided to expand our work to look into how we can impact, not just the financially challenged but also those with physical disabilities," he said.

"Sunburst symbolises that balance. It seeks to help students requiring additional financial support for their studies in Sota and it highlights the work of MDAS, a self-help organisation that focuses on muscular disability that is ever present in our society, and which needs support and attention."

CapitaLand president and group CEO Lim Ming Yan said his company maintains the belief that corporates can play an important role in contributing towards the building of an inclusive and caring society.

"We recognise that the long-term success of a company is closely linked with the health and prosperity of the communities we operate in. Through CHF, we have been supporting the development needs of underprivileged children in Singapore and the region.

"Beyond donations, we leverage our expertise to build homes and schools, initiate assistance programmes for the community and promote an ethos of volunteerism among our staff."

MDAS executive director Sherena Loh hopes to leverage the concert to drum up greater awareness and support for muscular dystrophy. "The funds raised will enable MDAS to continue to reach out to those challenged by the severe disabling condition so that they too can enjoy an improved quality of life," she said.

Sota principal Lim Geok Cheng stressed that no child should be deprived of or denied an education in the arts, due to any financial disadvantage.

The school's student assistance fund has helped those in need of financial assistance to cover their expenses for laptops and examination fees, among others.

"With more funds raised (for the fund), we wish to extend the help we offer our students to include the purchase of books, uniforms, arts materials, food and transportation costs.

"Students should not have to worry about meeting basic needs and give their full attention to receiving a holistic education at Sota," she said.