Young people use music to express their identity, their hopes, fears and dreams. Whether as performers or listeners, it represents their outlook on life and their view of the future. The Hong Kong Melody Makers, our budding youth choir, is made up of outstanding singers who are passionate about the music they create together.

We are convinced that this choir can represent the spirit of Hong Kong - its vibrancy, versatility and vigour. Their singing will have a social function, helping to strengthen communal solidarity and inspiring a sense of pride in Hong Kong audiences.

"Establishing this choir has been both a challenge and a pleasure. I am looking forward to the first concert with great expectations and optimism."
Prof Chan Wing-wah, Chairman, Advisory Committee to the choir.

These talented young people have natural musical aptitude. Many of us need help to acquire an appreciation of music and one of the reasons for forming the choir was to develop dormant artistic talent. The Federation is delighted to be able to encourage and stimulate music in any of its forms and the Songbridge Concert this month was an excellent example.

The Hong Kong Melody Makers will have a concert next week. As Shakespeare might say, If music be the food of love, play on…

Making Melodies for Hong Kong
With rhythm, harmony and melody, everyone comes alive. Singers in The Hong Kong Melody Makers understand that so well and can communicate their passion to all of Hong Kong. But what made them join this choir in particular? The answer took us aback at first…

"It was the application form that did it..." said Vicky.
"I know what you mean," said Simon.
"Yes, exactly," echoed Julian.

The application form? It inspired them? Well yes, it certainly did.

"We were asked to go to every rehearsal. I've never seen a requirement quite like that before"…said Vicky. "It meant we really had to be sure this was something we wanted to do."

"It also explained why," said Julian, "it was for Hong Kong - this was to be a choir to represent Hong Kong. That's why I really wanted to belong - the mission spoke directly to me."

"Same here", said Simon, "…it's a commitment to the people of Hong Kong, to getting people of all ages involved in the wonderful world of real music, but first perhaps we need to change its image a little bit."

"Hong Kong has all the potential for being a cultural hub," said Julian with confidence. "Look at the Songbridge Concert for example. It was phenomenal. You just have to connect with this city through music with energy and variety, then it will respond."

"Music is a language", said Vicky, "you must sing it with understanding. This gives meaning to the tunes and expression to your tone. Sing with your heart and the audience will follow…"

With such passion as this, the choir will inspire more than their audience to follow. A whole generation can be influenced. They just need the exposure, as Julian said, and the right sort of encouragement, as both Alice and Vicky commented.

What will it take to make their passion infectious? First, there is the pleasure of the experience of good music.

"I'd like to be a music critic," said Alice. "More publicity and feedback about concerts in the media would mean that adults here could be better informed. With kids it's easier."

But Vicky knows only too well from her classroom how hard it can be to get kids motivated when it comes to good music, rather than just noise. Alice echoed her sentiments when she talked about teaching her fellow school choir members to read music:

"Children have to be left to explore music for themselves without adults interrupting to tell them about theory. Then they become sensitive to the sound and start appreciating it."

"…Hong Kong kids?…they don't know what good music is - yet!" said Julian.

The Hong Kong Melody Makers are out to change that. They are determined to make the choir something Hong Kong can be proud of and to give young ears an irresistible taste of glorious songs in every genre under the sun.

Julian Cheung is a dentistry student, Vicky Tang is an energetic Po Leung Kuk primary school music teacher and Simon Au is about to go into his last year at school. Alice Wong has just had her A level results and is the city's sole grade A in A level music this year. She will go on to do music at Chinese U. Congratulations Alice.

Facts & Figures

Good English is crucial

About 114 of the 501 secondary schools in Hong Kong have been using Chinese to teach pupils in Forms 1 to 3 since 1998. Before that, schools were free to choose but between 1982 and 1966, schools that taught wholly in English fell from over 90% to 55%. The policy on language of instruction was changed in the belief that learning is facilitated by the use of the mother tongue. However, it seems that standards of English have slipped alongside the reduced use of English in the classroom and the results of this year's English A level students, the first batch affected by this policy, support this hypothesis.

Educators theorise that the younger pupils have less motivation and less confidence in English than the cohort ahead of them but the Education Commission's consultation on medium of instruction has drawn to a close without any clear consensus being reached on this very complex issue. A survey of kindergarten, primary and secondary principals released by the HK Institute of Education last month showed that 55% were in favour of being able to use either Chinese or English in class.*

A new optional test of English for Primary 4-6 is being introduced at the end of this year. It provides yet one more hurdle for Hong Kong's youngsters to overcome. However, with academics and businessmen right and left saying that good English communication skills are essential to maintain Hong Kong's position and dynamism in commercial and financial services, what parent, considering their child's future, will risk them being left behind? The Federation's annual public-speaking competition, co-organised with the English Speaking Union, is currently our major contribution to raising levels of ability and confidence in English. On the mainland, standards of English have been rising fast. In the end, ambition and success count.
"A crucial factor in our future success is the ability to communicate effectively with the rest of the world. This means that we must ensure that our graduates are fluent in English."
Victor Fung Kwok-king, University of HK Council Chairman, Digby Memorial Lecture, 9 July 2005
* South China Morning Post 25 June 2005 E4

Boosting the local talent supply

David Eldon, Chairman of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC), is convinced that we need to produce more cosmopolitan graduates here who have been exposed to the wider world. This point of view is entirely in harmony with that of the Federation and both Youth Exchange and Dragon Foundation programmes are designed specifically to open the eyes of students to other countries and other cultures.

Eldon also recommends boosting available places at international schools here although some Mainland parents just across the border at Lowu choose to send their children to Hong Kong schools because they think they get a better quality education here. However, according to a survey by the Shenzen Education Studies Institution published in the Southern Metropolis News, of the 2,339 pupils with Hong Kong residency permits who live in Shenzen and also go to school there, 41% of parents are willing to send the child to a private Shenzhen school which has the same education system as in Hong Kong and provides Hong Kong approved certificates.

Diversity and the tolerance it brings are good for Hong Kong and many pointers indicate that we have the potential to draw talent. Maximizing the intake will require a concerted effort but if mind-sets about minority groups are flexible, diversity within our extraordinarily mixed community can flourish.
* http://newsgd.com/culture/universities/200503210060.htm