Cover Nathan Hartono, Jeremy Monteiro, Joanna Dong
Nathan Hartono, Jeremy Monteiro, Joanna Dong
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The fundraiser was a triple celebration of Jass’ upcoming 6th anniversary, its co-founder Jeremy Monteiro’s 45th career-anniversary, and the 121st birthday of jazz legend Louis Armstrong
It was the first full-fledged in-person gala organised by an arts company since the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in April. The Jazz Association Singapore (Jass) held its benefit gala at the Island Ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore on July 31, which was graced by guest of honour Indranee Rajah, minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and second minister for finance and national development, and attended by almost 500 of its donors, sponsors and supporters.
The milestone occasion was a triple celebration of Jass’ upcoming 6th anniversary, its co-founder and Singapore’s King of Swing Jeremy Monteiro’s 45th career-anniversary, and the 121st birthday of jazz legend Louis Armstrong, the father of modern jazz.
And what a night of swinging good fun it was. Monteiro, who is also Jass’ executive director and music director, was joined on stage by two of Singapore’s foremost jazz and pop stars, Nathan Hartono and Joanna Dong, as well as the Jass orchestras, performing a repertoire of jazz standards, and classic favourites from Louis Armstrong.
The surprise of the night was perhaps Monteiro’s vocal performance of a verse from Louis Armstrong’s whimsical tune, Hello, Dolly, alongside Hartono and Dong.
In case you missed it: Jazz Maestro Jeremy Monteiro Reflects on 45 Years of His Music Career
George So, Jeremy Monteiro, Edmund Lam, Susan Peh, Albert Chiu, Sean Wu
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The Jass Benefit Gala 2022 raised more than SG$700,000. Jass vice-chairman Susan Peh, who also chaired the gala committee, shared: “We are very touched and extremely grateful to our donors and sponsors for their generosity towards Jass. The economic situation remains challenging. As a young arts company, Jass needs all the help it can get to fulfil its mission of building Singapore into a vibrant global city of jazz.”
In the organisation’s six years of existence, Monteiro shared that it “not only pursued excellence in jazz, we have also reached out to over half a million audiences in Singapore and across the world, making jazz accessible to people of all ages”.
Read also: 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Jazz Association Singapore
Jeremy Monteiro
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And it is also developing young jazz talent through its Jass Scholarship Programme which, to date, has supported nine scholars in their jazz studies both in Singapore and overseas. It also continues to support eligible jazz musicians impacted by crisis through the Jass Crisis Fund.
At the benefit gala, Jass also launched a new campaign called “Build Your Music Legacy through Jazz”, encouraging its donors and supporters to commission a piece of original music written by composers from the Jass orchestras, including its music directors, Monteiro and senior associate music director Weixiang Tan. This is to encourage the creation of more jazz masterpieces in Singapore.
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As Senior Editor of Tatler Singapore, Hashirin champions and refines the storytelling across platforms—curating and crafting compelling profiles, cover stories and features that spotlight visionaries shaping culture, business and impact. Driven by curiosity, she draws inspiration from the artists, changemakers and trailblazers she encounters through her work. Beyond the pages of Tatler, she is an avid supporter of local theatre and delights in seeking out art in every city she visits.
