The Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind faced financial difficulties and retreats during the social movement and the epidemic. Recently, it has received full support from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the School of Music of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Du Yongzheng, music director of the Orchestra for the Blind, described that although this is not a financial donation, for the Orchestra for the Blind, their support has allowed more musicians to join in training the visually impaired to learn musical instruments. To a certain extent, it is more important than donations.
The Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind has recently received full support from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Music School of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind)
The Hong Kong Blind Orchestra (HKBO) is a long-term charity project organized by the Post-disaster Psychological Counseling Association in 2016. It was initially established in the Xinguang School for the Blind. In 2018, it moved to Ma On Shan Youth Association College and has become a training base. , Is the only orchestra in Hong Kong that systematically provides comprehensive instrument donation, instrument and orchestra training, Royal Conservatory of Music examinations and professional matching services for the visually impaired, allowing visually impaired people to obtain free admission to internationally recognized qualifications such as the Royal Conservatory of Music. Recommend them to enter various tertiary institutions and provide professional matching services to help the visually impaired get rid of the "blind person can only be a masseur" rule, so that their talents can be used.
The Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind recruits the visually impaired through more than 10 opportunities for the blind, including the Association for the Blind, the Association for the Blind, and the Association for the Blind, and various media. So far, it has trained more than 80 people, ranging from 6 to 60 years old. Wait, one of the visually impaired musicians is applying for career matching with the Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind, and the orchestra has also successfully found a job opportunity for her.
Du Yongzheng (right), music director of the Orchestra for the Blind, described that although this is not a financial donation, for the Orchestra for the Blind, their support has allowed more musicians to join in training the visually impaired to learn musical instruments, which is to a certain extent more important than donations .
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind)
Affected by the social movement and the epidemic, the Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind was faced with financial difficulties and withdrawing from the group. At the beginning of this year, the orchestra has received calls from various organizations and artists expressing their hope to lend a helping hand. The Orchestra for the Blind put forward the idea of cooperation. Elite orchestra teachers are responsible for teaching the visually impaired. The training will be held for 8 months in the 2021/22 school year. After the course, the instructor can decide whether to continue teaching.
The participating members are all outstanding graduates of the School of Music of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In addition to outstanding performance skills, they also have rich teaching experience. Some musicians have been selected and joined the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as Hong Kong Philharmonic) to become the 2021/22 music season. Of resident students.
Du Yongzheng, the music director of the Orchestra for the Blind, described their contribution as a morning star in the dark. Although this time is not a financial donation, for the Orchestra for the Blind, their support has allowed more musicians to join in training the visually impaired to learn musical instruments. The degree is more important than donations.
The instructor needs to take a 9-hour training course first
Du Yongzheng pointed out that the instructor may not have experience in teaching musical instruments for the visually impaired. Therefore, all instructors in charge of teaching must undergo a 9-hour training course, which will be taught by him who has been trained in orchestral teaching methods for the blind. The instructor will be blindfolded during the course. The eyes play the role of the visually impaired and feel the first-person visual effect, so that the instructor can understand and feel the difficulties faced by the visually impaired in learning in advance.
The Post-disaster Psychological Counseling Association applied to the Social Welfare Department for the "Hand in Hand Fund for the Disadvantaged" at the beginning of this year to formally implement the Hong Kong Orchestra training and performance program "Pride in the Dark". Months later, you can learn the equivalent of Level 3 to 5 of the Royal Academy of Music, and perform in Central Market, PMQ, International Finance Centre and other places. Visually impaired students dream of playing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Orchestra or other The singers performed on the same stage.
Du Yongzheng said frankly that at present the Blind Orchestra still needs to pay nearly 2,000 yuan for each practice. If it wants to hire a stable musician as a tutor, it needs to pay at least 400 yuan per person per hour. For charitable projects with no income, The annual constant expenditure is estimated to be more than 600,000 yuan. In addition to the cost of charity performances of about 120,000 yuan each time, the orchestra is still facing many high mountains and low valleys. Du Yongzheng hopes that more talented people and companies can take the initiative to contact The Blind Orchestra helps the visually impaired build a longer-term future.
Du Yongzheng hopes that more talented people and companies can take the initiative to contact the Blind Orchestra to help the visually impaired build a longer-term future.
(Photo provided by Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind)
The Dean of the School of Music of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Man Tak Tsai, stated that the Orchestral Elite Training Program is a project jointly managed by the School of Music of the Academy of Performing Arts and Hong Kong Philharmonic. Provide professional training to students.
The program focuses on how students give back to the society, especially for the disadvantaged. "We are convinced that to become a real artist, you must have a willingness to share and the ambition to contribute to society. In the coming season, the program All the students of will have fun with the crowd through a series of activities."
Tsai Min-teh also pointed out that in recent years, the Academy of Performing Arts has admitted two visually impaired music students, which makes him very gratified as the dean. He said that the two students showed incomparable perseverance in the pursuit of their dreams, which is touching.
The Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Philharmonic Ho Lai Man Yee said that this collaboration with the Hong Kong Orchestra for the Blind can deepen the understanding of people with special educational needs and master the skills of teaching the visually impaired for the trainees of the Orchestra Elite Training Program. It is described as very valuable. And meaningful experience.
At present, in the Orchestral Elite Training Program, there are a total of 10 trainees participating in musical instrument training, who will teach violin, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion.
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