Ultimate SG50 Fan found

SINGAPORE — It was Tay Zhi Wen mash-up of Happy Birthday and this year’s National Day Song, Our Singapore, with a violin and er-hu that knocked the judges socks off, giving her the win over 168 other contestants vying for the title of SG50’s biggest fan.

“I decided to take part in this competition as it would give me the chance to experience The Esplanade like never before and in such an intimate way,” she said. “It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

The musically-inclined 24-year-old has fond memories of the Esplanade, having performed there many times with the Singapore Youth Chinese Orchestra and Chung Cheng High School (Main) Chinese Orchestra. Her mother, brother and boyfriend who will be joining her on the staycation also share a deep love for arts (her brother plays the suona, while her boyfriend is a music composer). “It was my mother’s support all these years that allowed my siblings and I to pursue our musical interests. She has always been watching from the audience seat — I wanted her to be on the other side for once, to have a different experience,” Tay explained.

A big Airbnb fan who has used the vacation rental website for her trips to the USA, UK, Japan, Denmark and Sweden, Tay will get to sleep with her family in a true blue 1960s-style Singaporean home, as the Esplanade Theatre stage is transformed to fit the theme of A Night Through Time. In addition, performances, sound effects and stage lighting are designed to make the whole experience at the Theatre as authentically 1960s as possible, as actress Oon Shu An play host for a tour of Esplanade. They will also have dinner at Esplanade’s rooftop restaurant and top their experience with tickets to the National Day Parade.