Life & Culture

Curtains up! ChildAid returns to full-scale presentation

Organised by BT and ST, the annual charity concert is searching for performers aged 19 and below

Helmi Yusof

Published Mon, Jun 27, 2022 · 06:00 PM

DUST off the spotlights, test every mike. Singapore’s biggest children’s charity concert ChildAid is set to return as a full-scale, in-person production, with a large cast and the ol’ razzle dazzle.

For the past two years, the concert had to contend with small casts, spaced-out choreographies, masked musicians and other performance restrictions. The 2020 concert was an online-only production, while the 2021 concert was a hybrid (online and live) affair with a cast of only 31.

But with Covid-19 regulations eased, organisers The Business Times and The Straits Times hope to bring back the scope, scale and spectacle last seen in ChildAid 2019.

Wong Wei Kong, editor of The Business Times, says: “There’s no substitute for a live ChildAid concert and witnessing the energy and passion that our young performers bring to the stage. Although we pivoted successfully to online and hybrid showcases these past 2 years, we can’t wait to welcome a full-capacity audience once more to our music celebration and fundraiser this year. Music is better when experienced together.”

Young dancers striking a pose at the ChildAid 2018 chaity concert, which saw over 100 performers aged 5 to 19. The Straits Times

ChildAid 2022: All Together Now is set to be staged on Dec 13, with tickets sales open to the public on a later date.

The organisers are now looking for young talents aged 19 and below who can sing, dance, compere or play a musical instrument. They would need to film a video of them performing, upload it on YouTube or WeTransfer, and submit it to str.sg/ca22entry by Jul 31.

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Along with their submission, they should include a short write-up about why they would like to perform for ChildAid. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for the audition in person on Aug 13 and 14. Rehearsals will run from Sep 5 to 7 and from Nov 21 to Dec 9.

Young performers sang and danced to hits from the 1960s to the present at the ChildAid 2018 concert gala night at the Resorts World Theatre. The Straits Times

Now in its 18^th year, ChildAid has been raising funds for The Business Times Budding Artists Fund (BT BAF) and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (ST SPMF) since 2005. The former helps artistically-talented children from low-income families pursue their passions, while the latter helps underprivileged children pay for lunch and transport fares to and from school.

Over the years, ChildAid has raised over S$25 million for the two charities and helped hundreds of thousands of children.

At the height of the pandemic, the concert had to be taken online and featured smaller casts. The Straits Times

The main sponsors for ChildAid 2022 are United Overseas Bank and Citi Singapore with Shinji as a platinum sponsor. Global Cultural Alliance will serve as the executive producer for the concert with Orangedot Productions as creative partner. The concert venue will be confirmed at a later stage.

ChildAid 2022’s artistic director Jeremiah Choy says: “I am looking forward to welcoming new and returning performers to our annual ChildAid celebrations and fundraiser. Nothing can replace the excitement of rehearsing in person and sharing new memories of friendship and songs. Let’s make it happen again, All Together Now!”