Thirty-eight children showcased what they had learnt at the “Little Chinese Music Troupe” music camp during a session held after the four-day programme, part of the 3rd Macao International Children’s Arts Festival (MICAF), according to a statement by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) on Tuesday.
Organised by the bureau, the camp was jointly presented by the Macao Chinese Orchestra and the Water Singers, the statement said, adding that the programme concluded with a performance on Sunday, where participants aged five to 10 demonstrated the skills they had acquired during the camp.
According to a statement, this year’s edition expanded its capacity by introducing both morning and afternoon sessions following strong demand last year. All available places were fully subscribed, the statement noted, adding that during the session at the Macao Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape, the children performed the traditional pieces “Jasmine Flower” and the Cantonese nursery rhyme “Moonlight”, and sang the newly commissioned work “A Colourful Chinese Orchestra”, composed for the Macao Chinese Orchestra.
The four-day programme, held from last Thursday to Sunday, introduced participants to Chinese music through lessons in basic music theory, rhythm, ensemble performance and hands-on experience with traditional instruments, including the guzheng (a kind of zither), yangqin (a hammered dulcimer), erhu (a bowed spike fiddle), sheng (a free-reed mouth organ), dizi (a side-blown bamboo flute), and percussion, the statement said.
In addition to music training, participants visited the Sir Robert Ho Tung Library, St. Augustine’s Church and the Dom Pedro V Theatre, where they attended a Chinese Orchestra performance while learning about Macau’s cultural heritage, the statement highlighted.
Completion certificates were presented to the children during the session, the statement said, adding that the programme aimed to encourage young participants to develop a lasting interest in Chinese music while deepening their appreciation of Macau’s blend of Chinese and Western cultural traditions.
This undated and unlocated handout photo provided by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) on Tuesday shows young students learning how to play the erhu during the four-day “Little Chinese Music Troupe” music camp as part of the 3rd Macao International Children’s Arts Festival (MICAF).
