Sunburst 2021 concert celebrates friendships, 'good vibes' in 3 episodes

THE annual Sunburst concert to raise funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore) (MDAS) and the School of the Arts Endowment Fund (Sota EF) will be presented in a series of episodes to be released online at 8 pm on Oct 15, 22 and 29.

The event, in its fifth edition, aims to raise S$230,000 for the MDAS and Sota EF. The Business Times (BT) is the organiser and CapitaLand, the presenting donor.

The episodes go live on the 3 remaining Fridays of this month on Sota's YouTube channel.

Sunburst 2021 is going virtual for the second consecutive year due to the current Covid-19 safe-management measures. Last year, it was similarly broadcast through YouTube, but as a single concert. Previous editions were one-day, in-person events.

BT editor Wong Wei Kong said that the past 18 months living with the pandemic has shown how important a strong social network is to the well-being of everyone, and especially for youth.

"Young people need encouragement and to know that they can depend on friends and family for emotional support, for someone to come alongside and say they are journeying with them. Sunburst celebrates the gift of good friendships and how those bonds are a source of joy and strength," he added.

A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU

Friday, 2 pm

Lifestyle

Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.

Sign Up

Inspired by the phenomenon of sympathetic vibration or resonance, this year's virtual performances take on the theme of #goodvibes, and celebrate the friendships and lives that Sunburst has touched since it began in 2017.

Viewers can watch the heart-warming original theme song, Step Into The Future, written and composed by 3 Sota students and performed by 7 MDAS members and a Sota alumnus.

Theatre practitioner Jeremiah Choy, creative director for Sunburst 2021, said he was inspired by how the relationships borne out of the last 4 editions of the show had developed despite the odds and circumstances.

"I'm looking to discover how we can step into the future together, as the theme song goes. Not just the performers, but all who are part of it - the organisers, the sponsors, the supporters and the volunteers as well," he said.

Tan Seng Chai, chief corporate and people officer for CapitaLand Investment and executive director of CapitaLand Hope Foundation, said that the company, through its philanthropic arm, has been supporting the social growth and development of children in need, as part of its efforts to help build an inclusive society.

"Through our support for the Sunburst concert, which provides a platform for children with different abilities to showcase their creativity and resilience, we aim to inspire more people to show compassion and empathy to those around them," Tan added.

"We hope that these young talents will continue to display courage to pursue their dreams and share the spirit of giving," he said.

Produced by arts and culture not-for-profit organisation Global Cultural Alliance, Sunburst 2021 aims to encapsulate and portray the connections formed, starting with the hopeful awkwardness of a first encounter. It also explores the adventure into the unknown in artistic collaborations between new friends, as well as the initial feelings of nervousness and curiosity between strangers blossoming into a lifetime of friendship.

The main visual for the concert was created digitally by Sota's Year 4 visual arts student Natasha Ng and MDAS member Muhammad Saifudeen, who worked online via Zoom due to the Covid-19 safe-management measures.

The piece was likewise inspired by the idea of forging new friendships; the full artwork will be unveiled during the final episode on Oct 29.

Main donors are Standard Chartered Bank and OCBC Bank, while DBS Bank is a Silver donor with SPH Foundation as a supporter.

The public can make donations at this link.