(FC): Festive Chamber Choir
(H): Mr. Harry Lee
H : I founded the Hong Kong Choral Project because music is a very powerful tool to inspire and to help children build important life skills. It also helps their integration with peers, family, in school and eventually in society. I choose primary school students because at their age, they are most open and receptive to new ideas. Through music, I hope to sharpen their concentration, patience, diligence, dedication and their ability to be part of a team. Increased self-confidence and improved self-image are our first benchmark. They place the children on a good path.
H : There is always time to help others. Throughout my life, I have had the great fortune to be taught by great teachers and advisors. What I learned from them, I wish to share with the next generation.
H : Progress has to be steady and slow so it is sustainable and long-lasting. Goals have to be realistic. The biggest challenge is to find partner schools that understand our method and are willing to go that extra mile. At this point, we have found an ideal partner in Lok Sin Tong Leung Kau Kui Primary School (Branch). Their Principal Lau, Ms. Sou and Ms. Yeung, who are in charge of the students, understand very well our mission. They are very supportive of their students and of our project.
H : My interest in singing began at St Paul’s Co-Educational College. At Amherst College, I was part of the Glee Club, one of the best choral programs of any US universities. We performed throughout the world.
Those tours were as educational as any course offered in the regular curriculum, and we met peers from all over the world.
It is difficult to single out a particular composer, but I am partial to Bellini, Donizetti and Rossini because they are great composers for the human voice.
H : Festive Chamber has provided our programme with outstanding teachers. Kristie Au and Kitty Siu are not only skillful in their teaching method but also are very sensitive to the children’s needs. Our annual performance can not happen without our speech consultant, Mr. Simon Tham and our factotum music director, Mrs. Betty Tham. I hope our collaboration with Festive Chamber will be long lasting!
