Cover Samuel Phua, Jade Tan, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Jane Ittogi and Tseng Chieh-An. (Photo: Terence Tan / MCI)
Samuel Phua, Jade Tan, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Jane Ittogi and Tseng Chieh-An. (Photo: Terence Tan / MCI)
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The Singapore Symphony Orchestra gala dinner this year took inspiration from Maestro Hans Graf’s love for French food and wine, offering an ode to France’s rich history and how it revolutionised symphonic music
It was a beautiful night that offered an ode to France’s rich history. Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s (SSO) 2024 benefit dinner was a splendid success as it returned as the SSO Symphony Ball.
Held at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore, the annual fundraising gala raised over SG$1.178 million on May 11. Over 460 guests were in attendance, including guest-of-honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The SSO celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and the benefit dinner returned as the SSO Symphony Ball, organised by a new committee helmed by chair, Paige Parker.
Each year, the dinner takes on a different theme, with this year’s being ‘Joie de Vire’, which translates to ‘enjoyment of life’ in French.
The social event included an elaborate French-inspired dinner menu and a live auction segment, featuring a line-up of premium spirits and jewellery, that raised $176,500 alone.
Read more: Oh! Open House raises SG$350,000 for its Back to School Benefit Gala 2023
Above SSO under the baton of music director Hans Graf (Photo: Chris. P Lim / Singapore Symphony Orchestra)
SSO under the baton of music director Hans Graf (Photo: Chris. P Lim / Singapore Symphony Orchestra)
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The highlight of the evening was a live performance by the national orchestra, under the baton of music director Hans Graf, who made his debut at this fundraiser. The all-French music programme spotlighted two young and talented Singaporean soloists, mezzo-soprano Jade Tan and saxophonist Samuel Phua, alongside 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.”
Chair of the Singapore Symphony Group Goh Yew Lin later 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.”
Above President Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivering his opening address (Photo: Terence Tan / MCI)
President Tharman Shanmugaratnam delivering his opening address (Photo: Terence Tan / MCI)
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Funds raised will go towards SSO’s continuing musical journey, including the staging of world-class concert hall performances and 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 SSO Symphony Ball will return next year on April 26, held at The Ritz Carlton, Millenia Singapore.
Click through the gallery below for more photos from the event.
Chew Shou Zi and Paige Parker (Photo: Chris. P Lim / Singapore Symphony Orchestra)
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Andrea Saadan is the Senior Digital Editor of Tatler Singapore. She oversees all digital content for the website and currently leads the Beauty and Lifestyle verticals. As a child, she had always enjoyed reading and writing but it was only after she joined her college newspaper, The Spectrum, in Buffalo, New York, that she considered a career in journalism. Her love for all things beauty started from the age of two—when she was caught playing with (and damaging) her mother’s YSL lipstick. On top of her day job, she is also an unpaid beauty consultant for friends and family. Besides make-up, her obsessions include the wizarding world of Harry Potter, podcasts, ice-cream, her walking pad and watching endless re-runs of The Office (US).
