Cover Tan Weixiang, deputy music director of Jazz Association Singapore, with the orchestra
Tan Weixiang, deputy music director of Jazz Association Singapore, with the orchestra
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Jass marks SG60 and maestro Jeremy Monteiro’s 65th birthday with a gala that celebrates artistry, community and the evolution of Singapore’s jazz landscape
There are nights that invite a city to pause, listen and consider how its cultural story has been shaped. The Jazz Association Singapore (Jass) Benefit Gala 2025, aptly titled “Jazzy Jubilee – Gala of Celebrations”, promises to offer one such moment as the city’s jazz community gathers at the Shangri-La Singapore’s Island Ballroom on November 16 to honour two milestones that sit at the heart of national memory: the country’s 60th year of independence and the 65th birthday of maestro Jeremy Monteiro, the nation’s “King of Swing” and co-founder, executive director and music director of Jass. It is an evening designed not only to celebrate, but also to acknowledge the long arc of musical commitment that has defined Monteiro’s nearly five decades in jazz.
The significance of the night lies in its blend of artistry and purpose. On stage, an extraordinary slate of Singapore’s jazz greats will come together to honour a figure who has shaped generations of musicians. Louis Soliano, widely regarded as the Godfather of Jazz in Singapore, joins powerhouse vocalist Alemay Fernandez, rising talents Vanessa Shavonne and Siti Nur Iman, and the smooth, resonant style of Nick Zavior. They will perform with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (Jasso) under Monteiro’s baton, supported by deputy music directors Chok Kerong and Tan Weixiang. It is a programme curated with intention, tracing the breadth of the nation’s jazz expression while spotlighting the continuum of mentorship that defines the community.
In case you missed it: ‘A Great Day in Singapore’: Jazz Association Singapore recreates the famous Art Kane photograph
Above Maestro Jeremy Monteiro, who is also co-founder, executive director and music director of the Jazz Association Singapore (Photo: Russel Wong)
Maestro Jeremy Monteiro, who is also co-founder, executive director and music director of the Jazz Association Singapore (Photo: Russel Wong)
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Yet the gala’s purpose extends beyond performance. As a fundraising event, it reinforces Jass’s wider mission to nurture the country’s jazz ecosystem. Proceeds from the evening will enable the organisation to expand its work in education and outreach, strengthening platforms that allow young musicians to find their footing and seasoned ones to remain supported in times of difficulty. These initiatives include the Jass Music Scholarship Programme, which has already helped 12 young artists pursue studies locally and abroad; the Jass Support Fund, which offers emergency assistance to musicians in need; and Jass Junior, launched in 2025 to cultivate improvisers aged 17 and below, with pathways to Jasso and the Jazz Association Singapore Youth Orchestra, or Jassyo!
Read also: Young Jazz Singapore: Vocalist Siti Nur Iman Brings Musical Theatrics to Her Jazz Performances
Above The Jazz Association Singapore Benefit Gala 2025 is aptly titled “Jazzy Jubilee – Gala of Celebrations”
The Jazz Association Singapore Benefit Gala 2025 is aptly titled “Jazzy Jubilee – Gala of Celebrations”
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For supporters who value the arts as both cultural expression and community investment, the gala stands as a reminder that philanthropy can deepen a nation’s artistic future. Jass, established in 2016, remains Singapore’s first institution dedicated to the advancement, excellence and global presence of local jazz. Its work continues to expand audiences, foster talent and sustain a genre that thrives on collaboration and shared purpose.
Above Louis Soliano, Singapore’s Godfather of Jazz (Photo: Frenchescar Lim)
Above Rising talent Siti Nur Iman (Photo: GT Gan)
Louis Soliano, Singapore’s Godfather of Jazz (Photo: Frenchescar Lim)
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As Singapore celebrates a milestone year, the “Jazzy Jubilee” invites guests to celebrate not only a life in music, but the collective rhythm of a community that has given the nation its distinctive swing. It is, at its core, a tribute to the people who keep Singapore’s jazz heartbeat strong.
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.
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