Hong Kong musicians win big at harmonica ‘Olympics’ in Germany, sweeping first prize in six of 15 categories
Three-quarters of the 130 participants from the city are students, with many paying their own way to attend the meet
Hong Kong emerged as the top winner at the recent “Olympics” for the harmonica, with the city’s musicians sweeping 20 awards, including the first prize in six categories.
Some 130 harmonica players from Hong Kong took part in the Eighth World Harmonica Festival, which ended on Sunday, and featured 15 solo and ensemble competition categories.
Three-quarters of them are students, from primary and secondary schools or tertiary institutions.
Many paid their own way to attend the meet, held once every four years in Trossingen, the German town where the first harmonica was produced in the 19th century.
Dr Ho Pak-cheong, a Hongkonger and jury member at the competition, said Hong Kong harmonica players had always been active in the competition, but “it’s unprecedented this time in terms of number of participants and awards won.”
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“This year, we got a record number of participants who basically paid their own way [to come to Germany], including some of them with their parents,” said the orthopaedic surgeon, who was a winner in the 1997 competition. He added that only seven musicians represented the city 20 years ago.