Chari-Tea: Where Music, Friendship and Charity Came Together
What do you get when you bring together a roomful of enthusiastic singers, music, a delicious hi-tea, and 300 people with a heart for charity? A merry time, of course!
That was the scene at MH Hotel Ipoh on Saturday, 17 October 2026, when Chari-Tea: An Afternoon of Music & Merriment welcomed a full house for an afternoon of entertainment, fellowship and fundraising.
Organised by KLSings in collaboration with Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh, the charity event supported Perak Women for Women Society (PWW), an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of women and children in Perak.
There was plenty to enjoy, from familiar musical theatre numbers and nostalgic favourites to an inviting buffet and lucky draws. Yet, beyond the music and merriment, the afternoon had a more important purpose: helping children from disadvantaged backgrounds receive the nourishment, educational support and opportunities they need to thrive.
The event also featured a booth by the PWW Shop, where guests could purchase items while supporting the charitable work of Perak Women for Women Society. Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh also had a booth at the event, introducing the Cherish e-Card, a Senior Citizen Privilege Card designed to provide privileges for senior citizens.
It all began with a star
KLSings and PWW first came together in 2018 through One Million Stars to End Violence, a campaign that raised awareness of violence against women. The partnership continued the following year, when KLSings singers performed at PWW’s Women in Love: A Night at the Opera fundraiser.
In 2020, when the Covid-19 lockdown prevented people from gathering as usual, KLSings founder Cheryl Teh started Cheryl’s Annual Fundraiser as a virtual open-mic session. It gave friends an opportunity to share songs and stories while keeping the spirit of community alive during an uncertain time.
PWW has remained the principal beneficiary of this annual fundraising initiative since its inception. As restrictions eased, the fundraising efforts continued in person.
Singing together, growing together
Founded in 2011 by Cheryl Teh, KLSings is a Kuala Lumpur-based singing community with a mission to promote active ageing through music.
Its approach is refreshingly inclusive. You do not need a trained voice, years of musical experience, or the confidence to perform on stage. You simply need to be willing to give singing a try.
The benefits extend beyond learning songs. Singing helps keep the mind engaged, lifts the spirits and creates opportunities to form friendships. For seniors, having a shared activity and a community to belong to can make the later chapters of life more fulfilling.
This philosophy is reflected in the VoxPop Choir, KLSings’ community choir that welcomes seniors regardless of musical ability or experience.
At Chari-Tea, the singers demonstrated that performing is not necessarily about hitting every note perfectly. It is about enjoying the experience, sharing something with others and having the courage to use your voice. And when the audience was invited to join in, the joy became even more contagious.
A musical afternoon with a Broadway flavour
The entertainment programme featured a selection of Broadway classics, choral favourites and popular songs that appealed to different tastes and generations.
The VoxPop Choir took guests on a musical journey with numbers such as Open a New Window and The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha. Uplifting selections included We Shall Overcome and You’ll Never Walk Alone from Carousel.
Fans of musical theatre were also treated to A Bushel and a Peck from Guys & Dolls, a medley from The King and I, and songs from The Sound of Music, including the much-loved Edelweiss.
The programme then moved into familiar territory with What a Wonderful World, You Are My Sunshine and Top of the World, songs that many guests could readily recognise and sing along to.
Adding to the line-up were guest singers Suzan Manen, Johnben Loy and Pan Swee Chin, who brought their experience and love of performing to the stage alongside the choir.
The trio had previously appeared in KLSings’ Broadway Senior production of Guys & Dolls SR in June 2026, making their participation at Chari-Tea another opportunity to share their passion for musical theatre.
The Happy Strummers
The afternoon’s musical offerings were not limited to the choir. The Happy Strummers brought their ukuleles along, adding a cheerful touch to the proceedings. This group of seniors shares a simple belief: it is never too late to pick up an instrument and learn something new.
Although members come from different backgrounds, their common love of music, friendship and laughter brings them together.
When The Happy Strummers joined the VoxPop Choir for the audience singalong, the result was an open invitation for everyone to participate.
One of the loveliest aspects of a group singalong is how quickly it can turn strangers into participants.
At Chari-Tea, guests were encouraged to raise their voices alongside the performers. The singalong repertoire included You Are My Sunshine, Top of the World, Maan Sui Chin Saan Zung Si Ching (萬水千山總是情), Nan Heng Nan Dai (難兄難弟) and Rasa Sayang Eh!
The idea of singing together also carried a special significance because the event coincided with World Singing Day, which falls on the third Saturday of October each year.
Founded in 2012 by Colorado musician Scott Johnson, World Singing Day is a global celebration that encourages people to sing together, regardless of nationality, age or musical ability. Its message is that music can create connections across cultures and communities.
Cheryl attended the first public World Singing Day event in Boulder, Colorado, in 2015 and brought the celebration to Malaysia the following year.
The beneficiary: Perak Women for Women (PWW)
While Chari-Tea provided the music and merriment, PWW was the reason everyone came together. Established in December 2003, Perak Women for Women Society is a registered non-governmental organisation working to improve the lives of women and children across the state.
Its areas of work include advocating for women’s rights, preventing violence against women, providing crisis support, counselling and legal aid, and promoting gender equality.
At Chari-Tea, PWW Vice President Sumathi Sivamany thanked the Ipoh community for its generosity. She also acknowledged Cheryl Teh, KLSings and their friends for continuing to support the society since 2020.
Her appreciation extended to everyone who attended the event, donated funds or contributed in other ways to make the fundraiser a success.
For PWW, every donation helps meet a practical need, whether it is putting breakfast on a child’s table, making the journey to school possible, or providing extra help with reading and mathematics.
These contributions may appear small individually, but together they can help children attend school more consistently, learn with greater confidence and build a stronger foundation for their future.
Chari-Tea 2026 was a reminder that charity need not always take the form of a formal appeal or a serious fundraising dinner. Sometimes, it can be an afternoon of favourite songs, laughter among friends, a satisfying buffet and the pleasure of discovering that a shared interest can support a good cause.
The sold-out gathering of around 300 people was a heartening show of support, but the work continues long after the last song has been sung. PWW still needs donations to sustain its programmes, and members of the public can contribute at any time.
Support Perak Women for Women Society
Bank: CIMB Bank
Account name: Persatuan Wanita Perak Untuk Wanita
Account number: 8004 88 2245
WhatsApp: 012-521 2480
Facebook: Perak Women for Women
Video (above): Chari-Tea: An Afternoon of Music & Merriment
Event: Chari-Tea: An Afternoon of Music & Merriment
Venue: MH Hotel Ipoh
Date: 17 October 2026
Time: 3pm
