Making an impact through music

Ms Julie Tan,

President of the Singapore Music Teachers' Association,

Distinguished guests,

Teachers,

Parents,

Boys and girls,

Good Afternoon.                                    

1. I am happy to join you today for the Gala Concert and Awards Ceremony of the 6th Singapore Performers' Festival and Chamber Music Competition.
   

The Singapore Performers' Festival helps to promote music as a rich form of expression     

2. All of you here understand the power of music – how music changes the way the world seems to you. Music stirs the emotions - it excites, agitates, it soothes. It enriches our lives and makes this world a richer place.

3. Music is a language that connects. It has the potential to connect us to places that we have not physically visited and people that we have not met. It has the power to bridge boundaries and differences in religions and cultures. It builds communities by giving us common experiences and unique identities. Since time immemorial, music and art has brought people together and when unique melodies are created, distinctive ethnic identity is shaped.

4. For this reason, we in the ministry, MCCY, are dedicated to making music and promoting art a key focus of what we do. While we are a young nation, we believe in the importance of having our own music as our Singaporean identity. This is a long process with much trial and error, adaptation and improvisation. It will require us to tap on the creative talents of many people. To develop our music identity, we must cast the net wide to encourage as many young talents in our midst to grow and cultivate communities of music lovers to spread the crafts.

5. Communities like this one that the Singapore Music Teachers Association has brought together to grow the love for music in Singapore. Take today's festival as an example. It is supported by many generous sponsors and individual donors. Paul Goh, who is Singapore's only bow-maker, sponsored his customised hand-crafted bows to be given as awards to deserving young string musicians. Others have contributed scholarships for outstanding performers, or have helped to sponsor children who would otherwise be unable to afford playing at the festival. With these contributions, the festival has grown from a two-day event in 2006 for piano to a week-long event that now also includes strings, chamber groups, and voice.

6. Over the past week, the festival has given the opportunity to players of all ages and capabilities to perform together without being graded or being in competition. This biennial festival is an important platform for the development of aspiring young musicians to gain experiences and exposure and to learn from one another.

7. One such outstanding young pianist is Clarence Lee, who performed at the very first Singapore Performers' Festival. He recently graduated from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and had his debut with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra last year. I hear that he has fond memories of his performance at the Singapore Performers' Festival as it gave him a chance to be himself and touch people's hearts.

8. The success of the festival shows that people who have had the privilege of engaging with music, and who believe in the possibilities created by music, can come together to share their passion with the rest of the society. The power of music can and should be extended to the less-privileged and make a real difference to their lives.

9. Some of you may be familiar with the El Sistema programme that was started in Venezuela about 40 years ago. This system has since been replicated in the countries including the US, the UK, and Canada. The programme offers free classical music education to under-privileged children. Through music, these children learn the values of hard work, teamwork, and self-expression. This has resulted in better school attendance, work performance, and community cohesion. One of the most famous beneficiaries of the system is Gustavo Dudamel, the music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic who will be conducting the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at the Esplanade in January next year. Dudamel has said that the music opportunities provided by El Sistema “saved his life and has saved the lives of thousands of at-risk children in Venezuela”.

10. So I hope that SMTA and every one of you who have benefitted from the transformative qualities of music training, will help others in Singapore share the same experience; in particular, those who do not have the same opportunities to encounter music easily. In this area, I would like to highlight the work done by the Little Arts Academy to introduce the arts to less privileged children. We should do more of such work and collectively think about how to bring about a greater impact through music. When we think and act beyond our own interest to consider those around us, we make Singapore a more caring and cohesive society.
    

Bringing the potential of music to a larger Singapore community

11. When we form associations to share common interests and build friendships, we strengthen our social and cultural fabric. For this reason, I am happy to note that this is the 50th anniversary of the SMTA, since it was formed in 1966 by a group of music teachers. At this juncture, I would like to express my heartiest congratulations and gratitude to the association and to successive leaders in the association, for carrying the good work of developing artistic talents and promoting the love for music in Singapore.

12. I am sure this week of performances inspired all who were involved. Let us bring the spirit of the Singapore Performers' Festival to the other fifty-one weeks of the year and make music a key piece in the cultural life of our society. I hope that our young musicians will find greater meaning in making music – in playing beautiful music, creating our Singapore music, and improving the lives of fellow Singaporeans through music. Thank you, and have a wonderful afternoon.