Student composers to be presented at inaugural Mapletree Young Composers Initiative performance – Press Release
Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”) will present six awardees of the Mapletree Young Composers Initiative 2025 from the University of the Arts Singapore (“UAS”) — an alliance of LASALLE College of the Arts (“LASALLE”) and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (“NAFA”) — at a public concert on 30 May 2026, Saturday from 7.30pm to 9.00pm at the Lee Foundation Theatre, NAFA. The performance forms part of the Group’s initiatives and earlier announcement to commemorate Singapore’s 60th year of independence (“SG60”). Admission is free, with registration available via Eventbrite. (For more information, please refer to Annex A.)
Twenty submissions were received from LASALLE and NAFA students in August 2025. Following a rigorous judging process conducted by Mr Felix Phang, Founder and Managing Director of Pasat Merdu, Mr Americ Goh, Programme Leader (Continuing Education and Training), NAFA Faculty of Performing Arts and a Mapletree representative, six compositions were selected and each awarded a cash prize of S$2,500. Winning student composers received guidance through mentorship by Ms Belinda Foo, Lecturer, School of Contemporary Music, LASALLE and Dr Zechariah Goh, Head of Composition, School of Music, NAFA in preparation for this inaugural performance.
Centred on the theme “Essence of Singapore”, audiences can look forward to a vibrant line-up of pieces reflecting Singapore’s national identity, heritage and community. The showcase will include an award ceremony to recognise the winning composition from each arts institution.
Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree, said, “The Mapletree Young Composers Initiative 2025 reflects our belief in championing meaningful platforms that empower individuals in their creative growth. We are proud to support these young talents to develop their craft with confidence and make their mark in Singapore’s vibrant arts community.”
Mr Jose Isidro “Lito” Camacho, Chairman, University of the Arts Singapore, said, “This initiative reflects the transformative power of arts education in Singapore, where young composers are given not only the platform, but also the mentorship to bring their ideas to life. We are proud of our students from LASALLE and NAFA, whose works capture the spirit of Singapore through fresh and compelling musical expression. Collaborations such as this with Mapletree play an important role in nurturing the next generation of creative talent, while contributing to the development of our cultural ecosystem.”
Another arts initiative launched as part of Mapletree’s SG60 commemorative efforts, the Mapletree Young Filmmakers Initiative, will return for a second run in 2026, building on the encouraging outcomes of its inaugural edition. More information will be released at a later date.
Portrait, one of the top three short films produced under the Mapletree Young Filmmakers Initiative 2025 and directed by Daniel Tan Wen Long, has clinched the Grand Jury Prize at BAKUNAWA FEST 12 in the Philippines. The short film has also garnered further international recognition, including as a semi-finalist at the Tianjin International Academic Film Festival 2025 in China and as an Official Selection in the 2026 Fiction strand at the LJMU MA Short Film Festival in Liverpool, United Kingdom.
All top three short films from the Mapletree Young Filmmakers Initiative 2025 – Hotpot Mayhem, Kecantikan and Portrait – can be viewed on the Mapletree Arts in the City YouTube channel.
Mapletree Young Filmmakers Initiative and Mapletree Young Composers Initiative are some of Mapletree’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts under the Arts and Education pillars, underscoring the Group’s commitment to empowering individuals and enriching communities through the arts.
