-
Ms Eileen Chai speaking at the Music Cities Convention.
-
Strings for Kindness and The Violin Travels performing “Everything Is Possible”, composed by Ms Eileen Chai.
-
The Violin Travels, Ms Eileen Chai's music band performed with the Strings for Kindness at the Music Cities Convention.
From left to right: Violinist Ms Eileen Chai, Percussionist Mr Chan Chap Chee and Pianist Ms Mabel Lim
(Photo credits: Ig’s Productions)
-
Ms Lauren Ngiam of the Strings for Kindness performing at the Music Cities Convention. (Photo credits: Ig’s Productions)
-
Ms Emmy Woon of the Strings for Kindness performing at the Music Cities Convention.
(Photo credits: Ig’s Productions)
-
Ms Megumi Toh of the Strings for Kindness performing at the Music Cities Convention.
(Photo credits: Ig’s Productions)
-
Ms Eileen Chai performing with Strings for Kindness and The Violin Travels at the Music Cities Convention, with Ms Sarah Ng in the foreground.
(Photo credits: Ig’s Productions)
Empowering the Youth and Promoting Mental Health with Music
10 February
Music Cities Convention (MCC) is the biggest global musical event that explores the use and importance of music in the development of cities all around the world, featuring talks and presentations on topics such as global music city policies, economic development, health, technology, education and so on. The first Canadian and 10th global edition of MCC was livestreamed from Calgary and Edmonton, Canada, with international speakers joining remotely from over 15 countries in six continents, including Singapore. This year was themed “Scaling Up Music Cities: Cultivating the Future of Alberta”.
Ms Eileen Chai (Science ’01), co-founder of 3AM Music Collective (3amMC) and Strings For Kindness (SFK), was invited to speak at the convention. Her presentation on “Empowering the Youth and Promoting Mental Health with Music", highlighted the role of music in spreading awareness and acceptance of mental health conditions. Through music, 3amMC was able to raise awareness and remove stigmas attached to mental health conditions. She also shared the importance of having an empathetic ear. When speaking to members of the public, 3amMC members, who are not professionally-trained counsellors, encourage without dishing out advices. Her initiatives have also helped empower youths and educate listeners on what someone with depression and anxiety experiences, as they transit during the healing process. With more confidence, the young musician could now make her own creative choices on how she uses music, to give back or pass forward this new strength of empowerment, to other people.
Virtual attendees appreciated Ms Chai’s illuminating sharing session, which concluded with a pre-recorded performance by the SFK and The Violin Travels, where Ms Chai’s original composition, "Everything Is Possible".
Submitted by Ms Eileen Chai (Science ’01).
If you are keen to find out more about the Chai360 Music Ecosystem or to collaborate, please reach out to Ms Eileen Chai at Chai360sg@gmail.com.