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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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Appendix II
REPORT ON VISIT OF MELBOURNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL ORCHESTRA
In 1971 the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School Orchestra made approaches to the City Hall management, initially through the Hong Kong School Music Association, and subsequently direct, with the information that the Orchestra was attempting to arrange a Far-Eastern tour and enquiring whether it would be possible for the City Hall Management to present a concert by this Orchestra in December 1972. Having heard a tape recording of the Orchestra and gathered some further information about it, the Management agreed to arrange such a public concert (should the plans for the Far-Eastern tour materialize) but asked that, if possible, the Orchestra should come early in December rather than late, to avoid clashing with the series of Christmas Concerts that are always planned for December and also to fit in better with the Hong Kong school term pattern. However, because the Melbourne school term would not end until 11th December 1972, it was subsequently found impracticable to arrange an earlier date for the concert than Sunday 17th December 1972, and this was agreed upon tentatively at that stage.
By August 1972, the Melbourne Church of England Grammar School Orchestra was able to confirm that they had been successful in raising sufficient funds for their Far-Eastern tour, and the usual contracts were therefore signed. The Orchestra also advised that they had a representative in Hong Kong (a former pupil of the school), and the Management promptly got in touch with him. It was agreed between this representative and the City Hall Management that he would take care of arrangements for meeting the Orchestra at the airport, for lodging and transporting the Orchestra and for any radio and T.V. performances, whilst the Management would take care of the ticket sales, programme, posters, publicity, press releases and rehearsal arrangements.
Under this agreement, the Orchestra was in fact duly met at the airport on 13th December by this representative and transferred to their hotel, while arrangements were made for their instruments to be stored at Kowloon Park pending transport to the City Hall. Arrangements were also made for rehearsals both at Kowloon Park (by agreement with the Hong Kong Youth Orchestra) and at the City Hall itself. In addition, a very full schedule of sightseeing and shopping visits was arranged for the Members of the Orchestra so that the boys had a good opportunity to see much of Hong Kong during their brief visit.
Under the agreed arrangements also, the Management carried out its usual distribution of posters to all on its mailing list which included all secondary schools in H.K., Government departments, clubs and societies and this material was widely distributed one month in advance of the concert. Special press releases about the concert and the Orchestra were issued one week before the concert. Further special circular letters were prepared and were sent to all schools inviting them to take the opportunity of making block bookings of student tickets at $1. Three full formal advertisements were also placed in local newspapers during the preceding week of the concert.
695 persons attended the concert on the 17th December, 1972 and all who attended must have been impressed by the fine discipline, splendid intonation and generally very high standard of musicianship displayed by this Orchestra. The occasion was certainly thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended, and the performance was video-taped in the Concert Hall by R.T.V. for possible future broadcasting. However the comparatively low attendance was undoubtedly disappointing. It can only be assumed that it was due to the fact that several local schools were having examinations at that time and also perhaps because the concert took place on a Sunday evening rather than on an afternoon and students had to go to school on the following day. In analysing the ticket sales, the Management noted indeed that only 159 tickets at the special low price of $1 were sold which appears to indicate that few of the particular kind of audience of students which was expected to attend this concert did in fact turn up.
The Management is satisfied that all reasonable efforts to publicize this performance with schools and the general public were made. Indeed, in view of the special circumstances, rather greater efforts were made to promote this particular concert than many others which it presents. And whilst the Management is naturally disappointed that more young people in Hong Kong did not take the opportunity to attend this concert given by young musicians from another country, it is not considered that this arose from any negligence on its part. By coincidence, the Management is currently revising its general reception arrangements and a paper had been prepared and will be issued shortly to the relevant Select Committee for consideration.
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