Cover Two-time Grammy nominee Roberta Gambarini (pictured left), with maestro Jeremy Monteiro, the executive director and music director of the Jazz Association Singapore
Two-time Grammy nominee Roberta Gambarini (pictured left), with maestro Jeremy Monteiro, the executive director and music director of the Jazz Association Singapore
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Jass raised more than SG$900,000 from the evening to move it closer to achieving its dream of building Singapore into a vibrant, global city of jazz
Taking inspiration from American composer Harold Arlen’s masterpiece, Over the Rainbow, for the theme of the evening, the Jazz Association Singapore (Jass) Benefit Gala 2023 saw guests turn up dressed to the nines in kaleidoscopic glamour. The fundraiser, which was held at the Island Ballroom of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore on September 2, seeks to continue Jass’s mission to promote the participation, engagement and excellence of jazz in Singapore.
In his opening speech, Jass honorary chairman Albert Chiu thanked the more than 550 guests in attendance for their strong and steadfast support for the organisation's work, while chairman Edmund Lam reiterated the organisation’s vision towards building a city of jazz. This is in line with the Our SG Arts Plan (2023 - 2027), which was unveiled the week after the gala by Singapore's Culture, Community and Youth minister Edwin Tong. Tong, who was the gala's guest of honour, offered a sneak peek into the strategic roadmap guiding Singapore's arts and culture policies over the next five years.
Jeremy Monteiro, Susan Peh, Edwin Tong, Albert Chiu, Edmund Lam
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The night was truly a rousing celebration of Singapore jazz, with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (Jasso) led by maestro Jeremy Monteiro, Jass's executive director and music director, and senior associate music director Weixiang Tan, taking centre stage. One of the highlights of the evening was the performance of original music from the “Build Your Music Legacy through Jazz” campaign, which was launched last year by Jass to encourage its donors and supporters to commission a piece of original work written by composers from its orchestras as well as its music directors.
Two-time Grammy nominee, Roberta Gambarini, later took the stage to perform a setlist of jazz standards and classics, including American jazz musician Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust, before capping the night with a magnificent performance of Over the Rainbow.
Above Flautist Rit Xu, with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra
Flautist Rit Xu, with the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra
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Thanks to the generous contributions of its donors, sponsors and supporters, Jass raised more than SG$900,000 from the evening. The funds raised will continue to help the organisation run it various initiatives, which include lifting the Singapore jazz scene through a core pool of distinguished local jazz musicians; nurture young local jazz talents; fund local and international jazz scholarships to deserving local youth musicians; bring jazz to people all over Singapore and promote interaction and cohesion among our diverse communities; showcase Singapore jazz to the world through international performances and collaborations; and support eligible local jazz musicians impacted by crisis with short-term financial aid.
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.
