Rotary Club launches charity pop album

A group of local singers and musicians released an album of original pop songs on Saturday as part of an effort to raise S$50,000 to go towards clean water projects in less well-off countries.

The five songs on the Fill This World With Light album were produced by musical director Bang Wenfu together with composer and pianist Jess Wang. The CD, launched by the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley, was the fruit of a two-year project that also involved seven club members, including Senior Counsel Francis Xavier.

"In doing this project, we get to promote creative arts and provide opportunities for the vocation of music in Singapore," said Ms Elsie Chua, the club's 32nd president.

Ms Chua, 52, said the funds raised from sales of the album will go towards installing water filtration systems in schools and orphanages in Asia, a continuation of similar projects it completed in 2010 in the Muang district of Thailand and in Houayxay, Laos, in 2012.

The album is the second in a planned series that aims to produce a collection of original music to raise funds for community and charity projects undertaken by the Rotary Club.

The first was launched in 2011 and raised S$25,000 that went towards buying a school bus to transport needy students of Assumption Pathway School.

Mr Wang, who also helped to compose the first album, said he was moved to help again by club members who had donated their time and money. "Many of them are people with high positions in society, and it was not necessary for them to do projects like this to help others," said the 33-year-old, who also trained club members to sing.

The production costs for the 2,000 copies have been fully sponsored, and all proceeds from the album's sale will go to charity.

Members of the public can contact the Rotary Club of Pandan Valley to buy the album, at S$50 for two copies.

This article was first published on JULY 7, 2014.
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