Sound System

Through music and mentoring, ArtSee bridges cultural and educational gaps, nurturing marginalised youth and preserving heritage for future generations. Co-founder Nabillah Jalal reflects on its impact and vision to extend its reach to more communities

- Nafeesa Saini

"You can Google my name," an ArtSee mentee from Muhammadiyah Welfare Home (MWH), a shelter and rehabilitation centre for youth-at-risk, once said to Nabillah Jalal, the weight of his seemingly casual request unmistakable. When she did, she stumbled upon a story of tragedy concerning a family member embroiled in a high-profile crime.

The moment was a reminder of the challenges some of the children at MWH face, and why ArtSee, the non-profit music and community mentoring programme Nabillah co-founded, exists: to offer a safe space where music and the arts can offer healing, expression and hope for a better future. "You hear [about] cases like this and you think: I have privilege and the ability to help.

It just so happens that the catalyst for me to do this is through music," says Nabillah, who also runs her own boutique piano school.

ArtSee was born out of her deep-seated love for music and a duty to help her community.

Her exceptional accomplishments as a pianist laid the foundation for a programme that merges artistry with meaningful mentorship. The first Malay Singaporean to attend the Royal College of Music (RCM) in the UK, Nabillah's achievements include the Goh Chok Tong Youth Promise Award (Distinction) in 2011 and a performing career that has taken her across Europe. Her advocacy for the arts also extends beyond the stage. Shortly after graduating, she was the music director for Bhumi, a Singapore-led performance at the 2016 Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

These experiences, combined with her steadfast belief in the 3 transformative power of music, became the foundation for ArtSee's mission.

Nabillah's desire to give back through music was ignited by her involvement in RCM Sparks, a community outreach programme that provides inclusive and accessible music education to children and youth from underserved communities.