Hong Kong’s oldest choir goes back to its roots to mark 60th anniversary
The Hong Kong Oratorio Society, founded in 1956, is celebrating by returning to the sacred music repertoire that was the reason for its founding
The city’s oldest choral group has defied changing times and is surging on with new commissions and tours to kick off its seventh decade.
The Hong Kong Oratorio Society, founded in 1956, is celebrating its 60th anniversary by returning to the sacred music repertoire that was the reason for its founding.
“I was the first member to sign up at the new choir,” said veteran soprano Barbara Fei Ming-yi of her act in summer 1956.
“I sang Brahms’ requiem as a soloist with Ted conducting in the western lounge of old YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui,” she recalled, referring to Theodore Huang Ming-tung, founder of the society.
The chorus, she said, only performed sacred choral works. The new recruits were mostly local church choir members.
Henry Yu Hung-yung, a member of North Point Alliance Church who joined as a tenor in 1963, said the religious nature of the group has changed over time.