CHAMBER SOIREE / Photographs from Ding Yi Music Company's Fundraising Dinner

Ding Yi Music Company, Singapore's only professional Chinese chamber ensemble, held its annual fundraising dinner at the Parkroyal Collection, Marina Square Floral Ballroom on Monday (14 October 2024). Attended by the cognoscenti and high society of Chinese music circles, it was a glitzy affair with good food, hard liquour and lovely performances from the classy outfit and celebrity guest performers. A total of $450,000 was raised to further the cultural, educational and outreach work. For its invaluable work in furthering Chinese instrumental music and culture in Singapore, one can only conclude, "Job well done. Keep up the good work!"

Some of the pre-dinner performances.

The VIPs line up for a group photo.

You can't get a bigger name than
Yeh Tsung to kick off the music-making.

Then it was the turn of Dedric Wong Deli to lead.

Bekhzod Oblayorov plays an eco-cello,
made from recycled waste paper. 

I was seated at the music educators' table, with
Professors Ho Chee Kong & Peter Tornquist
from Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.

Ding Yi erhu player Chen Ning,
SCO Associate Conductor Moses Gay &
FrancisTan, NUS Wind Symphony Music Director

Chua Ai Liang, Ding Yi Board Member
& Lee Ming-Yen, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

SCO Composer-in-Residence
Wang Chenwei samples the moutai

Celebrity guest performers, Eric Chua M.P.
leading singer Claire Teo.

Donors getting their awards.

Yeh Tsung always looks dapper on the keys.

After Mrs Goh Chok Tong sang,
the donations surged from
$400,000 to $450,000. Power vocals.

Here is our colourful table.
In absentia: Prof Chan Tze Law.

PASSION & POETRY: People-Watching at CLARENCE LEE'S piano recital

Clarence Lee and his parents meet with
guest-of-honour Mrs Goh Chok Tong,
who promptly told him to get his hands insured!

Mrs Goh meets with Syafiqah Sallehin,
one of Singapore's few Malay classical composers.

Clarence and composer Phang Kok Jun
was classmates at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.

The young artists with Mrs Goh and Prof. Lye Lin Heng.

Concert organiser Vincent Chong of Ars Nova Concerts
with Eunice Ng and young virtuosos
cellist Loke Hoe Kit and pianist Song Ziliang.

Can we look forward to hear their music
in future concerts.

Bina Jung and Lawrence Sarabi of Aureus Academy.

Piano teachers Angeline Aw and Winnie Tay
with their students.

Winnie Tay (centre) was one of
Clarence Lee's earliest piano teachers.