ChildAid alumni return for 10th anniversary

Past ChildAid performers who will be back this year include Abigail Sin (above), Dominic Chin (left) and Clarence Liew (below).
Past ChildAid performers who will be back this year include Abigail Sin (above), Dominic Chin (left) and Clarence Liew (below). PHOTOS: BT FILE, ST FILE, WARNER MUSIC
Past ChildAid performers who will be back this year include Abigail Sin (above), Dominic Chin (left) and Clarence Liew (below). PHOTOS: BT FILE, ST FILE, WARNER MUSIC
Past ChildAid performers who will be back this year include Abigail Sin (above), Dominic Chin (left) and Clarence Liew (below). PHOTOS: BT FILE, ST FILE, WARNER MUSIC

In celebration of its 10th anniversary this year, charity concert ChildAid will stage an All-Stars Edition, featuring some well-known alumni.

For example, Singapore piano prodigy Abigail Sin, who was involved in three concerts in the past, including the first one in 2005, will perform at the concert at official venue partner Marina Bay Sands' Sands Theatre on Dec 5 and 6.

YouTube favourites Dominic Chin and Clarence Liew, who sang at ChildAid 2012, will also return.

Jeremiah Choy, who has been the show director for the past three concerts, says having these star performers is a way to reflect ChildAid's achievements over the past decade.

"Some of our alumni have now made their own inroads into becoming full-time professional performers. It would be interesting to enjoy their 'coming of age'."

The total number of alumni taking part has not been confirmed.

On being invited back to perform, Sin, 22, who has played in London's Wigmore Hall and with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, says: "It's nice to be back because I grew up with ChildAid and made good friends through the concerts."

She started her music degree at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory at 14. Around the same time, she topped Individualis, an international piano competition held in Ukraine, which led to five recitals there and in other parts of eastern Europe. She topped her class in 2010, winning a Lee Kuan Yew Gold Medal and went on to do her master's degree in London.

Besides seasoned performers such as Sin, the concert organisers are also looking for new talent. An open call for auditions is now being held for those aged six to 19 who want to perform at the annual concert. Other alumni are invited to audition as well.

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The concert is organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times.

Funds raised will go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, which seek to help underprivileged children in Singapore. Last year, ChildAid raised $2.035 million.

Says Mr Alvin Tay, Business Times' editor and co-chairman of ChildAid: "We are hoping that this will spur more talented performers to use the ChildAid platform to create greater awareness of what the young can do as well as give back to the arts and society."

Interested youth can apply for an audition by sending an e-mail, including their name, age, school, phone numbers, e-mail address and a short write-up on why they want to perform at the concert, to childaid@sph.com.sg.

The deadline is June 13, and only shortlisted applicants will be invited to audition next month.

More information can be found at www.straitstimes.com/childaid.

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