Celebrating their 10th anniversary, it was a joy for both young children and those young at heart during the SSO’s Babies’ Prom 2011. Kids not only get to see a performance of classical music, they also get a chance to stand on stage, and have a go at conducting the ensemble.

Parents and kids get to listen to good music while having a good family bonding time. After the event, fans are also able to meet and greet the talented Maestro, take photos and even get autographs!

Practice makes perfect. So it’s no wonder for the people of Kim Seng Wind Symphony to keep practising even just minutes before the real performance. Days of practice finally comes down to this few minutes.

On the 18th of December 2011, young or old, everyone feels the same – nervous, even if it’s in the slightest bit. With a bit of a make up and a change of wardrobe, everyone was psyched to perform. And they gave their all. Performing 9 beautiful master pieces, these people have captured the hearts of the audience.

The one to conduct this ensemble was Michael Sweeney.

It was a thrill for photographer, Lim Kok Wee, when it was the time to finally have his own solo exhibition at Millenia Walk, proudly sponsored by Canon, DrukAsia, Drukair, Tourism Council Of Bhutan , Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, OCBC Premier Bank and yes, of course, Millenia Walk. The exhibition was as long as 10 days, starting from 17’th October to 26^th October.

With 32 exquisite photos taken in beautiful Bhutan, Kok Wee has captured the essence and beauty that Bhutan has to offer. Each of the photos displayed are up for sale at $1000 each, each printed with a Canon Printer ImagePROGRAF iPF8300, with tiny details perfectly shown in the crystal clear pictures. 30% from each of the purchase goes to the school that was visited in Bhutan. Even Millenia Walk bought one of the photos!

It was a grand opening on the 17^th, with wine and special guest Nick Shen present for the opening. Guests were treated to yummy finger food while walking around the 1574sq feet exhibition area. Bhutanese guests were also invited from Bhutan and dressed in their traditional costumes as they have a chat with curious guests.

Painter, Rinchen Wangdi, also had the chance to exhibit his own paintings, which are also sold during the 10 days of exhibition, prices ranging from $3000 to $10,800.

After graduating from High School in Thimphu, Rinchen Wangdi did an art apprenticeship programme at the Institute of Language and Cultural Studies. In 1998 he joined VAST Bhutan (Voluntary Artists Studio of Thimphu) and became a full time volunteer and tutor there. Since 1999, he has actively participated in domestic group exhibitions in Thimphu as well as a few international art events in India, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand and Japan. In 2008, together with a group of artists, they founded DATO ART GALLERY in Thimphu to foster traditional craftsmanship as well as promote contemporary art to practitioners and enthusiasts at various levels. He illustrated the cover design of the book “Treasures of the Thunder Dragon: A Portrait of Bhutan”, written by Ashi Dori Wangmo Wangchuck, one of the three wives of the previous King of Bhutan who abdicated the throne to the current King.

Rinchen Wangdi is also actively engaged in coordinating art exhibitions, art camps and art educational programs to help raise the standard of art appreciation in society.

INFORMATION ABOUT SPONSORS:

CANON
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte Ltd is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies. Besides handling the domestic market, the company leads 18 other countries including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and a representative office in Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc has a global network of more than 200 companies and employs more than 160,000 people worldwide. It is dedicated to the advancement in technology and innovation and commits about 10% of its total revenue each year to R&D. Canon is consistently one of the top few companies to earn the most number of patents over the last 18 years. As a Fortune Global 500 company, Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.

DrukAir
Drukair began operations on February 11, 1983, from Paro, a picturesque valley in western Bhutan, a 65 km drive away from the capital, Thimphu. Drukair began humbly with a 18-seat Dornier 228-200 that made its historic touch down at Paro airport on January 14, 1983. The first link was Kolkata, followed by six destinations in South Asia, including Bangkok.
Drukair upgraded its planes to the new BAe 146 on November 21, 1988. The airline was now going regional with linkages to New Delhi, Kathmandu and Bangkok. All the pilots and maintenance crew were trained at the best institutes abroad while the flight attendants were trained by Thai Airways.
Today, the fleet has been further upgraded to two Airbus 319s operating six international destinations. Drukair is now a professional corporate entity under the aegis of the Druk Holdings Investment of the royal government. The hallmark of Drukair is safety first and the best of comforts therein for travelers. As the nation opens up more to tourism and gradually steps into the global village, Drukair leaves no stone unturned in ensuring that every passenger, for most of whom the first glimpse of Bhutan is aboard on Drukair, gets the best impression of Bhutan. That is considered a sacred responsibility for Drukair.

DrukAsia
Druk Asia is the representative of Druk Air, Royal Bhutan Airlines in Singapore. Currently based in Bangkok, Singapore and Thimphu, Druk Asia specializes in quality guided tours for the individual travellers or small groups. Activities range from adventurous trekking to distinctive cultural tours throughout the Kingdom. Druk Asia crafts tailor-made itineraries to cater to the well-heeled travellers, ensuring an enriching and inspirational experience. Our experienced team has journeyed throughout the Kingdom of Bhutan; our knowledge and experience ensures your adventure into this truly remarkable country will be the adventure of a lifetime. Let Druk Asia help you begin your journey into this hidden kingdom, enchanted realm, and truly the last Shangri-la!

