Singapore Tour

The Botanic Gardens Concert

The first concert performed by the Trio was at The Singapore Botanic Gardens.  What a beautiful, lush place!!!  The day of the performance was gray and rainy.  We were worried the show would be washed out.  But, although it DID rain for a brief time in the afternoon (unfortunately during some of the other wonderful events at the Family Fun Fiesta @ The Gardens), the rain shower was brief and cooled down the temperature a great deal.  There was a pretty good turnout for the afternoon despite the weather and despite the fact that the afternoon of the concert was also the beginning of Deepavali, an Indian holiday, the “Celebration of Lights” Festival.  Many people were rushing around getting ready for this special celebration.  But we still had children running around and dancing and families who made an afternoon of OUR event.  The Trio was the last act of the day, since they were the “headline” act, so they started at 6:00 PM in the evening.  Just before they went on, there was someone who brought onto the stage a group of children to play an abbreviated and very active version of FREEZE.  The children needed to mimic the actions of the announcer and then FREEZE the minute he said to freeze.  We were already on the stage, standing towards the back, and Matt realized the game was going on.  So, he excitedly joined in.  He was clapping and jumping and FREEZING just like the other children.

It was funny watching him get into the game as a kid and then go to the front of the stage just a minute later and put on a show in such an adult manner.  He also got a kick out of a “Guess the combined weight of The Matt Savage Trio” contest that was held.  Before the guys had set up their equipment earlier in the day, the promoters brought out a scale and had each member of the Trio stand on it, one at a time.  The total weight in kilos was determined, and the person who guessed their weight closest to their actual combined weight won approx. $400 Singapore Dollars. 

It was an idyllic evening…being in such a beautiful spot and listening to music and watching the sunset.  The concert was an extremely well run event and ALL of the acts that performed that day had a great time.  Abdul Hamid Hassan, the representative of the Botanic Gardens, took VERY good care of us.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens, DO so.  It is spectacular!

"All That Jazz"

An Evening with Matthew Savage

Guests of Honour

Singapore President and First Lady Nathan

This was a completely different kind of concert for the guys than the first concert.  Actually, it was different from any concert they have ever performed!  When the President and First Lady of a country and all their dignitaries are attending a dinner, it is an event of great import.  There was fine china, crystal, lace covers on each of the chairs.  The gowns were exquisite, the flowers perfect, and every little detail handled perfectly.

The Trio, of course, was all decked out in tuxedos, and I wore a formal gown.  I was fortunate that the arrangers had set a place for me so I could listen to the band and enjoy the fabulous dessert that was served that evening.  The Trio performed after dinner had been eaten and before dessert was served. 

Nigel Mosbergen and Dr. Sheryn Mah were among the people who put together both this event and the Family Fiesta concert at the Botanic Gardens.  Mrs. Leong Geok Hoon, Mr. Richard James, Mrs. Teo Puay Khoon, and all the wonderful folks at The Autism Centre (Singapore) also did an extraordinary amount of work.

I know I am forgetting people, and I pray that they forgive me.  There were so many different organizations working together seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly that I found it difficult to keep track of who worked for which organization and what exactly they did.  Everyone just seemed to work as one team.  Their efforts showed what happens when people work together to get things done.  This was one of several events put together by these individuals that I shall never ever forget.  And I think Matt and the guys felt the excitement too.  They were so “into” the music that they performed long and had to cut short their set.  But, it didn’t really matter.  Nigel signaled for me to come up on stage with the Trio, and then Mrs. Leong Geok Hoon, President of The Autism Centre (Singapore), presented an exquisite pewter plate to each member of the Trio.  Each plate bears an inscription from The Autism Centre and PAP Community Foundation (TE).  The plates were made in Malaysia by a famous manufacturer and have a relief of different views of Singapore around the entire rim.  They are some of the most gorgeous pewter pieces I’ve ever seen, and a spectacular way for us to display and remember the wonderful people and events that make up Singapore.

The plan was for each of the Trio members to then step off of the stage and greet President Nathan and then proceed to greet Mrs. Nathan.  But, the President surprised everyone when he walked right up on stage and shook Matt’s hand.  Nigel, who was acting as Master of Ceremonies that evening, exclaimed “Mr. President!!” in a surprised and completely shocked manner.  My guess is that the President’s walking up on stage is NOT standard procedure.  Everyone stood and clapped and the photographers went wild.  It was an amazing thing to see.  I presented to President Nathan (and then to First Lady Nathan) one copy each of the Trio’s CD, “Groovin’ On Mount Everest”, autographed by each member of the Trio.  And soon thereafter, the President and First Lady departed.  The Trio got to eat some dessert, and it was time to leave.  Quite an exciting night for sure!

Rainbow Centre Concert

The day after the formal dinner, we had the delightful opportunity to visit a school called The Rainbow Centre.  The Rainbow Centre is a school for children with various special needs, some with autism, some with other diagnoses.

It was here that the Trio had yet a different kind of concert experience in Singapore.  They performed at this school for the children and teachers.  The children danced and clapped and laughed and had a fantastic time listening to the music.  Matt did an “audience challenge” with the children, and received requests to improvise songs about fish, rhinoceros, dinosaurs, a bird, and a river, among other things.  The children LOVED hearing their suggestions come to life through music, and had more energy and excitement than I’ve ever seen.  It was absolutely wonderful.  After the concert, the Trio members (and I!) all received presents from the Rainbow Centre… t-shirts, mugs, hats, etc.  We were the ones who had the honor of performing for these special kids and their special teachers, and they gave US gifts.  All the children kept coming up to Matt and he gave a lot of autographs after the concert.  As his mom, I was proud of how poised he was and how sweet and patient and loving he was with the children.  I told him so, and he said he’d make a good Dad someday.  I agreed with him wholeheartedly.  The school’s Executive Director, Mrs. June Tham, gave us a full tour of the school’s premises.  A more incredible school I have never seen.  They had everything there that might be needed by the students.  There were computers, occupational therapy rooms, sensory stimulation rooms. You name it?  It was there.  And the teachers were caring, involved individuals who obviously dedicated their lives to helping the children above all else.

Definitely an example of what a school CAN be.

After the tour, the Autism Resource Center staff took us out to lunch at a terrific restaurant called the Blue Ginger.  Matt ordered fish and got the WHOLE fish- head, eyes and tail.  He thought it was the best fish he has ever eaten, once he got over the surprise of seeing it served that way!!! 

After all of the concerts had been performed I asked Matt which concert he enjoyed the most.  He paused, then with a qualifying response of “They were ALL great, just different”, he acknowledged that he liked performing most for the children.  ALL the guys in the Trio had the same answer when I posed the question to each of them at different times.  Each concert was wonderful.  Each experience had its own special moments and memories.  But when you get right down to it, it was the children, their completely open and free responses to the beauty of music, the joy on their faces, that made The Rainbow Centre concert extra special.