Interview by William Chan
Conductor and chairman of the Macau Band Directors Association (MBDA) Leong Pui Long expressed concern about the increasing number of private music competitions in Macau, in an exclusive interview with The Macau Post Daily in the MBDA rehearsal room on Avenida Almirante Lacerda last week.
Leong noted that in recent years, the number of music competitions organised as commercial ventures has risen significantly in Macau. While many students, parents and teachers appreciate the opportunities and awards offered by these competitions, Leong said he worried about the quality of these competitions and their effect on the local music culture.
Leong said many of the competitions use names like “International” or names of famous Western cities in their titles to attract attention, even though most only feature local musicians in competitions held here. He cited a recent competition with over a thousand participants that was not well-organised, with no set repertoire, illogical classification of competitors, and lack of clear regulations.
In contrast, he pointed out, the government’s Macao Young Musicians Competition has a fixed repertoire, clear competitor categories and strict rules to ensure contestants are assessed fairly. However, he added that organising a competition with these standards requires a huge effort and may not be cost-effective for private groups, and that looser rules also mean that anyone who pays the entry fee can compete.
Entry fees for these private competitions typically amount to a minimum of just a few hundred patacas, Leong said. With nearly a thousand competitors, the total revenue from a single competition can reach half a million patacas. These multi-day competitions, registered under local art organisations, are often held at free public venues like the Dom Pedro V Theatre and the Navy Yard that are in high demand by all local art organisations.
Leong said the judging at these events is often poor, with judges forced to assess nearly 20 competitors per hour. “Recently, a student from a school band participated in one of these competitions, and the judge’s comments were scribbled and barely legible,” Leong noted. Ideally, he said, much more time should be arranged for judges to properly evaluate and comment on each performance, as the comments are very crucial as a critical reflection of the performance and to encourage improvements by the student.
He also said that in that particular competition, multiple first and second prizes were given to the young musicians, thus essentially all participants received an award of some kind.
Still, Leong acknowledged that these competitions offer some benefits, such as encouraging students and giving teachers useful credentials. However, he questioned whether they genuinely help raise the standard of music in Macau. In contrast, the government’s well-organised competitions not only treat musicians fairly but also help nurture talent. He cited the example of Lio Kuok Man*, who won the opportunity to study music in Hong Kong through a government competition. Leong said he hopes private competitions can genuinely help promote local musical talents in the future and truly advance the level of local music.
*Lio Kuok Man, a local musician, is currently the principal guest conductor of the Macao Orchestra (MO)
This undated file photo shows Leong Pui Long conducting.
– Photos provided by Leong
These undated file photos taken by Leong show musicians from the Macau Band Directors Association (MBDA) playing at the government-organised Macao Young Musicians Competitions.
This undated photo shows MBDA Chairman Leong Pui Long holding a trophy during a music festival in Europe.
