WITH less than a week to go for the sold-out ChildAid concert, which will be held this Friday and Saturday at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theatre, performers have been rehearsing intensively over the last weekend.

The eighth edition of the event, organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times, features 210 young people singing, dancing or playing musical instruments.

Among them is the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) show choir, which will perform a medley of hits by rock band Queen, such as Don't Stop Me Now and We Are The Champions.

They were drilled over the weekend by ChildAid choreographer Zaini Mohammad Tahir, 43, at the Singapore Press Holdings Media Centre auditorium.

Said show choir member Nur Afiqah Azhar, 19: "It's been intense but we have fun. We have to get the steps right."

Mr Mohamed Amirul Jamil, 20, added: "I feel good that we have the chance to perform for the needy. It's something we can contribute."

Proceeds from the concert will go to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, which helps children from low-income families with school expenses, and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund, a programme under The Old Parliament House which gives arts education to underprivileged but artistically gifted children.

Marina Bay Sands is ChildAid's official venue partner, while Citi and HSBC banks are its main sponsors.

ANG YIYING