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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
Orchestra, the Hong Kong Singers, the Crescendo Chorus, the Bernard Ho Organization for Concerts of Youth and the Oratorio Society.
A notable event in 1957 was the formation of a new society, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, formerly the Sino- British Orchestra, which among its other activities combined with the Oratorio Society and a festival choir to perform Haydn's 'The Seasons'.
Musical events during the year included visits by the San Francisco Ballet Company, the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and Benny Goodman and his Orchestra; by the instrumentalists Yi-an Chang, Maurice Clare and Marta Zalan, Julius Katchen, Arthur Lora, Ruggerio Ricci, John Sebastian, Geoffrey Tankard, and Edward Vito; and the singers Marian Anderson, Luigi Infantino, Eleanor Steber, Yi-Kwei Sze, Richard Tucker, Pamela Woolmore and Andrew Gold.
Music in the schools continued to flourish with the Schools Music Association encouraging and stimulating interest among young people. The visiting adjudicator at the Schools' Music Festival, Dr. Sydney Northcote, noted the healthy state of school music in the Colony and stated that it compared favourably with leading centres in the United Kingdom. Entries for the examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music so increased that this year two examiners were sent from London.
In the field of the visual arts local photographers main- tained their high standards. In addition to the Photographic Society of Hong Kong, which has an international reputa- tion, and the Amateur Cine Club, smaller groups are flourishing in schools and elsewhere-a remarkable post-war development in the Colony.
Drama activities continued to be in evidence with interest- ing programmes being offered by the Stage Club and the Garrison Players. Radio Hong Kong 'Actors' Studio' and Rediffusion Theatre presented special features in the Festival
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