In Hong Kong Inter-School Choir 2023 Concert, 80 student performers sing to inspire youth to chase their dreams

The choir’s voices carry the musical experience from sombre and intimate moments to exuberant and humorous scenes.

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Bronson Lau, 18, one of the concert’s performers and its emcee, said his journey mirrored the show’s narrative as he grappled with whether to pursue his passion for singing or opt for a more stable career as a teacher.

“Before, I ... [was] also unsure about which direction I should go in. Should I go into music or education?” explained Bronson, a student from Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School.

“After taking part in HKICF, I realised I love music and want it to become my future career.”

Mark Tai, who wrote the original Like. So? and its remake, shared that he wanted the show to inspire today’s young people.

“The whole central message is about chasing dreams and personal passions,” said Tai, who is also the concert-in-musical producer. “Part of the story was actually my personal experience because I was also one chasing the dream of music making.”

Kelvin Lau, HKICF’s artistic director, hopes that the choir can cultivate students to become leaders at their own schools.

“I see some really gifted students ... If given the right training, they can become choir leaders of their own school choir,” he said. “If one has gifts in music, it needs to be nurtured, it needs to be developed, and that would be how that person develops confidence.”

“It is beautiful to see them starting their new circles here, and that’s how they develop a sense of belonging.”

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To prepare for the concert, students met weekly for rehearsals where they received vocal training.

Felix Shuen, the choir conductor, explained that it was tough to plan the rehearsals because students came from different schools and had clashing schedules.

“We don’t always have everybody,” he said. “Some people have exams, and with the pandemic ceasing, they haven’t been on vacation for a very long time, so you can’t make them stay the entire holiday.”

For Bronson, not only did he have to balance the demands of rehearsal with his academics, but he also expressed the difficulty of working with a new group of people.

“At first, coming to this choir was the biggest challenge since I was used to practising with people in my school,” he said.

But after some time, the teen shared that he enjoyed interacting with new people.

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When asked about his favourite part of the performance, Bronson described a scene where the characters must fight for their seats in a game of musical chairs, which highlights the reality of job competition.

“The lyrics depict the workers in Hong Kong; it reflects the competitive nature of Hong Kong’s workforce,” the student said.

Bronson encouraged more pupils who are passionate about music to join HKICF’s activities.

“It is worth joining this choir since you will meet a lot of new friends, and it is a good opportunity for music lovers to learn,” he said.

For more information about the concert, visit HKICF’s website or Facebook page.