HK rising stars swoon to the sound of angels at harp festival

The Asian Harp Festival wound up last Sunday at Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui, and music lovers can still hear strains of the classical instrument in their minds.

Producing an enchanting sound that has been called the 'sound of angels', the harp is thought to be likely the earliest stringed instrument ever invented, probably evolving from the sound a bow and arrow makes.

The recent Hong Kong festival treated the city to more than 100 harpists. Most of them were from Asia, and some were from the United States and Austria.

For most young people who grew up on a diet of popular music, the harp might seem an odd choice of instrument. But two young Hongkongers were featured in the festival's Rising Stars Showcase, along with seven other young harpists from South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and Japan.

Nineteen-year-old Kilby Li Oi-kiu studies music at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, while 16-year-old Kimberly Wang Kam-dick studies at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

'Playing the harp gives me greater satisfaction than the piano,' said Ms Li.