Over $1.17 Million Raised at SSO 45th Anniversary Benefit Dinner, graced by President Tharman
Taking centre stage were young Singaporean talents Jade Tan and Samuel Phua.
Singapore, 17 May 2024 — The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) annual fundraising gala raised over $1.178 million on Saturday, 11 May 2024. Held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, the social event was attended by over 460 distinguished guests, including President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as Guest-of-Honour.
With the SSO marking its 45th anniversary this year, the benefit dinner returned as the SSO Symphony Ball, organised by a new committee helmed by its Chair Ms Paige Parker. Themed Joie de Vire, the event comprised an elaborate French dinner menu and a live auction segment, featuring a line-up of premium spirits and jewellery, that raised $176,500 alone.
The pièce de résistance of the evening was the live performance by the national orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Hans Graf. This was Maestro's debut at this fundraising tradition. The all-French music programme also spotlighted two young Singaporean soloists, mezzo-soprano Jade Tan and saxophonist Samuel Phua, along with SSO Section Violin Tseng Chieh-An.
In his opening address, President Tharman highlighted the importance of SSO’s role in the local cultural and arts scene: “As a national orchestra, SSO is pivotal to the ecosystem that both cultivates a love for music in our people, and nurtures the next generation of talented musicians.”
Separately, Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chair of the Singapore Symphony Group, shared the Group’s vision for the national orchestra: “Our aim must be to build for Singapore one of the great orchestras of the 21st century. This ambition sets a very high bar, not least because Singapore itself continues to grow in standing as a great global city.”
Funds raised will go towards SSO’s continuing musical journey, including the staging of world-class concert hall performances as well as free school and community concerts. The funds also support the resumption of overseas tours in the 2024/2025 concert season and the work of the Group in nurturing talents as part of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the Singapore Symphony Choruses.
The next edition of the SSO Symphony Ball will return on 26 April 2025, held at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
ABOUT THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY GROUP
The Singapore Symphony Group manages the flagship Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Choruses, the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and the VCHpresents Chamber Music series, the Singapore International Piano Festival and the biennial National Piano & Violin Competition. The Group also represents the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) in Singapore.
The mission of the Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich our diverse communities.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Elliot Lim
Singapore Symphony Group
E: elliot.lim@sso.org.sg
