Mr. Kelvin Ngai Lung Shing is currently one of the most popular conductors among secondary school bands and orchestras. He is now the band and orchestra conductor of La Salle College, Harrow International School (Hong Kong), Po Leung Kuk Choi Kai Yau School, La Salle Primary School, Wah Yan College Kowloon, Good Hope School.
Bands and orchestras under the baton of Mr. Ngai have won numerous gold and chapion awards including the Hong Kong Youth Music Interflows, Hong Kong School Music Festival and International Band Festival. Recently, he was granted the best conductor award, the Ko Bongsik Award, of the 2014 Jeju International Wind Ensemble Festival in Korea. Despite his busy schedule, he spends much of his time to serve as a conductor of choirs, orchestras and bands in many Christian churches, including the Psalm Wind Orchestra. Mr. Ngai still gives private tutorials to trumpeters, serves as trumpeter to various orchestras on a freelance basis and serves as a faculty tutor of the Hong Kong Institute of Education.
Festive Chamber was delighted to interview Mr. Ngai on the 1 November 2015 and had the opportunity to know more about this very busy person.
(I): Interviewer
(N): Mr. Kelvin Ngai
Career in Music
N : I studied conducting during my bachelor and master degree studies. As a tutor to trumpeters at different schools, I have to conduct various school bands/ orchestras as well. There were not many conductors 10 years ago, thus, I had the opportunity to conduct.
Actually, I still serve as trumpeter in orchestras. As my picture is shown on concert booklets as a conductor many people may think I focus more on conducting.
N : As a professional trumpeter, you would need to focus on your own part, for instance, ensuring the notes you play are not out of tune. On the other hand, there are more things to manage as a conductor, for instance, you would have to attend to the needs of all members in the orchestra, and be sensitive to tone quality and the music as a whole.
I have to understand the mentality of members in an orchestra or bands and when I should give my opinions to them. I have had experience in various positions in orchestras and bands, and that, I suppose, is where my strength lies.
N : I enjoy and feel happy in all roles as they are very different. Being a trumpeter is more about yourself and how well you play. As a conductor, you have more responsibilities and if anything goes wrong, you are the first to bear the consequences. The satisfactions gained from different roles are quite different and I enjoy each and every role I perform.
Psalm Wind Orchestra (PWO)
N : PWO was initially formed by a group of musicians who played together in a church in 2003. One of our missions is to spread God’s message. But we do have members who are not Christians joining the orchestra. At first, we did not have regular practice due to a lack of available venue. We only played together when PWO was invited to play in concerts. About 6 years ago, a primary school was able to provide us with the venue and lend us their percussion instruments. Since then, we have regular practice every Friday.
N : Most of our members are university undergraduates or full-time workers. Only one or two are secondary students. PWO members were very passionate about music even when in secondary school. As they grew older, there were less opportunities for them to play. PWO provided the platform for them to play music and have fun together. It does not aim to become a professional orchestra but wishes to reach out to the community and provide voluntary services as Christians.
The availability of a venue to practice is also the reason for PWO members to commit themselves as they can gather with their friends on a regular basis and have fun playing music. They do look forward to every rehearsal.
N : I hope that PWO could do more voluntary work or have more outreach programmes, for instance, doing voluntary work in Sichuan, China. Also, it would be good if PWO members (who are also Christians) could join Christian medical teams to China and spread God’s Word.
Some members are majoring in conducting, so we are providing a training platform to them via the provision of opportunities to conduct.
N : Not at all. Although we usually have a specific message to convey in our annual concerts, we are not restricted by any music genres, We like festive music and pop music.
The Young Generation
N : The students of the secondary schools I teach come from wealthier families. They genuinely enjoy playing music and have less pressure from their families in relation to their music.
However, as students nowadays are always busy in various things, they have les time to practice when compared with the older generations.
N : I think the current young generation is not as mature as those in the past. In the past there were two public exams, i.e. HKCEE and A-levels. Students naturally assumed leading roles after the HKCEE. Their experience in a public exam does make a difference in the sense that they usually become more mature.
I think the young should learn to take up more responsibilities and should endeavor to complete them.
N : One should know what is one’s aim in learning music. Do not be carried away simply by wanting to join various social activities or to earn money.
Developing Musicianship
N : One has to be humble and should be open in accepting new things. Always have a vision and plan in mind to push oneself to achieve more.
N : I aimed to become professional musician. Of course, I experienced my ups and downs while developing my career. For instance, I was supposed to study for a Master’s in the UK after obtaining my Bachelor’s but due to financial reasons, I had to start working after graduation from the APA. Eventually, I did get my Master’s in the U.S. with U.S. and HK scholarships and the money I saved. I believe God has set my path for me. I decided not only to perform as a musician, but to teach music so as to contribute to society and share my experience.
Family Man
N : I have two daughters who are 5-years old and 2-years old respectively and my son is 1-year old. I would definitely see what their potentials are. The role of parents should be igniting their children’s own potentials, be it art, music or sports. I shall explore with them.
My eldest daughter is now learning piano.
N : Learning music is a self-cultivating activity where you will become a well-mannered person. Through music children learn to communicate among peers and also learn to be obedient and work as a team.
N : Every parent would want to provide the best for their children.
In any event, I think the relationship between parents and parenting are of vital importance as it would affect the values of their children. I would want my children to fully explore their potentials.
Future Plan
N : I will be conducting in a pop religious concert soon. I am quite looking forward to it as I could catch up with many friends and the singers involved as their performances are always infectious.
I hope PWO would continue to have a stable practicing venue and that we can go on a music your like we did in 2013.
