XN000022-1985-03-31 — Page 21

SUNDAY, MARCH 31, 1985

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YOUNG MUSICIANS, PARENTS GET TOGETHER

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SOME 1 000 YOUNG MUSIC-MAKERS SHOWED THEIR MUSICAL TALENTS BEFORE PARENTS, TEACHERS, FRIENDS AND GUESTS AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM TODAY (MARCH 31).

PERFORMING AT THE SECOND CONCERT OF THE ANNUAL TRAINEES' GALA 1985 THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON WERE TRAINEES UNDER THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME OF THE MUSIC OFFICE.

MRS DORIS HO, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR SAID IN HER WELCOME REMARKS THAT THE ANNUAL GALA WAS ORGANISED MAINLY AS A 'FAMILY GET-TOGETHER' FOR PARENTS TO HEAR THEIR CHILDREN PERFORM AND TO SEE THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF MUSIC TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE.

+WE ARE AT PRESENT CONDUCTING OVER 700 TRAINING CLASSES FOR OVER 4 000 TRAINEES AND THE GALA HAS HAD TO BE HELD IN TWO PARTS,+ MRS HO ADDED.

A CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT HAD BEEN HELD LAST SATURDAY AT SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE ARTS CENTRE, FEATURING MORE ADVANCED LEVEL TRAINEES.

+THE PERFORMERS THIS AFTERNOON, THOUGH MOSTLY BY STUDENTS, ALSO INCLUDE YOUNG PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, AND TOGETHER, THEY REPRESENT A FAIR CROSS SECTION OF OUR TRAINEES IN TERMS OF AGE, LENGTH OF MUSICAL TRAINING AND STANDARD OF ACHIEVEMENT,+ SHE SAID.

MRS HO ALSO THANKED THE PARENTS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND INSTRUCTORS, TRAINEES, ORCHESTRAL AND BAND MEMBERS AND CHOIR MEMBERS FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

FIFTEEN OUTSTANDING TRAINEES WERE GIVEN AWARDS AND 200 OTHER TRAINEES WERE PRESENTED THE CERTIFICATES OF MERIT AT A CEREMONY PRECEDING THE CONCERT.

SPEAKING AT THE AWARD-PRESENTATION CEREMONY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON SAID THAT THE OCCASION WAS IMPORTANT AS DILIGENCE AND ACHIEVEMENT WERE BEING GIVEN DUE RECOGNITION.

MR WILLIAMSON SAID THAT THE PRIZE-WINNERS WERE FINE EXAMPLES FOR OTHER TRAINEES BECAUSE THEY HAD CHOSEN FOR THEMSELVES VERY DEMANDING ACTIVITIES - LONG HOURS OF MUSIC PRACTICES AND REHEARSALS, IN PREFERENCE TO OTHER LESS DEMANDING PURSUITS.

→THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME IS NOW IN ITS EIGTH YEAR AND ATTRACTING GREATER INTEREST THAN EVER.

/+A RECRUITMENT