SINGAPORE – Four youths between the age of 11 and 20 were selected for the 2023 intake of the Mapletree-TENG Scholarship, previously known as the Mapletree-TENG Academy Scholarship. The scholarship funding has grown to $11,000 per scholar tenable for two years, providing recipients from less-privileged backgrounds with financial support to pursue their passion for Chinese music over a two-year period.
Established in 2018, the Mapletree-TENG Scholarship is a partnership between Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”) and The TENG Company (“TENG”). The programme financially supports the musical education and nurtures young talents aged 21 and below who possess aptitude and passion for Chinese music.
Delivered through TENG’s Industry Empowerment arm, the scholarship puts recipients through a holistic programme which includes robust individual training classes with professional instructors, mentorships, and performance opportunities. In turn, scholars will be given opportunities to give back to society by using their musical skills in community outreach programmes.
Mr Edmund Cheng, Mapletree Chairman, said, “It is heartening to see the good impact of long-term support, with a number of Mapletree-TENG scholars making their mark in a nation-wide music competition last year. As we approach the scholarship’s sixth year, we are proud to work with TENG to preserve the heritage of traditional Chinese music. We hope that this year’s boost in funding will continue to contribute to the development of cultural enrichment in our communities.”
This collaboration between Mapletree and TENG has flourished, with scholars achieving multiple awards as soloists at the Singapore Chinese Music Competition (SCMC) 2022, which aims to discover new talents and raise musical standards. These Mapletree-TENG scholars include: Ryan Lim Ming Zheng (first prize in the Erhu Senior Category), Ee Anzhi (first prize in the Junior Dizi Category), and Ang De Jin (third prize in the Intermediate Zhongruan Category).
TENG’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Mr Yang Ji Wei added, “The stellar results and achievements by our scholars at the SCMC 2022 is a testament to the strong and rigorous curriculum and programme they undergo. The scholarship provides them with deeper understanding of their craft. At TENG, we believe that no child should be denied of an opportunity to learn music and we hope we can continue bringing out the best in each and every one of them in our newest cohort grooming the next generation of talented musicians for Singapore.”
Mapletree-TENG 2023 Scholar and Ruan musician Ang De Jin said, “I was surprised and extremely thankful to be awarded this scholarship a second time. This is a big stepping stone for me and allows me to grow as a person and musician through training and exposure that the scholarship provides. I look forward to making new friends and meeting new mentors along the scholarship journey and cannot wait to perform even more!”
More information about the Mapletree-TENG Scholarship is available at: https://www.thetengcompany.com/academy/scholarship
Mapletree-TENG Scholars
2023
| Name | Age | Instrument | School |
| Ng Raeshon | 12 | Yangqin | Red Swastika School |
| Juliette Goh Minzu | 20 | Guzheng | Awaiting University Offer |
| Ang De Jin | 19 | Ruan | Temasek Polytechnic |
| Lee Zhixin | 11 | Ruan | Maha Bodhi School |
2022
| Name | Age | Instrument | School |
| Ee Anzhi | 11 | Dizi | Poi Cheng School |
| Bernice Ng Jing Xuan | 19 | Guzheng | ITE College East |
| Preston Ang | 14 | Suona | Raffles Institution |
| Tan Ya Hui Eugenia | 21 | Erhu | Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts |
For more information on the previous batches of scholars, please click here.
Photo credits: The TENG Company
