Macau Music Arts Space (MMAS) was set up two months ago by local violinist and Macau Cultural Ambassador Anthony Cheong Wai Leong and retiree Echo Chan Keng Hong to provide a music performance and practice location as a space and a platform to promote local musicians.
The Macau Post Daily spoke yesterday to Cheong and Chan during a rehearsal for an event to be held in the garden of 10 Fantasia on Sunday titled “Music-Culture Journeys – Christmas and New Year Carnival,” about why they decided to open the space. Cheong owns Anthony Studio, where he teaches music. He is one of the Cultural Affairs Bureau’s (ICM) “ambassadors”, while Chan is the marketing brains behind MMAS.
Chan said that she got involved because she returned from overseas as COVID-19 started spreading and decided to learn to play the cello. Chan has been playing the piano since she was a child and has also taught a few children. “When I was young people couldn’t study music like now and when I met Anthony I found he has heart and is hardworking and decided to start this project with him. I have over 20 years’ experience in marketing, organising events, helping entities to identify and set up their brand and agreed to help Anthony promote Macau and its culture”.
Cheong said that they wanted to provide a space and platform to promote local musicians, adding, “Because of COVID-19 my students cannot go abroad to study, take exams or enter international competitions so we set up MMAS to provide a space with professional equipment so that we can film them and put the videos online so that the rest of the world can see their talent, or if they are not professional enough to just provide good memories that they can show their kids and grandchildren.”
Chan interjected, “MMAS is not just for musicians, it is related to art, everything artistic.”
Macau musicians cannot work alone
Cheong said that when he returned from studying overseas all those years ago it was difficult to find a job. He said that Macau musicians cannot work alone and they need the different parts to help them. “There are good musicians but no good at planning or management,” Chan said with Cheong saying, “Our goal is to gather local musicians, especially those who have been studying overseas and need a job but cannot get into the Macao Orchestra, so they can join us and use our platform to get success.”
Cheong continued, “Eventually I would like to have our own international competition to attract other musicians to Macau so that they can see what we have here.”
Abby Chao Ka In has been working with Cheong for quite a while and is one of the pianists taking part in Sunday’s concert. Chao said, “I like to play with more people and Anthony is a famous violinist and asked me to play in this first event and that later we shall have more concerts. I am so excited.”
Inter-cultural evening
Cheong said, “The concert on Sunday is a kick-start for us as we have the idea to use our centre as an arts hub so we have decided to hold the concert here [10 Fantasia] with the MMAS Ensemble, Philippine and Korean church choirs, and Portuguese fado as our musical journey.
“We did this as many people cannot go home for Christmas and to show Macau people that everyone is part of our community and share their respective cultures.”
Apart from the music there will be Indonesian, Korean, Philippine and Portuguese cuisines, Macau Beer, wine tasting courtesy of Vinomac Ltd and local coffee from Charlestrong Coffee available.
Chan said, “Holding the event here we shall also have arts and crafts from the different communities and the audience can go inside and see the art exhibition so it is these inter-culture exchanges that make Macau so special.”
Macau Music Arts Space (MMAS) is located on the 8th floor of Si Toi Building in Avenida da Praia Grande.
“Music-Culture Journeys – Christmas and New Year Carnival,” will be held at 10 Fantasia in São Lázaro district from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, admission is free.
In an email to The Macau Post Daily last night Chan said that the event was also the first time that commercial brands have been brought together with music and art so organisers MMA and co-organisers Creative Industries Promotion Association of St. Lazarus Church District 10 Fantasia would like to thank all the companies which are sponsoring and participating in the event.
“Their presence not only makes it musical but also showcases Macau’s lifestyle and intercultural connectivity,” Chan said in the email.
Chan told The Macau Post Daily during the interview yesterday morning: “With this project I am living my dream of all those years ago as I love music, love art, love Macau.”
(From left to right) Anthony Cheong Wai Long (violin), Park Haeun (violin), Abby Chao Ka In (keyboards), Esther Cheong Sam In (keyboards), Dennis Leong Chi Fong (viola) and Park Gaeun (cello) rehearse at 10 Fantasia yesterday morning.
Photos: Lesley Wells
Abby Chao Ka In poses in front of a Christmas tree at 10 Fantasia yesterday morning.
