50 Pianos for 50 Schools:
50 Schools Receive Full Ownership of Sing50 Pianos to Keep Singapore’s Music Heritage Alive
- Private sector initiated Sing50 Fund will be gifting the ownership of 50 pianos that it has loaned to 50 schools through its Adopt-a-Piano programme.
- DBS/POSB will be making a donation of SGD$60,000 for music series Singapore Rhapsodies for the third year running.
- With effect from April 2019, Sing50 Fund will be managed by Global Cultural Alliance, a wholly owned subsidiary of The RICE Company Limited
Singapore, August 18, 2018 – This August, 50 schools will become owners of grand pianos that were previously on long term loan to them from a local private sector initiated fund.
The Sing50 Fund will be gifting the 50 Steinway designed Lang Lang baby grand pianos under its Adopt-a-Piano programme to the schools which the Fund had loaned the piano to. The fund and programme were set up to continue the efforts to preserve and showcase Singapore’s music and songs in Singapore’s jubilee celebration in 2015. All 50 pianos were featured at mega Sing50 concert organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times.
The 50 schools will now have full ownership of the pianos.
Says Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of the Sing50 Fund, “We noted that the schools have been very committed in using these pianos to promote our local music through their music programmes and community platforms. It is encouraging to see our schools supporting our students in composing their original music. Through the full ownership of the pianos, we hope that this will serve as a greater impetus and further empower the 50 schools to continue their work in promoting Singapore music within their school curriculum and activities. We also hope that the schools will become a place where original music will be created and our music heritage enriched and perpetuated.”
The gifting of the 50 pianos coincides with the third anniversary celebration of Singapore Rhapsodies, a music series which has served as a key platform for young musicians and students to perform original compositions and promote Singapore’s music and songs. The series has successfully seen more than 2,000 students from over 70 schools and arts groups in Singapore perform at iconic public destinations to date. Singapore Rhapsodies was held at National Museum of Singapore for the past year since July 2017, and was previously held at National Gallery Singapore in 2016.
Says Ms Angelita Teo, Director, National Museum of Singapore, “We look forward to welcoming even more students and aspiring young musicians to the museum to perform their original compositions and renditions of Singapore’s favourite tunes. Through Singapore Rhapsodies, the National Museum aims to continue to support our home-grown artists by providing them with a platform to showcase their talents, while strengthening our exciting programmes at the museum.”
To date, the success of Singapore Rhapsodies has been made possible through the steadfast support from DBS/POSB which has been the programme’s presenting sponsor since its inception. For a third year running, DBS/POSB will be making a donation of $60,000 to Sing50 Fund in support of the programme.
Explains Ms Susan Cheong, Head of POSB, ” As ‘Neighbours First, Bankers Second’,we at POSB are delighted to support youth who have a passion for music and believe that Singapore Rhapsodies is a great programme to inspire and groom budding musical talents. It is our belief that this programme will continue to celebrate and nurture the spirit of creativity in young Singaporeans.”
To mark this occasion, a special edition of Singapore Rhapsodies – Appreciation Day will be held at the National Museum of Singapore, which for the past year has been programme partner for the series. The programme for this edition will see performances by Victoria Chinese Orchestra, River Valley High’s String Ensemble, singer-songwriter ANNETTE as well as young aspiring songwriters Isaiah Hui and Stefanie Loh, who will be performing their original compositions.
Members of the media are invited to Singapore Rhapsodies – Appreciation Day, on August 18, 2018, Saturday, 2.30pm to 4pm, at National Museum of Singapore, The Platform (Level 2), 93 Stamford Road Singapore 178897.