Jazzed up for a good cause
Local musicians raise $11,000 for migrant workers' healthcare through jazz concert
A group of local performers are using their talent to help migrant workers.
Singapore-based singer and songwriter, Mr Dru Chen, 26, is joining hands with local musicians bittymacbeth, and Shak and the Baits for a charity jazz concert.
Called beCAUSE, the concert is in aid of Healthserve, a local non-profit organisation that provides medical care for migrant workers.
It has raised more than $11,000 through ticket sales so far, exceeding the target of $10,000. All the funds will go to Healthserve.
Organised by MeloDrumatic - made up of Mr Dru and his partner, Ms Melyssa Goh, 26, a marketing and advertising professional - the concert is on Dec 2 at the Singapore Jazz Club at The Sultan hotel in Jalan Sultan.
The artists will be performing their originals as well as songs by jazz and soul legends such as Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway.
Ms Goh said: "I always had an interest in philanthropy, fundraisers and charity events. Dru also has his music background, so it seems like a perfect fit that this fund-raiser gig came about."
Mr Chen said: "We chose to work with bittymacbeth and Shak and his band because their music is very socially conscious.
"They write songs about social change and compassion, about living on this planet together."
He said he would be performing some of his original songsand added: "We want this to be a night that the audience will never forget. We want them to know that high-quality live music of various genres exists inside of Singapore and you don't have to look to our international acts."
FUND-RAISER
beCAUSE will be MeloDrumatic's first fund-raiser concert.
According to Ms Goh, they decided to work with Healthserve as they wanted to work with an organisation which was not often in the spotlight and was helping a minority group.
"Healthserve was very happy to join with us and were surprised that we were going to give all the funds to them," she said.
Ms Nhaca Le Schultz, 26, communications manager at Healthserve said: "We are really grateful for their generous heart. It is wonderful of them to try and shed some light on the plight of migrant workers through their music. We are all really excited for the concert."
Ms Goh said: "What we want to do is to make this a household name or an event that happens every year. Singapore is not new to fund-raisers or charity events.
"We want to take it from a different perspective. We want people to come in and have a good time. When they feel good, they will feel like giving more."
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now