The Performers

Dim Sum Dollies

The Dim Sum Dollies, consisting of Selena Tan, Pam Oei and Emma Yong, have over a few short years made an indelible mark on the local theatre and entertainment scene. With creative marketing and publicity strategies, the Dollies have found their way onto shopping bags, tee shirts, calendars and greeting cards, the Internet and the backs of buses. The Dollies record a CD of original songs for every production and even performed at the National Day Celebrations at Marina Bay in 2007.

The Dollies, led by Selena Tan, also make important contributions to Singapore’s cultural capital with each show’s original script and music. They are often included as subjects for research by theatre academics and mentioned by historians, journalists and diplomats in discussions relating to Singapore identity. Most importantly, the Dim Sum Dollies are all about living life to the fullest, daring to dream and being true to oneself.

Tan Kheng Hua

Tan Kheng Hua is one of Singapore’s most celebrated award-winning theatre/television actresses and producers. She has starred in more than 50 local theatre productions such as Beauty World, Lao Jiu, Descendants of the Admiral Eunuch and Animal Farm. She produced the critically-acclaimed Dim Sum Dollies® shows (2004/5/6) and became a household name as Margaret in PCK Pte Ltd. On Arts Central, she created and produced the dramas 9 Lives and Do Not Disturb, which earned the first maximum 5-star rating from Straits Times Life! Recently, Kheng Hua starred in Glen Goei’s movie, The Blue Mansion and produced her first original stage musical It’s My Life! by Spare Room Pte Ltd, a company she owns with her husband Lim Yu-Beng.

She made her directorial debut in 2008 with Do Not Disturb – Late Checkout, Please and followed that up with The Composer last year, both collaborations with Esplanade Theatres on the Bay. She is currently Consultant Producer for the Asian Premier of The Full Monty and has decided to spend most of the year as buddy to her daughter Shi-An during her PSLE year.

Beatrice Chia-Richmond

Beatrice Chia-Richmond is one of Singapore’s most prominent theatre directors and actresses. She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London with a BA(Hons) in Performing Arts and began her professional career at the Royal Court Upstairs Theatre. She returned home to Singapore in 1998 to continue a multi-faceted performing career in film, television and stage.

Beatrice began directing in 2001. Her critically acclaimed directorial debut – SHOPPING AND F***ING won 2 awards at the 2001 DBS Life! Theatre Awards. She was awarded “Best Director”. She has gone on to direct numerous productions since. Her directorial productions include BENT (“Play of the Year”) and CABARET. She was also awarded the 2006 National Arts Council “Young Artist Award”.

Rahimah Rahim

Rahimah Rahim began her acting career at the age of six, when she played a little rich girl in Korban Kasih. She went on to star in Masuk Angin Keluar Asap, Kasih Ibu and performed in the television show Pak Awang Temberang.

She released her first album, entitled Mana Ibumu in 1972. Her 12th album released in October 2006, Awal & Kini was a compilation of her greatest hits. Her songs Gadis Dan Bunga and Bebas, both of which were produced by Johari Salleh went gold. She represented the then Singapore Broadcasting Corporation in the ASEAN Song Festival and in the Golden Bell Awards in Taiwan. She was both the group and grand champion in Japan’s Kim Koso Talentime. In 1989, upon her return from her pilgrimage to Mecca she retired from singing. Although she has performed on occasion for special events, she has stated that she has no plans to come out of retirement.

Ann Hussein

Ann Hussein first made her mark in the entertainment industry when she won the English Talentime in 1980. She then joined the group GINGERBREAD as its lead singer and keyboard player. More recently, Ann was the vocal director for shows such as Suria’s 10th Anniversary and Project Hope 2009. She also pours her talent into helping aspiring singers up their game as a vocal coach/instructor and judge in various competitions. Last year, Ann put 2009 Idol winner Sezairi Sezali through his paces as the shows resident vocal coach and wowed the crowed in a duet with legendary singer, Rahimah Rahim.

Michaela Therese

Michaela Therese is a veteran in the local music scene, having performed professionally since the age of 12. Michaela performs solo most of the time, which is a rarity in Singapore’s music scene and does not restrict her musical style to only classical jazz; she can also produce a mean set of R&B tunes.

Her vast performing experience includes two sold-out concerts at The Esplanade Recital Studio, an opening set for the legendary James Brown’s god-daughter Carleen Anderson, a live duet performance with R&B musician Brian McKnight. She is an all-time favorite at the annual Mosaic Music Festival. Michaela is also a regular feature at some of Singapore’s hottest nightspots such as Gatrobar, StereoLounge, and Timbre.

Rani Singam

Rani Singam is one of the most sought-after and accomplished jazz vocalists in Asia. Discovered by jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro, Rani recorded her debut album “With A Song In My Heart” in 2004. She performs regularly at international jazz festivals, concerts and events. Rani sings in a style that is truly reminiscent of the great jazz singers she admires. She also has a truly endearing way of connecting with the audience. Her “playful yet caressing” vocals likened by many to legendary jazz vocalists including Billie Holliday, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn continue to woo the hearts of critics and fans alike.

Wendi Koh

Wendi Koh is heralded as one of Singapore’s most versatile, entertaining and sensational female personalities.

