Not only will the sixth MusicFest@SGH 2018 be bigger this year – 260 performers, plus big names like Chua En Lai and Benjamin Kheng participating for the first time – but the music will carry on till December as performers return for monthly one-hour gigs at the wards, starting in June. The event is presented by Novartis and jointly organised by SGH and Sing’theatre.  

“Over the years, MusicFest@SGH Campus has grown from performances in SGH to a campus-wide programme involving our National Specialty Centers - extending our efforts throughout the year is a natural progression. We will not be able to do this without the partnership and support of our sponsors, volunteers and staff.  We hope that this expansion will enable us to spread the holistic benefits and therapeutic effects of music to more patients,” said Professor Kenneth Kwek, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore General Hospital.

Music has the ability to stimulate the senses, heal, uplift the spirit, and improve a patient’s  recovery – and it was this idea that led Sing’theatre and SGH, with the support of Novartis, to present the first MusicFest@SGH in 2013. Since its launch, the yearly MusicFest@SGH Campus has brought together close to 2,000 musicians and artists, provided 218 hours of live music, to over 32,000 patients and caregivers.

Ms Nathalie Ribette, artistic and executive director of Sing’theatre, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Chua Enlai and Benjamin Kheng and very excited to extend the reach of MusicFest@SGH Campus all year long, with monthly live performance in the wards and outpatient areas.” 

Ms Celine Landie, Delegate Country President of Novartis Singapore added, “We are proud to partner with Sing’theatre and the Singapore General Hospital to enable and support MusicFest@SGH for its sixth consecutive year. Beyond our work of discovering breakthrough transformative treatments, we are also passionate in giving back to the communities within which we live and serve. MusicFest@SGH is the perfect opportunity to reach this aspiration and expand our positive impact of reimaging medicine for patients and the wider community.” 

MusicFest@SGH Campus is a free event with the performances, including the concert finale, to be held in public areas. Performances at the wards and chemotherapy rooms, however, will be restricted to patients only.  

Singapore General Hospital, a member of Singapore Health Services, is the public sector's flagship hospital. Established in 1821, SGH is Singapore's largest acute tertiary hospital with 1,700 beds and national referral centre offering a comprehensive range of 39 clinical specialties on its campus. Every year, about 1 million Singaporeans benefit from advanced medical care delivered by its 800 specialists. As an academic healthcare institution and the bedrock of medical education, SGH plays a key role in nurturing doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and is committed to innovative translational and clinical research in her continual strive to provide the best care and outcomes to her patients. www.sgh.com.sg

 

Into its 20th year, the SGH Arts for Health programme aims to promote good health and improve quality of care to patients in the hospital through various creative and therapeutic art forms. Through visual and performing arts, the programme seeks to enhance the physical, social and emotional well-being of our patients and visitors. By partnering community organisations, arts groups and artists, SGH is able to play a part in supporting and developing the arts by providing alternative platforms within the healthcare settings. Arts for Health is supported by the National Arts Council. 

 

Sing’theatre is recognised in the Singapore scene as a musical theatre specialist. Since 2006, Sing’theatre has staged productions presenting iconic French and European singers, as well as plays and musicals written in Singapore. The company uses primarily the musical theatre genre and French cabaret style to bring social conversations and personal struggles to the stage. They take current issues in society, give them a unique perspective and make them resonate with Singaporeans. 

 

Through their work, Sing’theatre aims to promote multi-cultural interaction. Beyond the traditional stage, Sing’theatre brings music to the community through its various outreach programmes at hospitals and also provides training to musical theatre lovers from all walks of life through its academy, upholding its mission to perform for a better society.

 

Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio and has leading positions globally in: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. In 2017, the 

 

Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of Novartis AG and has more than 1,600 associates working across the city-state. Registering a turnover of USD$84million (S$114million) in 2017, Novartis Singapore began in 1997 and today maintains a presence through its divisions: Innovative Medicines (including Pharmaceuticals and Oncology); Sandoz (generics and biosimilars); Alcon (eye care); Manufacturing and Asia Pacific (APAC) regional headquarters. With its APAC regional headquarters, commercial operations and four production sites based in Singapore, Novartis Singapore is engaged in the research and development, production, distribution and marketing of medical products. The therapeutic areas which we serve in Singapore include diabetes, neurology, oncology, nephrology, ophthalmology, transplant, dermatology, rheumatology, respiratory and cardiology. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com