Hong Kong Sinfonietta's McDull Music Project is returning for the third year with an Olympic theme. The homegrown cartoon pig McDull and his buddies will introduce the uniqueness of different musical instruments through a 'battle' between the orchestra and local a cappella octet Gay Singers.

'The singers believe they can make better sound effects through human voice than what an orchestra can play,' says Yip Wing-sie, the Sinfonietta's music director and conductor.

The concert hall will be turned into a competition arena where characteristics of different instruments will be tested through a programme featuring Olympic-themed compositions such as John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and the original soundtrack of Chariots of Fire composed by Vangelis. Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, which was composed for the purpose of introducing orchestral instrument families to young audiences, will also be performed.

McDull creators Alice Mak Ka-bik and Brian Tse Lap-man will make animations for the music, while show mascot McDull and his friends will perform their favourite tunes.

Yip says the concert is not just for children but for everyone - especially parents. 'It aims to let parents know what to consider when choosing an instrument for their children,' says Yip, who is often asked by parents which instrument their children should start with, or which one will get them into a good school.

'Parents shouldn't be too practical and force their children to learn what they don't like,' she says. 'We want to send out a message that every instrument is equally difficult to handle, and one needs to spend a lot of time on learning and practising in order to play well. No instrument is superior to another.'

That's why Mozart's Clarinet Concerto is chosen as one of the programme highlights, with the Sinfonietta's Massimo Di Trolio playing in front of the orchestra.

'The audience may not often pay attention to the wind instruments, unlike the strings that sit closer to them,' Yip says. 'There are simply too many instruments in an orchestra.'

And we're now given a chance to learn about them in this McDull concert.

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