Wendi has toured extensively throughout South-East Asia. Her talents extend to music and vocal arrangement and production, as well as voice instruction and vocal performance training.

Wendi recorded “Uniquely You” the theme song for Singapore Tourism Board’s Global Launch of “Uniquely Singapore” and performed a Singaporean ensemble together with Kumar in Berlin, Germany. She was also the sole Singaporean artiste chosen for the Blue ‘One Love’ Asian artistes remix MTV video and VCD/CD that aired on MTV.

Wendi released her first all-original album ‘Gutsy Girl The Album’ in 2002. She wrote the theme songs and music for the Wild Rice Production ‘An Invitation To Treat – The Eleanor Wong Trilogy’, staged in April 2003 at the Jubilee Hall. In July 2005, she played the role of Mother to the lead character of Christopher Cheng in The Admiral’s Odyssey, a musical written by Ken Low (music and lyrics) and Jean Tay (lyrics and book).

Kuo Po

Kuo Po, an experienced entertainer as well as the only female singer saxophonist in Asia, is a producer and director who has curated many live acts and concerts over the last 23 years.

In 2004, she started Precious Entertainment, incorporating Kids Performing™, a school that trains highly talented children and youths in the art of performance and JazzKids™, one of the best known local young acts, unique in their repertoire of jazz and swing. In 2008, JazzKids™ won 4 gold medals in L.A at the World Championship of Performing Arts.

Kuo Po continues to manage unique young talents and owns Popstars City™, a venue with a cafe , stage and an academy for performing arts catering to the needs of developing talents.

Constance Singam

Constance Singham, a past president of AWARE and SCWO (Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations) is a well known social activist and writer. She is a founder member of TWC1, TWC2 and the now defunct MediaWatch.

She has been a columnist in several publications. Her works include ” A History of the TWC: Building Social Space in Singapore” and essay ” Quietly Resisting; Silently Subverting: The Wayward Ways of Singapore Women” in Postmodern Singapore. She is also co-editor of the book “Re-Presenting Singapore Women, published by Landmark Publications.

After 25 years of commitment and hard work to the cause of civil society and in particular AWARE, Constance Singam is happy to step back and return to her other neglected loves of her life: music, literature and writing.

Julia Abueva

Julia Abuvea was profiled recently on Ophrah Winfrey as one of “The Ten Most Talented Children In The World”. This 14 year-old singer-child prodigy is an artiste of Precious Entertainment. She has performed in almost 300 concerts and gala events including leads in musicals between Singapore and Philippines. In 2009, she represented Singapore in the Laos SEA GAMES in 2009 and also performed for 21 world leaders for the APEC Singapore Evening at Esplanade Concert Hall.

Women of the Mandeville String Ensemble

Mandeville Music School is renowned for its relentless drive to elevate music learning into an art form. The motto ‘Excellence in Teaching’ reflects the quality of the faculty members and the innovative music programmes rolled out. As a result, students at Mandeville have achieved notable success in concert performances, competitions and conservatory admissions. The Mandeville String Ensemble is formed as part of Mandeville’s mission to raise the awareness of the artistes’ social responsibilities – sharing the joy of music with others through performances for charity. Led by the visionary and talented Director, Ms Yap Shu Mei, the Mandeville String Ensemble comprises of students, teachers and friends of Mandeville.

San Nikkis

San Nikkis is Singapore’s first Electric String Trio. Shu Mei (first violin), Joan (second violin) and Dawn (cello) are classically trained musicians. They are musically talented, willing explorers of different music genres and natural entertainers with a photogenic allure that compliments their musical virtuosity. San Nikkis are highly sought after on the corporate function circuit having worked with household names like Mercedes, Honda, Canon, Singapore Airlines, UOB and SMU. They are also no strangers to the catwalk and have been seen with models from Lee Hwa, Kerastase, Cleo and even the Mr Singapore Pageant

Belinda Foo

Belinda Foo was Under 19 Squash Champion in 1982, represented Singapore in the Asian Junior Championships in 1983 and the East Asian Championships in 1984, bringing home the gold medal both times.

She is a Composer and Arranger. She has written for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore and Hongkong Arts Festivals and composed music for several musicals including, “Darkest before Dawn” and “The Other Wiseman”.

Belinda is currently a lecturer at the LASALLE College of the Arts. Her recent achievements include writing the Symphonic Poem, “Jeremiah”. At present, she is working on a Suite.

Grace Young

Grace Young, Singapore’s top bowler and one of the most prominent women athletes in Singapore today was voted Singapore Sports Woman of the Year and National Champion not once but three times. She represented Singapore at the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Games, World FIQ and World Cup. A multiple medalist, she was Singapore’s bowling ambassador at the 1995 Atlanta Olympics and received a medal for her contribution to Singapore sport from the late President Wee Kim Wee.

Grace sat on various sporting committees through the years and is currently serving on the boards of the Singapore Sports School, The First Tee Golf Foundation and Celebration Chorus. She is also an active fundraiser. Her latest effort was a 700km bike trek last November where funds raised allowed Thai women to have free pap smear tests and were used for training midwives to conduct such tests in the villages of Thailand.