Harmonising Hearts and Nourishing Souls

Singapore, 8 May 2023 — An unprecedented joint benefit between two charities, A Symphony of Passion, saw charities Food from the Heart (FFTH) and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), join hands to impact their respective missions and communities they serve. Presented by Audemars Piguet, the benefit was held on Saturday, 29 April 2023 at The Grand Ballroom, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore.

A spectacular return after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the annual fundraising gala for FFTH and SSO welcomed close to 550 distinguished guests. A Symphony of Passion was born out of passion and a mutual love to enhance the lives of those around us. For FFTH, Singapore’s foremost independent food charity, it nourishes the mind and body while SSO, our national orchestra, enriches the soul - the perfect pairing.

The event was graced by Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development & Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration. In his opening address, he encouraged guests to support the more vulnerable in our community and create a more inclusive society together by showing FFTH and SSO their fullest support, and to give generously from their hearts.

For the momentous occasion of FFTH’s 20th anniversary milestone, its co-founder Ms Christine Laimer was also one of the night’s notable guests, who flew in specially from Vienna, Austria, where she is currently based.

A first-of-its-kind collaborative event that featured a world-class performance by the SSO, which followed the theme "Around The World", the exemplary performance by the orchestra was led by Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez, featuring soloists Zhao Tian and Frances Lee.

In the lead up to the performance, the apotheosis of the Benefit was the charity auction - a curation of nine exceptional experiences and creations to bolster fundraising efforts. Extraordinary offerings include sponsorship from One&Only Resorts, Singapore Airlines and Raffles Hotel, to extraordinary Audemars Piguet timepieces donated by the Presenting Sponsor. Guests participated enthusiastically in support of both charities, raising over $770,000 during this segment.

Before the event day, sponsors and donors made a grand gesture of support by reserving a table at the gala for S$10,000 and above. A Symphony of Passion was a roaring success, overall raising over $1.7 million, all of which will be contributed on an equal-basis to benefit both charities.

“It is an honour to be collaborating with Singapore’s flagship orchestra to commemorate our charity’s 20th anniversary fundraiser gala. Through A Symphony of Passion, we hope to continue impacting the underprivileged and vulnerable communities in need through more meaningful avenues,” shares Mr Ronald Stride, Chairman of Food from the Heart.“At our core, both Food from the Heart and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra both serve diverse communities in Singapore; and what better way to unite them, than through the universal language of music.”

“A Symphony of Passion marks the start of our friendship with Food from the Heart, a charity which has impacted communities in Singapore in very meaningful ways. Their efforts in reaching out to the less privileged are truly admirable, and we are incredibly happy that we are working together to support both charities in our respective missions,” Mr Goh Yew Lin, Chair of Singapore Symphony Group.

Food from the Heart works on a grassroots level with organisations like schools and welfare homes to ensure help is delivered where it is needed. Their annual fundraising gala, known as the Passion Ball, has been a hallmark of Singapore’s charity events since 2004 and has seen esteemed guest attendees from various professional backgrounds. Every year, generous amounts of funds are raised, all of which supports the organisation’s food distribution programmes and initiatives.

On the same note, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra organises an annual benefit gala with the help of the SSO Ladies’ League to raise funds for the organisation and its affiliated performing groups. Funds raised enable the national orchestra to stage quality concerts and productions, including community concerts offered free to the public. Its work is closely tied to spreading the love for music, nurturing talent and enriching communities.