VIRTUAL TOUR
2011
23 AugUCSI UNIVERSITY RAISES RM5000 FOR CHARITY WITH TALENT MAKERS MUSIC ACADEMY
Kuala Lumpur, 23 August, 2011 - After hosting the successful Talent Makers ANZCA Music Festival in June, the UCSI University School of Music and the Talent Makers music academy have raised RM5000 for the Rumah Kesayangan charity home. The two entities presented a cheque to the charity home during a private ceremony at the UCSI University North Wing Tuesday.
“I’m very grateful to the Talent Makers and UCSI University for their collaboration,” said Philip Chang, President of Rumah Kesayangan. “They didn’t forget us, the less fortunate. It’s important not to forget the people actually in need.”
Rumah Kesayangan is a small charity home located in Bukit Mertajam outside Penang that cares for special needs children and adults.
Lai Mei Kuen, Director and Principal of Talent Makers, has been supporting the home for 20 years. She said her goal with the music festivals is to make people aware of those in need.
“We want to let people know this place needs our funding, it needs our help,” she said. “The focus is not on what we do, but what is needed in this place.”
The day-long music festival included violin, choir, guitar and piano competitions for children of all ages, as well as a public gala performance by the first place winners, with ticket sales going toward Rumah Kesayangan.
Associate Professor Dr P’ng Tean Hwa, Associate Dean of the UCSI University School of Music, said the festival was an opportunity for music students to perform, while also contributing to society.
“It gives them an opportunity to get constructive feedback to improve, that’s very important to me,” he said. “It’s icing on the cake that all of the profits can be channelled to a worthy cause. It’s important for us to look at what’s around us and give back to society. We want to teach our students values by leading by example.”
The UCSI University School of Music, Talent Makers and Rumah Kesayangan plan to do another fundraising music festival next year.
