FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1983
YOUTH BAND FESTIVAL STARTS
****
THE 6TH HONG KONG YOUTH BAND FESTIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, STARTED THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING AND WILL LAST UNTIL NEW YEAR'S EVE.
A SPECIAL FEATURE OF THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL IS THE SIX-DAY RESIDENTIAL COURSE TO BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 26 TO 31 AT THE LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE IN SAI KUNG.
THE JAPANESE NARASHINO HIGH SCHOOL BAND, WHICH WON THE ALL-JAPAN SCHOOL BAND COMPETITION LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR, WILL TAKE PART IN THE FESTIVAL AND THE RESIDENTIAL COURSE IN SAI KUNG.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY HELD AT KO SHAN THEATRE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID THE BAND FESTIVAL AIMS AT STIMULATING INTEREST IN BAND MUSIC AND TO RAISING PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.
+THAT THESE AIMS ARE BEING ACHIEVED IS EVIDENCED BY THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE NOW MAKING MUSIC, THE QUALITY OF THE IR PLAYING, AND THE GROWING EXTENT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THIS ACTIVITY, HE ADDED,
+THE RECENT RECRUITMENT OF TRAINEES TO JOIN NEW MUSIC OFFICE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC CLASSES HAS HAD AN OVERWHELMING RESPONSE WITH OVER 8 000 APPLICANTS FOR 2 000 PLACES. OF THESE, MORE THAN A THOUSAND HAVE OPTED FOR WIND INSTRUMENTS AND IT IS CLEAR THAT IN THE YEARS TO COME WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THE CREATION OF MANY MORE BANKS, AND WITH REGULAR LESSONS AND REGULAR PRACTICE, A VERY REAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDARD OF WIND INSTRUMENTAL PLAYING, + MR ROWLANDS SAID.
IN A WELCOMING ADDRESS, MR C.K.K. WONG, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, SAID THE FESTIVAL OFFERED A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES TO MEET AND EXCHANGE MUSICAL EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF THE YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME.
+SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1978, THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN AN ANNUAL ATTRACTION TO BANDS AND BAND MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE INTENSIVE SIX-DAY RESIDENTIAL MUSICAL TRAINING COURSE, MR WONG SAID THE PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A BALANCED PROGRAMME OF EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN THEIR MUSICAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT.
E
/5