| Izah Azahari |
HER Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman, as the guest of honour, presented BND45,000 to three charity organisations at the annual Toyota Classics at the Arts Centre, Jerudong International School (JIS) last night.
Accompanying Her Royal Highness were Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.
Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, An-Nur Harapan and the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei were presented BND15,000 each.
NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) brought in the 36-member multi award-winning London-based Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) for an evening of classical compositions.
The orchestra was led by Musical Director and Harpsichordist Steven Devine, joined by Leader and Violin Soloist Daniel Edgar, British Soprano Charlotte Beament and Violin Soloist Kinga Ujszászi.
OAE is one of the world’s leading period instrument orchestras who took their name from the era where the core of their repertoire is based on – the ‘age of enlightenment’, and has musicians who have turned their music into a story that is altogether surprising, funny, profound and universal. OAE has worked with some of the most distinguished musicians around the world including Sir Simon Rattle, Vladimir Jurowksi, Sir William Christie, Sir Roger Norrington and Sir András Schiff. Taking advantage of the acoustically sophisticated auditorium, members of the audience were also entertained with local renditions of Brunei Darussalam national anthem and local tunes such as Balik Kampung and Kampung Ayer.
Executive Advisor of NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd Ninan Chacko said that after almost three decades since their first concert in 1990 in Brunei. “Support for the Toyota Classics is growing stronger, especially among the younger generation.
“Every one has learnt and benefitted from the Toyota Classics.”
Ninan Chacko added that over the last three decades, Brunei Darussalam has demonstrated that it is a caring community and as a result of the continuously strong support, organising the concert has become second nature to Toyota today.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin and spouse, President of Toyota Motor Asia-Pacific Susumu Matsura, CEO of Inchcape Asia (NBT’s Holding Company) George Ashford and foreign dignitaries were also present.
Now on its 24th instalment, the fundraiser event has raised some BND1,845,000 from ticket sales for charities in Brunei Darussalam since 1990.
