Jockey Club helps promote classical music to the community

11/27/2015

To help make classical music more accessible to all, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has donated over HK$9.9 million to the Hong Kong String Orchestra (HKSO) to launch the three-year Jockey Club Power of Music Programme, providing opportunities for students from low-income families to learn classical music and participate in community concerts, so that they can gain learning experiences outside the classroom.

Today (27 November), the Club’s Head of Charities Projects Rhoda Chan joined HKSO Founder, Artistic & Development Director Jue Yao, Founding Member Dr Rosanna Wong Yick-ming, to officiate at the opening ceremony and first community concert of the Jockey Club Power of Music Programme.

The Jockey Club Power of Music Programmeis the first co-operation between the Club and HKSO. Ms Chan said the purpose of the initiative was to increase students' exposure to music, make music more accessible to all and broaden the horizons of the city's youth.  "We also hope it will help inject positive energy into the community," she said.

The Jockey Club Power of Music Programme will focus ondistricts with a higher proportion of underprivileged families, namely Sham Shui Po, North District, Kwai Tsing, Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin. Participating students will receive a free violin, a three-year complimentary violin training course conducted by HKSO musicians, and chances to perform in the community concerts. The project is expected to benefit some 240 students. Nearly 40 open-air concerts will also be held across the 18 districts of Hong Kong, as well as classical music concerts in the festive seasons, benefiting a total audience of around 40,000 over the next three years.

To help spread the seed of music to every corner of the city, a music truck of the Jockey Club Power of Music Programme set off immediately after the ceremony for a tour taking in all 18 districts from 27 to 28 November.  At each stop, musicians on board will conduct 'flash mob' performances.

The Hong Kong Jockey Club

Founded in 1884, The Hong Kong Jockey Club is a world-class horse racing operator and Hong Kong’s largest community benefactor, as well as one of Asia’s most prestigious membership clubs. Operating as a not-for-profit organisation, the Club allocates its surplus funds for charitable and community projects. In 2014/15, its donations reached a record $3.87 billion, and in the last decade alone it supported over 1,300 projects. The Club is also Hong Kong’s largest single taxpayer, contributing a record HK$20.05 billion in 2014/15. With about 70% of its revenue given back to society every year through donations and tax contributions, The Hong Kong Jockey Club delivers a significantly higher return to the community than any other racing and/or sports betting organisation in the world. As a socially responsible organisation, the Club helps Government combat illegal betting and advocates responsible gambling. The Club is also one of Hong Kong’s largest employers with over 24,000 full-time and part-time staff. Committed to global excellence and giving back to society, the Club is always “riding high together for a better future” with the people of Hong Kong.