HK school sings way to history

Ayra Wang

The Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School choir made history as the first school delegation to engage in deep artistic exchange with the Vienna Boys Choir during a tour across Germany and Austria.

The tour, which took place from February 1 to 6, culminated in groundbreaking performances that included excerpts from Joseph Haydn's The Creation in Vienna, where the composer wrote the masterpiece 226 years ago.

The choir's journey began in Stuttgart, Germany, where they performed alongside local choirs at Neues Schloss Stuttgart, playing Haydn's work and the Cantopop classic Below the Lion Rock - a tribute to their Hong Kong roots.

The tour proceeded to Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace, and concluded in Vienna, where the students participated in workshops and masterclasses with world-renowned maestros, including Maestro Erasmus Baumgartner, artistic director of the VBC.

Andrew Hon, director of Music and Performing Arts at HKBUAS, described the experience as a "pilgrimage" and stressed the significance of performing The Creation in Vienna.

"Just as Haydn sought to capture the awe of creation through music, our students embodied that same wonder," Hon said.

"We are not only here to explore the origins of choral music but also to share our own musical heritage with friends beyond borders."

The tour also included masterclasses with Maestro Markus Oppeneiger from Mozarteum University Salzburg, who initially doubted the young choir's ability to handle the complexity of Haydn's work.

"When they began to sing, I was completely amazed," Oppeneiger said. "Their precision, emotion and dedication were extraordinary."

Vinci Kwok, a Hong Kong student who took part in the tour, reflected on the "surreal" collaboration with the VBC.

"Learning their techniques while sharing our own style - it was like a musical dialogue across centuries," Kwok said.

ayra.wang@singtaonewscorp.com