Cover Jazz Association Singapore executive director and music director Jeremy Monteiro
Jazz Association Singapore executive director and music director Jeremy Monteiro
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The Jazz Association Singapore brought together patrons, supporters and musicians at its annual Benefit Gala, marking SG60, maestro Jeremy Monteiro’s 65th birthday and a record-setting night for homegrown jazz
On a Sunday evening in November, the Jazz Association Singapore gathered the city’s jazz community at Shangri-La Singapore’s Island Ballroom for a celebration that blended philanthropy, artistry and music. Themed “Jazzy Jubilee – Gala of Celebrations”, the event welcomed more than 500 guests and raised over S$1.1 million in support of Singapore jazz—its highest fundraising achievement to date.
Jass honorary chairman Albert Chiu, chairman Edmund Lam, executive director and music director maestro Jeremy Monteiro, and vice-chairperson Susan Peh welcomed guest of honour Edwin Tong, minister for Law and second minister for Home Affairs, as well as Jass’s patrons and supporters in a ballroom lit with the warmth of long-standing friendships and shared purpose.
As the programme unfolded, it was clear that the gala was both a fundraising milestone and a moment of reflection. Singapore’s 60th year of independence framed the evening with national significance, while Monteiro’s 65th birthday offered a personal dimension to the collective celebrations. In keeping with Jass’s spirit of continuity, Chiu highlighted its mission and long-term vision, before minister Tong spoke about the impact of music and the arts on the cultural life of Singapore.
Read also: Jazz Association Singapore Benefit Gala 2025: a celebration of the nation’s jazz legacy
Albert Chiu
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One of the night’s defining gestures came when Chiu, Lam and Monteiro presented minister Tong with a print of A Great Day in Singapore, featuring prominent Singapore jazz musicians photographed by Russel Wong. The presentation served as both an honour and a reminder—an image of a community built over decades, still growing and still tightly bound by the people who support it. A subsequent exchange between Lam, Peh and Monteiro further highlighted the essential role of donors and supporters in advancing Jass’s efforts, from education and scholarships to outreach and audience development.
Music remained the gala’s heartbeat. The Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra, led by Monteiro with deputy music directors Chok Kerong and Tan Weixiang, anchored a programme featuring some of Singapore’s most celebrated voices—Louis Soliano and Alemay Fernandez—alongside rising talents Nick Zavior, Vanessa Shavonne and Siti Nur Iman. Each performance reflected a different facet of Singapore’s jazz lineage, from the pioneers who shaped its earliest chapters to the emerging musicians writing its next ones.
In case you missed it: ‘A Great Day in Singapore’: Jazz Association Singapore recreates the famous Art Kane photograph
Above Edmund Lam, Susan Peh, Jeremy Monteiro
Edmund Lam, Susan Peh, Jeremy Monteiro
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Another highlight came with the performance of The Happiness Within, commissioned by Jass board member Sally Liew for her husband Neo Kah Kiat as part of the Build Your Legacy Through Jazz series. Set against the wider context of SG60 and Jass’s maturing journey, the work invited reflection on how music becomes part of personal and family histories—how it marks milestones, carries memory and enlarges the emotional fabric of community life.
Louis Soliano
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As Jass approaches its 10th anniversary in 2026, the funds raised this year will deepen its three core pillars: developing young jazz talents, expanding community outreach and nurturing a sustainable ecosystem for the art form. The Jass Scholarship Programme has already enabled 12 young Singaporeans to pursue jazz studies locally and abroad, a testament to what long-term commitment can achieve. Monteiro closed the night with a reminder of what collective support makes possible: “Seeing the community come together with such generosity and passion reaffirms our belief in transforming Singapore into a leading city of jazz.”
The Jass Benefit Gala 2025 was, at its heart, a gathering of people who believe in what music can build—across generations, across communities and across time.
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Images: Max Chan, Norhendra Ruslan, Ministry of Law
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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.
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