Some of Singapore’s most celebrated music figures, including JJ Lin, Benjamin Kheng, Shabir Sulthan, Awi Rafael, and Taufik Batisah, have pledged their support to the Gift a Guitar initiative. This movement, aimed at providing musical instruments and education to underserved youths, will see these artists auctioning signed guitars to raise funds for the Business Times Budding Artists Fund.
The initiative, spearheaded by Danny Loong, CEO and Founder of Timbre Group, seeks to distribute 600 guitars to youths aged 13 to 20, offering them structured lessons and mentorship. Participants will also have the opportunity to perform at the Sing60 Music Festival this December. JJ Lin, who donated his Martin D-45 guitar, expressed his hope to inspire young people to find their voice through music, stating, “When I first held a guitar as a teenager, it opened up a world where I could dream, express myself, and connect.”
The programme is not just about music; it aims to build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging among participants. Danny Loong was inspired to launch Gift a Guitar by his own experiences and a gesture from Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who gifted him a guitar in 2019. Loong hopes to pass on the encouragement he received to today’s youths.
Gift a Guitar is a collaboration between SGMUSO and The Rice Company Limited, with the goal of nurturing Singapore’s cultural landscape and providing opportunities for young musicians. As the initiative gains momentum, it promises to make a lasting impact on the lives of many young Singaporeans.
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