Young Hong Kong musicians from ‘city of sadness’ spread Christmas joy
Tin Shui Wai orchestra shares stage with celebrated Cambridge choir ahead of overseas tours to mark handover anniversary
Youngsters from the “city of sadness” lifted their heads high as they shared the stage with a famed Cambridge University chorus and Singaporean musicians at St John’s Cathedral in Central.
Monday’s show marked the start of a busy Christmas schedule ahead of overseas tours to make the 20th anniversary of the handover next year.
Sixty teenagers from the Music for Our Young Foundation (MOY), a charitable group based in Tin Shui Wai, will perform a series of concerts after appearing with the celebrated Choir of Corpus Christi College.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us, and some of these young musicians have not even set foot in Central, let alone the St John’s Cathedral,” Gordon Siu Kwing-chue, the group’s founder and conductor, said.
Siu, who retired from the government in 2002 and has run a Western and a Chinese orchestra under the foundation since 2009, said music was not the ultimate goal.
“Music is in the MOY’s title, but our goal is character building through the study of music.”
Most of its members are from non-elite schools, but they master more than one instrument, Chinese or Western or both. Plans are under way for tours to the mainland and the UK next year to mark the formation of the special administrative region.
“We provide an opportunity for all young people who are prepared to work hard to study music. Talent is not required but discipline is an absolute must,” Siu said.
Concertmaster Mok Kiu, 14, said her three years with MOY had made a big difference. “It has opened me to violin playing and boosted my confidence.”
The Form 3 pupil said she relished the chance to perform in the cathedral and work with the Cambridge singers.
“I was very shy and quiet before and now I enjoy working with others making music on both Chinese and Western instruments,” the Form 4 pupil said.
Parent Tsang Hin-wah felt the pride in seeing his flute-playing daughter on stage.
“MOY kids are decent and that keeps Tze-yui from bad habits,” the retired photographer said.
The players now embark on three concerts in Chai Wan and San Tin in the New Territories starting on Saturday featuring their Singaporean counterparts.
“They will play alongside seniors from the best schools in Singapore, such as Raffles and Hwa Chong, learning, performing, observing for five days,” said Siu, referring to 20 members from the MOY Singaporean wing set up in 2013.
Tan Wee-hsin and Lillian Wang, both members of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, volunteer their services to coach MOY players there.
“It’s amazing to see the Hong Kong students and their music-making, and so we would like to foster this kind of love for music and for helping others through music,” Wang, a violinist, said.
