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Christmas carollers sing for charity

December 14, 2014

Cello trio

Cello trio:  Three generations of one family are performing for the first time together at the festival.

In harmony

In harmony:  The 30-strong Hong Kong Metropolitan Pop Orchestra will play 10 shows featuring Christmas medleys.

Celestial sounds

Celestial sounds:  The Angels’ Choir, a group of young singers with special needs and disabilities enjoys rehearsing for the carolling performances.

Yuletide joy

Yuletide joy:  Angels’ Choir Conductor Yip Wai-man says the Carol Singing Festival is a chance for youngsters with special needs to showcase their musical skills.

Perfect pitch

Perfect pitch:  Child Development Matching Fund Director Amy Chan says this year’s event has already collected more than $4.5 million in donations.

This festive season, more than 12,000 performers from all walks of life will sing Christmas carols in more than 70 venues across Hong Kong, including shopping malls and the Peak Tram Terminus, as part of the Child Development Matching Fund’s Carol Singing Festival.

 

It is all for a good cause: to raise money for deprived youths. Each participant donates or is sponsored a minimum of $200, which is equivalent to the monthly savings amount of each Child Development Fund recipient.

 

One of the music groups taking part is the Hong Kong Metropolitan Pop Orchestra which is performing in the festival for the first time. It has already raised $200,000.

 

A family affair

Raymond Chang joined the Carol Singing Festival with his father and son as part of the pop orchestra. It is the first time three generations of their family have performed together.

 

The Changs are a family of cellists. Grandfather Chang Hsin-yu is 74 and a retired Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra musician. His eight-year-old grandson Sunny has been learning the instrument for three years, but already shows great talent for it.

 

“I am happy to play the cello with my dad and grandpa and I hope the audience enjoys our performance,” Sunny said.

 

For its debut performance at the Carol Singing Festival, the pop orchestra will showcase Christmas carols played in pop, tango and other styles. They will play 10 shows from December 20 to 24 in different shopping malls, Hong Kong MTR station and at the Peak Tram Terminus.

 

“Many music groups want to sing Christmas carols but they are not given the chance or a suitable venue. Now we’ve got the opportunity, we are keen to take part. What is most important is spreading happiness and harmony throughout our city,” orchestra director Kenneth Ip explained.

 

Chorus of angels

The Angels’ Choir - a group of young singers with special needs and disabilities - is also taking part in this year’s Carol Singing Festival.

 

One of the carollers is Lee Sai-ho who is autistic and moderately mentally handicapped. Because he does not speak English his mother translates the lyrics to help him memorise them. “It is very difficult for him, but he loves music and enjoys singing with his friends,” she said.

 

This is the fifth year the Angels’ Choir has taken part in the festival. Mrs Lee believes performing is like a Christmas gift for the kids every year as they not only get to interact with an audience, but can also show people that children with disabilities can  contribute and spread joy.

 

Angels’ Choir Conductor Yip Wai-man has taught youngsters with disabilities for several years. She gets a sense of satisfaction from taking part in these activities and is very moved by the effort the youngsters put into practising.

 

The Angels’ Choir has already performed on the Peak Tram and will next hit the Central Ferry Pier and Sky100 Hong Kong Observation Deck on top of the International Commerce Centre.

 

A Christmas story

The Carol Singing Festival is the main fundraising activity organised by the Child Development Matching Fund.  
 

Youths in the Government’s Child Development Fund programme, with the backup of their family, are required to make a monthly saving of $200 for a period of two years. When they reach the savings target of $4,800 they will receive an equal amount from the Child Development Matching Fund. That then earns the child a bonus of $3,000 from the Government.

 

“Each youth will receive a final amount of $12,600 to be used towards his or her personal goals in the third year,” the Matching Fund’s Director Amy Chan explained.

 

The thousands who have joined this year’s Carol Singing Festival have so far collected more than $4.5 million in donations, while the fund itself has raised more than $16 million over the past four years for disadvantaged children.

 

Rehearsals are now in full swing for different choir groups as they prepare for more than 210 performances to be held until December 24. Government officials and secretaries will also join some of the carollers in spreading the festive joy.



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