At the rehearsal, Straits Times editor Han Fook Kwang (centre) and Business Times editor Alvin Tay (right) came to meet the performers, including 12-year-old emcee Tay Kuan Li (left).

Charity concert kicks off this weekend at Resorts World Sentosa

WITH charity concert ChildAid kicking off this weekend, the youngsters who will take to the stage are rehearsing flat out to deliver a show-stopping performance.

"I'm really glad the organisers called me back for a second year," says pianist and vocalist Amni Musfirah. "I'm really thankful I have another opportunity to help raise funds for needy children."

Amni may be just 15, but she already recognises the importance of using her ability to benefit others. "As a singer, I have this wonderful platform to reach out to many people," she says.

Amni, who goes to the School of the Arts, is ambassador to the Business Times Budding Artists Fund, one of the beneficiaries of ChildAid.

The BT Budding Artists Fund was set up by The Arts House in August 2004 and adopted by The Business Times in May 2005 to help under-privileged children develop their artistic talents.

Amni says performing at ChildAid last year for the first time was "a challenge" - it was the biggest audience she had faced.

But Cultural Medallion recipient Iskandar Ismail was impressed by the youngster's powerhouse voice, and since then she has gone on to perform at the Asian Youth Games.

At this year's ChildAid, Amni will sing the opening number "Stars Out Tonight", an original composition by Mr Ismail.

"This year's ChildAid is going to be so much bigger," says Amni. "It's the fifth anniversary of the event, there are more performers and the level of performance is higher. It's going to be an exciting show."

Emcee Tay Kuan Li was also in high spirits yesterday during rehearsals at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

The bubbly 12-year-old is excited to be a part of this year's line-up, after watching ChildAid in the audience some years back.

"The emcees were so professional. I thought, 'Maybe one day I'll be like that'," says Kuan Li, who will share the stage with co-emcees Jane Lee and Zach Hourihane.

This year's ChildAid concerts take place on Dec 19, 20 and 21 at RWS, ahead of the resort's official opening.

Tickets for the concerts sold out last week.