A PERANAKAN dinner setting in the 1930s. A singer’s mysterious disappearance. Clues hidden in traditional tingkat carriers. Suspects seated among the diners. These were just some of the surprises in store for the guests of ChildAid 2023.

Organised by The Business Times and The Straits Times, the annual children’s charity fundraiser was envisioned for the first time as a musical mystery dinner theatre at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Monday (Dec 4) night.

Guests were treated to a delectable four-course dinner of Peranakan fusion fare, prepared by caterer Purple Sage. Meanwhile, they had to keep their eyes peeled for the surrounding action, that would have offered clues to the mystery they had to solve by the time dessert was served.

The guest of honour was Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat, who came with his wife Chang Hwee Nee. As with all the other diners, they were invited to guess who the perpetrator was and to submit their guesses using their mobile devices.

Other guests included Khaw Boon Wan, chairman of SPH Media Trust; Teo Lay Lim, chief executive of SPH Media; Wong Wei Kong, editor-in-chief of English/Malay/Tamil Media Group; Chen Huifen, editor of BT; and Jaime Ho, editor of ST.

Music and dance performances by 48 kids aged six to 19 were woven throughout the period whodunnit conceived by How Drama. Highlights included the dazzling Electone performance of Hong Shyan Yee, 12, who had composed his own jazz number; the beautiful vocals of Tara Puri, 13, singing Leonard Cohen’s classic ballad Hallelujah; and the stunning vocal agility of Cadence Sng, a 13-year-old yodeller who could switch pitches rapidly.

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Also memorable were brothers Newton and Newman Tong, two gifted pre-teen pianists playing complex classical melodies, and Aashi Anshuman Bhagwat singing Alan Walker’s Faded, accompanied by the six-girl cello group Voices of the Cellissima. Two ChildAid alumni, Amni Musfirah and Dennis Sofian, now professional artistes in their own right, lent their talents to the proceedings, supported by production partner Ebenex.

By the end of the night, the event had raised S$2,008,163 for two charities, The Business Times Budding Artists Fund and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. The money will go towards supporting at least 10,000 children from low-income households per year. 

The top donors were UOB, Mohamed Abdul Jaleel (from the MES group) and Citi Singapore. Their contributions and that of others brought the tally for all 19 editions of ChildAid staged since 2005 to S$30.6 million. 

DPM Heng said: “The Straits Times and The Business Times did a wonderful job of bringing together incredibly talented young performers for an enchanting evening of entertainment for charitable causes. The dedication and enthusiasm displayed by these children touched the hearts of everyone present, and reflected the positive impact that our collective efforts can have on the lives of those in need.”

Members of the public who wish to watch the concert online can do so from Dec 8, from 6 pm. Visit str.sg/childaid23