Millenia Walk
Millenia Walk is a premier lifestyle shopping mall defined by a refreshing burst of colour and an invitingly wide and spacious interior. Visitors may enjoy enriching lifestyle experiences in the mall’s aesthetically intelligent environment, designed by Pritzker Architectural Prize Laureate Philip Johnson. Millenia Walk is part of the landmark development, Millenia Singapore, developed by Pontiac Land Group. Millenia Singapore also comprises of two premier office towers – Millenia Tower and Centennial Tower, two luxury hotels – The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore and Conrad Centennial Singapore.

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces
Established in 1903, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 59 hotels in 41 destinations across India with an additional 18 international
hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Rajput palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury.
The Kingdom of Bhutan – long considered the mountain fortress of the gods – is an ancient kingdom secluded high in the Himalayas with unique customs and people with deeply-held
beliefs. Taj Tashi, Thimphu, situated in the centre of the capital city, has adopted age-old Bhutanese traditions in its architecture. A short walk away from the golf course, the 66-rooms hotel offers panoramic views of neighbouring mountains.
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India’s premier business house.

Tourism Council of Bhutan
Bhutan’s tourism sector is regarded as one of the most exclusive travel destinations in the world. Bhutan enjoys an image of authenticity, remoteness and well-protected cultural heritage and natural environment. Today it is a vibrant business with nearly 400 private operators at the helm of affairs.

The tourism industry in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable. The number of tourists visiting Bhutan is managed according to its absorptive capacity to ensure promotion of its natural and cultural heritage through high value tourism.

The Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes that tourism is a world-wide phenomenon and an important means of achieving socioeconomic development particularly for a developing country like Bhutan. It also recognizes that tourism, in affording the opportunity to travel, can help in promoting understanding among people and building closer ties of friendship based on appreciation and respect for different cultures and lifestyles.
Towards achieving this objective, the Royal Government, since inception, has adopted a very cautious approach to growth and development of the tourism industry in Bhutan. Its tremendous potential as a truly indigenous industry and the clear comparative advantages Bhutan enjoy make for a compelling logic to promote Bhutan as a high-end tourism destination in a manner which accords with the premises of Gross National Happiness.

PhotoInc
Founded by Lim Kok Wee, the company first started out capturing shots of the average person on the street. With a passion for people, PhotoInc’s focus was clear: real emotions and true moments. This naturally led the young start-up into wedding photography.

A heartfelt yet candid style, coupled with the photographer’s genuine love for his work and subjects, made PhotoInc quickly popular among young couples. It did not take long for the company to offer pre-wedding photo shoots overseas. From the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris to the mesmerizing Dochula Pass in Bhutan, PhotoInc is going places. The team’s sincere service and warm personalities see return clients; it became inevitable that PhotoInc ventured into corporate events arena. Over time, this drop in the ocean began making ripples.

With a team bigger than before, PhotoInc now offers a whole range of photography services that include interior shoots, family portraits, products and architecture. Every shot taken with a keen eye and a smile, inside your heart.

It was an exhibition with a worthy cause.

Wedding Of Scott & Lydia
Date : 3 July 2011
Photography by Singapore Photographer : Jude Seah

It’s a day that all couples look forward to, a day filled with bliss and excitement both groom, Scott, and bride, Lydia, could not wait to celebrate. Nothing can hide both these lovebirds’ happiness as they prepare for the probably the biggest day of their lives. This date will forever be arched in their heart – 3^rd July 2011.

They say, every girl looks the prettiest on their wedding day. It is definitely not an exception for bride, Lydia, as she got exquisitely dolled up with butterflies in her stomach while waiting for the charming groom to arrive.

The couple had their wedding photo shoot at the meaningful Cavenagh Bridge, located in front of the established Fullerton Hotel. Cavenagh Bridge is the oldest bridge in Singapore that was opened in the 1870s to commemorate Singapore’s new Crown colony of the Straits Settlements status in 1867.

Now, this bridge is also a commemoration for the couple as photographer, Jude Seah, captures memories that would forever be kept in their photo albums.

Event Name : Dylan’s 1st Birthday Party
Date : 18 June 2011
Venue : Aranda Country Club

There is a first for everything, especially when it comes to a child. The birth of a child is an extremely joyous occasion for all families. He utters his first word, parents go hoo-hah. He takes his first few steps, parents get overjoyed. So when his first birthday comes, parents’d definitely want a grand celebration to commemorate the little one’s very first year.

Though just a year old, Dylan knows that on this special day, he’s definitely the main character. Lucky ofr him, his guests didn’t come empty handed, so within a day, he gets enough gifts to take up a whole table.

Held at the Aranda Country Club located in Pasir Ris, a location near fun places like famous recreational parks like Wild Wild Wet and Escape Themepark, it was definitely a treat for the birthday boy.

Event Name : 18th Singapore International Piano Festival 2011
Date : 16 June 2011
Venue : Conservatory Concert Hall