OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF NEW SHAW FOUNDATION SYMPHONY STAGE & SINGAPORE PRESS HOLDINGS GIFT OF MUSIC SERIES Singapore, 27 April 2004 - Visitors to the Botanic Gardens will now be able to enjoy a wider variety of performances at the Botanic Gardens newly rebuilt Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. Visitors will also have a series of concerts and performances to look forward to in the next 12 months. The new stage and the year-long SPH Gift of Music series are a gift to the nation to celebrate Singapore s 40 th Birthday. Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, will officially launch the new Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage and the inaugural SPH Gift of Music concert on Sunday, 1 May 2005 at 5 pm. The opening concert will be performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage A popular and iconic venue in the Botanic Gardens since the 1990s, the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage has been rebuilt to extend its range of uses. Developed at a cost of $2 million, it features a bigger stage area, improved sound system, stage lighting and back-of-house facilities to make it a more userfriendly performance venue. The rebuilding of the Stage was made possible through a contribution of $1.5 million from the Shaw Foundation. The design of the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage is inspired by its beautiful setting in the Palm Valley. Echoing the organic forms of flowers and leaves, the structure consists of two overlapping petal-like forms growing out of a floral stem. The bigger petal shelters the stage while the smaller one at the rear houses the changing area and support services. The petal-like form of the roof is constructed from free-standing steel ribs and clad with a titanium zinc roof which allows the complex curvature to be achieved. The ribbed texture of the roof also evokes the venation of flowers and leaves. Page 1 of 5
Said Ms Priscylla Shaw, Member, Shaw Foundation, The Shaw Foundation is pleased to be able to share NParks vision of creating a quality living environment for the community. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is already a much-loved recreation destination. We hope that, through the myriad of free concerts and festivals for children and adults of all ages, the Stage will help to provide more opportunities for visitors to combine entertainment with enjoyment, exploration and healthy living. SPH Gift of Music Series Singapore Press Holdings will present the first concert, to be performed by the SSO, immediately after the opening of the stage. This concert series is SPH's gift to enrich the community with music and spread the appreciation of music, and also to provide a platform for homegrown musicians and budding young performers to showcase their talent. It is also SPH's birthday present to Singapore's 40th Independence. The year-long series of concerts, to be held monthly at Botanic Gardens and other venues until April 2006, traverses different genres, ranging from jazz, Latin and light classicals to pop, R&B and Chinese orchestral music. The line-up promises to be wholesome and entertaining, and will appeal to both young and old. Said Mr Alan Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Press Holdings: "As a media company with wide reach, we feel that music, which connects people of all ages, from different cultures and races, is a very appropriate and meaningful gift to the community. "The Botanic Gardens provides the ideal setting for the SPH Gift of Music concerts as it's easily accessible to all, and many of us have fond and nostalgic memories of outings there with our families and dear ones. SPH welcomes everyone to join in this celebration of music, which is our gift to the community and the nation." Page 2 of 5
The SPH Gift of Music series is one of many outreach events supported by Singapore Press Holdings as part of its broadening corporate social responsibility to foster community spirit. Each year, the media group contributes to a diverse range of education, arts and culture, community, conservation, sports and charitable projects. SPH was named the top corporate giver in Singapore in a recent survey carried out by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre, and it has been given the Distinguished Patron of the Arts award every year since 1993. "I am delighted with the enlightened support from the Shaw Foundation and Singapore Press Holdings. This collaboration is a fine example of how we work in concert with our partners to enhance the quality of software and hardware of the Botanic Gardens. We look forward to future collaborations with the Shaw Foundation and Singapore Press Holdings, said Dr Tan Wee Kiat, Chief Executive Officer, National Parks Board. Getting to the Gardens: By Car Visitors may park at: Singapore Management University Visitor Car Park Dempsey Road Car Park Newton Food Centre Car Park By Bus or MRT Visitors may take the public bus or MRT to Newton. A complimentary shuttle service will operate to and from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the following pick up/drop off points from 3pm to 7.30pm. Pick up/drop off points SMU Car Park Dempsey Road Car Park Newton MRT Station bus stop along Scotts Road, in the direction of Orchard Road. Jointly issued by Shaw Foundation, Singapore Press Holdings and National Parks Board Page 3 of 5
For further information, please contact: Ms Terri Oh Communications Manager National Parks Board Tel:64717814 HP:90463272 Irene Ngoo Vice President Corporate Relations Singapore Press Holdings DID: 6319 1216 Email: ingoo@sph.com.sg Note to Editors: National Parks Board (NParks) is responsible for providing and enhancing greenery of the Garden City. Beyond green infrastructure, NParks is committed to enhance the quality of life through creating memorable recreational experiences and lifestyles. NParks manages some 300 parks, the park connector network and the lush roadside greenery in Singapore. Some of the parks managed include Singapore Botanic Gardens, Fort Canning Park, East Coast Park, Bishan Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park and Pulau Ubin Recreation Area. In addition, NParks manages nature reserves such as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. As Singapore s scientific authority on nature conservation, NParks monitors and coordinates measures to ensure the health of designated nature areas. NParks is also the lead agency in the efforts to continually upgrade the Landscape and Horticulture Industry in Singapore. It works closely with industry partners to promote good work practices and create a thriving, innovative and professional industry that will support Singapore s aspirations of being a City in the Garden. The Singapore Botanic Gardens Established in 1859 at its present location, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, showcasing the best and most spectacular of tropical flora, played an important historical role in the introduction and promotion of many plants of economic value to South East Asia, including the Para rubber tree. Today, the 52-hectre Gardens is a key civic and community regional recreational park, an important national tourist destination as well as a leading tropical and horticultural institution. Page 4 of 5
The Singapore Botanic Gardens plays host to more than three million visits each year. Its collection of more than 10,000 types of plants includes the region s most significant living collection of documented palms, orchids, cycads and gingers. The Garden is also an important centre for tropical botanical and horticultural research, education and conservation. The Singapore Botanic Gardens is managed by the National Parks Board. About Singapore Press Holdings Main board listed Singapore Press Holdings Limited is the leading media company in Singapore, in the print, Internet and broadcasting platforms. It publishes 13 newspapers in the four official languages and more than 70 magazine titles. Everyday, 2.78 million individuals, or 90 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of the SPH publications. Its Internet Business Unit manages the online editions of SPH's major newspapers and magazines, which together enjoy over 250 million pageviews a month. SPH also owns a 20% stake in MediaCorp TV Holdings Pte Ltd, which operates free-to-air channels 5, 8, U and TV Mobile, and a 40% stake in MediaCorp Press Pte Ltd, which publishes free newspaper Today. It also operates two entertainment radio channels, UFM 100.3 FM in Chinese and WKRZ 91.3 FM in English, under a joint venture company UnionWorks with NTUC Media. For more information about SPH, please log on to www.sph.com.sg. Page 5 of 5
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