It was a night to remember with the return of SSO Symphony Ball, an annual fundraising gala benefitting the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Held on 26 April 2025 at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, the social event welcomed over 380 guests, with Guest-of-Honour Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat in attendance.
Led by Committee Chair Ms Paige Parker, the Ball was presented under the theme Straits Serenade as a heartfelt tribute to Singapore’s 60th birthday. Singaporean influences radiated throughout the evening’s programme, including a sumptuous dining experience infused with beloved local flavours. Guests were also treated to an exciting live charity auction and a live performance by the national orchestra.
With sincerest gratitude to our donors, sponsors and guests including Presenting Partner DBS, the gala raised over $1.4 million through table reservations, the auction and outright donations. The charity auction alone garnered $152k, featuring a lineup of premium spirits donated by generous benefactors.
This year, we gather under the theme Straits Serenade, in celebration of Singapore’s 60th birthday — a meaningful milestone for a country I’ve been proud to call home for almost two decades. In that time, I’ve come to believe that the arts, music in particular, are essential to Singapore’s soul.
Befitting its namesake, the highlight of the Symphony Ball was the live symphonic showcase by the national orchestra. SSO musicians violinist Kong Xianlong and trumpeter Lau Wen Rong, both of whom are Singaporeans, took centre stage as soloists. Xianlong serenaded guests with the expressive theme from Ladies in Lavender while Wen Rong delivered a joyful rendition of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major. As a nod to the Singaporean-seasoned evening, the orchestra presented two local compositions: Spring! by Cultural Medallion-recipient Kelly Tang, and The Awakening, the iconic theme from Singapore’s pioneering 1984 period drama of the same name.
As a special treat, the Singapore Symphony Children's Choir also performed side by side with the SSO in a heartwarming rendition of the nation’s unofficial national anthem, Dick Lee’s Home. To close the night, the musicians and young choristers delighted audiences with a surprise encore of Gilpin’s Why We Sing.
Just as we celebrate how far Singapore has come in the past 60 years, the SSO commits itself to be the great orchestra that every great city needs, one which both reflects and magnifies the success of its home.
A standing ovation goes to the SSO Symphony Ball Committee, chaired by Ms. Paige Parker, whose dedication was the driving force behind the event’s success. The funds raised will support the SSO’s ongoing musical endeavours, including world-class concert performances, free school and community concerts, and the nurturing of talent within the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Choruses.
The next edition of the SSO Symphony Ball will return on 16 May 2026, held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore. For table donations, sponsorships or other ways to support the event, please contact chelsea.zhao@sso.org.sg
SSO SYMPHONY BALL DONORS 2025
Presenting Partner
DBS Bank Ltd
Platinum Donors ($50,000 and above)
Aquilus Pte Ltd
Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin
Mind the Gap 200 Fund
Paige Parker & Jim Rogers
Gold Donors ($25,000 and above)
Prof Chan Heng Chee
Geraldine Choong & Dennis Au
Elaine and Eduardo Saverin Foundation Ltd
Far East Organization
Dr Geh Min
Kris Foundation
Neo Group Limited
Patek Philippe Southeast Asia
Priscylla Shaw
Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao
UOB
Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong
Silver donors ($15,000 and above)
Anthony & Chloe Tan from ACE Team Foundation
Kevin & Carrie Burke
Lito & Kim Camacho
Hastens
Miriam & Merle Hinrich
Jeffrey Khoo
Kris Foundation - Ms Lim Kang Ning
Kenneth Kwok
LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd
LOY Contemporary Art Gallery
MTM Skincare Pte Ltd
Eva & Nilay Patel
Farhana Sharmeen
Martin Siah & Wendy Long
Dr Karen Soh
Stephen Riady Foundation
Tower Capital Asia
V3 Wellness Pte Ltd
Watson Farley & Williams LLP
Jacqueline Yeh
Anonymous
$10,000 and above
Cavazos Tinajero Family
Vanessa & Darren Iloste
Marina Bay Sands
Paul & Lena Ng
Poh Khim Hong
Bernard Ryan & Michael Rowe
Prof Gralf & Silvia Sieghold
Joy & Han Li Toh
Mr Xu & Mrs Cairong Ren
Anonymous
Up to $8000
Lawrence Basapa
Julian & Sandra Chang
Arnoud De Meyer
John & Pauline Foo
Goh Swee Chen
Guy Hentsch & Geoffrey Yu
Liwen & Steven Holmes
Maisy Koh
Dr Jade Kua
Winston & Valerie Kwek
Lee Ming San
Gin & Doug
Dr Victor Lim
Debby Lim
April Mak
Nicole Padilla & Sebastian Sohn
Kadir Satar
Janek Schergen
Giles Tan Ming Yee
Benedict Teo
Wang Pei Zhong
Kris Wiluan
Jenny Zhu Huimin
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