Singapore, 8 September 2018 (Saturday) – The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) held its Fundraising Gala Dinner and Concert, titled Suona Fantasia, on 7 September 2018, at the Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. Through this event, SCO raised a total of $1,500,000. All proceeds will go into the development and funding of operating cost of SCO, of which, $1,400,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Cultural Matching Fund from the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. The event was graced by SCO Patron, Prime Minister and Mrs Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth Mr and Mrs Baey Yam Keng, National Arts Council Chairman Professor Chan Heng Chee and prominent Singaporean leaders and friends of the orchestra.
This event announced the retirement of seven of SCO’s Board of Directors, namely Chairman Mr Patrick Lee Kwok Kie, Mr Choo Thiam Siew, A/P Ho Chee Kong, Mr Lau Kam Yuen, Mr Victor Lye, Mr Seng Han Thong and Mr Till Vestring.
SCO Patron, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in his message, “SCO has benefitted greatly from the steadfast and generous support of its Board. They have worked tirelessly to build up the resources for SCO. Its Chairman, Mr Patrick Lee has also been active in sharing the vision of SCO with his extensive network. He thus helped SCO to create new and exciting partnerships, including working with Yangzheng Foundation to encourage arts and cultural appreciation in students.”
Chairperson of the fundraising committee, Mrs Goh Chok Tong, thanked the donors, “As the people’s orchestra, SCO has continued to bring music to the community with her outreach programmes. SCO has collaborated with partners to help nurture the underserved through various music programmes to inspire and develop young talents and to provide them a platform to express themselves and to perform on stage. SCO continues to make Singapore proud with its efforts to promote Chinese arts and culture, develop her national identity through its unique Nanyang music and to bring its vibrancy to the international stage”
SCO’s fundraising gala is an important event with a unique programme every year as each year’s fundraising gala is conceptualised through the inspiration of a Chinese instrument. This year’s fundraising gala, under the Fundraising chairmanship of Mrs Goh Chok Tong, featured the Chinese woodwind instrument – suona. 420 guests enjoyed the five-course Chinese fusion dinner. Besides the delectable dinner, guests enjoyed performances by SCO under the baton of Music Director Tsung Yeh. Titled Suona Fantasia, the concert featured an exhilarating programme under the music directorship of Tsung Yeh, to showcase the suona and a showcase of duets and duo concertos with the full orchestra to signify pairs to commemorate SCO’s 22nd year.
Showcasing the exuberance of suona, SCO suona musicians performed Hundred Birds Adoring a Phoenix ( 百 鸟 朝 凤 ) with the SCO. Erhu musician Tan Man Man and Qin Zi Jing performed Flight of the Bumble Bee, pipa principal Yu Jia and guzheng musician performed A Moonlit Night on a Spring River (春江花月夜), while percussion principal Xu Fan and musician Benjamin Boo performed the rousing Bull Battling The Tiger (牛斗虎). In this concert, SCO world premiered Eric Watson’s Reaching The Summit and also performed arrangements by composer-in-residence: Polovtsian Dances No. 4, 5 and 7 by Alexander Borodin, the First movement: The Voyage from Admiral of the Seven Seas – Zheng He and Alla Turca, a piano and orchestra composition by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Tsung Yeh on the piano.
To express appreciation to all donors and sponsors, Fundraising chairperson Mrs Goh Chok Tong herself, accompanied by Music Director Tsung Yeh on the piano, graced all present with her vocal skills in Three Wishes of the Rose, Yearnings, Heavenly Road and an encore of Chi il bel sogno di Doretta by Giacomo Puccini.
SCO expresses its heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to donors and sponsors who have helped to make the fundraising dinner a success. Funds raised would help the SCO to fulfil its vision of being a world-renowned Chinese Orchestra with a uniquely Singaporean character, and to inspire both Singapore and the world with its music.
Please download event photos from the link below: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dluz61j7lzqj1o7/AAA-xwIqnannRntEQyv0-e95a?dl=0
Prime Minister and Mrs Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng, Fundraising Chairperson Mrs Goh Chok Tong and SCO management watching on the welcoming fanfare.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng with SCO Board of Directors and management in a group picture.
SCO Fundraising Committee Chairperson, Mrs Goh Chok Tong, addressed guests with her welcome speech.
SCO Board Chairman, Mr Patrick Lee, addressed guests with his welcome speech.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and SCO’s 7 retiring Board of Directors: Chairman Mr Patrick Lee Kwok Kie, Mr Choo Thiam Siew, A/P Ho Chee Kong, Mr Lau Kam Yuen, Mr Victor Lye, Mr Seng Han Thong and Mr Till Vestring with SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh and Executive Director Terence Ho.
Mrs Goh Chok Tong serenaded guests with SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh on the piano.
For more information, photographs, and interviews, please contact the Media Officers below:
Media Contacts
Koh Mui Leng
Assistant Director (Marketing Communications)
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Valesha Soon Weixuan
Senior Executive (Marketing Communications)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel: 6557 4037 / 9187 3418