Opinion | Handbell ringers show how teamwork and music can lift up Hong Kong’s young people

I attended a handbell concert at Sha Tin Town Hall last week where it was pleasing to see the 18 elite ringers provide us with such an enjoyable experience under the leadership of their artistic director, Emily Li. The team skilfully and cheerfully shared their music with the audience, each member looking at ease and in control of his or her own set of bells. I am sure there was much hard work behind the scenes however to put on such a show.

The beauty of the handbell performance was the teamwork it involved. It was more than the combination of individual outputs – that teamwork made the music special and refreshing. Each member worked as a gatekeeper for the others and was ready to step in to provide support for their fellow members to keep the music flowing. The performance was so smooth the audience could not notice any interruptions in the flow from one set of bells to another.

The concert theme was titled “Fantasy of Life”. The young ringers involved are all pursuing their musical passion and chasing their dreams in music, while also building something bigger than themselves by working together. Every instrument was unique and each had its own function. By working together, they brought us a fantastic night of soul-cleansing music. And besides the music, the enthusiasm and smiling faces of these young people shone through to the audience. Such happiness has been sadly missing among young people in our community of late.

As the pressure mounts on young people in our society, this musical performance led me to think of the lessons such teamwork can teach us as we address the problem of youth suicide in our city. We know that more than 90 per cent of youngsters who have taken their own lives did so due to multiple causes, especially those to do with relationships and adjustment to problems in life. Many who take their lives seemingly lose the courage to overcome adversity or the energy to continue their lives. Sometimes it is related to complicated family relationships amid a deprived economic situation. Others suffer from too much pressure sometimes brought on by perfectionist tendencies. Unfortunately, often those in need do not reach for help to deal with their difficulties, and all the while others fail to provide timely intervention.