| Izah Azahari |
THE strains of orchestral music filled the Jerudong International School’s (JIS) Arts Centre last night, with the 22nd edition of the much-anticipated Toyota Classics 2016, featuring an ensemble from the Baltic Neopolis Orchestra and the Covent Garden Soloists Academy, including Pamela Tan-Nicholson and Vasko Vassilev.
Present as the guest of honour was Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Also present was Michinobu Sugata, the Executive Vice-President of the Toyota Motor Asia Pacific.
In his welcoming speech, Ninan Chacko, the Deputy Chairman of NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd, said that the concert was a reflection of the continuing support shown by Bruneians for Toyota and Lexus, the two brands mainly responsible for making NBT the number one automotive distributor in Brunei Darussalam for the last 35 years.
“We believe in continuously giving back to the community that so strongly supports Toyota and Lexus,” he said.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, presenting a mock cheque to Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam. Also present were Michinobu Sugata, the Executive Vice-President of the Toyota Motor Asia Pacific and Ninan Chacko, the Deputy Chairman of NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi and Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health, during the concert.
Welcoming remarks by Ninan Chacko, the Deputy Chairman of NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd . – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
Photos above and below shows Musicians of the orchestra.
“This is why in the past, floods, earthquakes or even tsunamis have not been able to deter Toyota and NBT from doing our civic duty.”
Prior to the start of the performances was a cheque presentation of $60,000 to Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam (Pusat Ehsan), Annur Harapan Centre, and the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei, with each charity receiving $20,000.
The guest of honour presented the donations for Pusat Ehsan and Annur Harapan, which were respectively represented by Dato Paduka Dr Haji Omar bin Haji Khalid, the Education Trustee of Pusat Ehsan; and Noorsurainah binti Tengah, the Director of Annur Harapan. The cheque for SMARTER Brunei was presented by Sugata to Malai Haji Abdullah bin Haji Malai Othman, the SMARTER Brunei’s President.
Last night’s musical line-up consisted of ‘Asean Harmony’, which was jointly performed with the Expression Music Academy; ‘Turandot’, with Pamela Tan Nicholson; ‘Ya Hayu Ya Qayyum’ and ‘Jong Sarat’; ‘Butterfly’; and ‘Carmen’. Pamela Tan-Nicholson is the mother of the violinist, Vanessa-Mae; and together with Vasiliev, this is her third Toyota Classics appearance in Brunei Darussalam.
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