Plan for more local musicians to perform at schools

SINGAPORE - Students will see more of their favourite local musicians perform at their schools, if things go according to plan.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said last night that such initiatives are good ways for Singapore youth to develop their awareness of the home-grown music scene.

He was speaking to reporters while at the National Stadium to attend the dress rehearsals of the Sing50 concert, which will be held at the same venue tonight.

Referring to the Scape Invasion Tour, where local bands visit and perform at local schools, Mr Wong, 42, said the children are "starting to recognise the names and they want more".

"So we're planning to do more of that next year, to bring more Singaporean musicians and bands to more schools.

"That's one way in which we can start to grow the appreciation for Singaporean musicians."

The Scape Invasion Tour is an outreach programme organised by non-profit organisation Scape in partnership with the National Youth Council.

In the same way, Mr Wong said, the Sing50 concert was also about appreciating local music.

He said: "We thought that this would be a very nice showcase, having something in the National Stadium and having it full of Singaporeans coming together to celebrate the best of Singapore music through the ages."

Organised by The Straits Times and The Business Times to mark Singapore's golden jubilee, the concert celebrates 50 years of songs and music composed, performed or made popular by Singapore performers. Celebrities involved in the programme include Mandopop superstars Stefanie Sun and JJ Lin, Malay rock legend Ramli Sarip and jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro.

yipwy@sph.com.sg

Pass it on, please

All Sing50 tickets have been distributed. Ticket holders who are unable to attend the concert are encouraged to pass their tickets to those who can make it.

For every person who attends the concert, insurance group Zurich will be donating $5 to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and The Business Times Budding Artists Fund.

Sing50 ticket holders are also encouraged to take public transport to the National Stadium.

This article was first published on August 7, 2015.
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