XN000022-1978-07-09 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JULY 9, 1978

GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH MASSIVE MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME

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THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL LAUNCH A HONG KONG-WIDE TRAINING PROGRAMME IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FOR YOUNG STUDENTS IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

UNDER THE PROGRAMME, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AS WELL AS YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 23 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE SELECTED AND TRAINED IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BY THE OFFICE.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT 1,500 PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AGED BETWEEN SIX AND 11, AND 1,000 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE TRAINING ON BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS.

THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR. GORDON SIU SAIDɛ +MANY YOUNG MUSICIANS IN HONG KONG ARE NOT ONLY GIFTED BUT ALSO DEDICATED AND HARDWORKING. GIVEN SUITABLE TRAINING, THEY WILL MATURE INTO MUSICIANS OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD AND THEIR MUSIC WILL BRING JOY TO MANY.+

HE EXPECTS THAT THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING PART IN THE TRAINING PROGRAMME WILL BE DOUBLED NEXT YEAR.

MUSIC TRAINING CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT SCHOOLS IN URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS AND IN THE FOUR OFFICES OF THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE IN WAN CHAI, TSUEN WAN, MONG KOK AND KWUN

TONG.

+FOR TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIANS, SPECIAL TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED AT BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MUSIC INSTITUTIONS. SCHOLARSHIPS FOR ADVANCED COURSES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE,+ MR. SIU SAID.

THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE, ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1977, NOW RUNS THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY BAND AND THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA.

IT INTENDS TO FORM DISTRICT YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND BANDS WHEN THE MASSIVE TRAINING, PROGRAMMES HAVE BEGUN.

TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE HONG KONG-WIDE MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE IS HOLDING A SERIES OF +MUSIC-FOR-THE-MILLIONS+ CONCERTS EVERY SATURDAY IN BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SIMILAR CONCERTS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO FACTORIES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES.

+APART FROM CREATING A SUITABLE ATMOSPHERE FOR LAUNCHING THE TRAINING PROGRAMME, THESE CONCERTS WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE A LIVE CONCERT AND TO LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, + MR. SIU SAID.

THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE WILL ALSO ORGANISE A SERIES OF INTERNATIONAL MUSIC EXCHANGE PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC EXCHANGE ACTIVITIES AND TO PROVIDE YOUNG MUSICIANS IN HONG KONG WITH THE OPPORTUNITY OF LEARNING FROM YOUNG MUSICIANS FROM OTHER TERRITORIES.

▲ YOUTH