The Macao Chinese Orchestra (OCHM) presented its “Planting Musical Seeds” campus concert to primary school students of Kao Yip Middle School in Nape yesterday, with the event aiming to promote traditional Chinese music.

A statement from the orchestra noted that in 2023, the “Planting Musical Seeds” series was presented to 16 primary schools and kindergartens, reaching over 5,000 students. Yesterday’s concert saw several hundred primary students in attendance.

The orchestra played a total of eight songs, most of which were the theme music from cartoons, ranging from Doraemon’s theme song to Do Re Mi, while students also had a chance to learn about some of the instruments that were played through interactive Q&A sessions in between performances.

Two musicians who played at the concert, OCHM’s principal liuqin* player Wei Qin and zhongruan** player Hoi Kai I, told the Post after the concert that the event marked the orchestra’s fourth school concert of the month.

Wei said that she felt very happy to share traditional Chinese music to all students in Macau through the ongoing series of concerts, with music being a way to connect with all groups, including youngsters. Moreover, being Chinese, Hoi noted that she felt it was very important for them to promote Chinese traditional music to Chinese people, while Wei added that sharing it with Chinese people, including Macau people, and students in particular, was also one of their responsibilities.

Kao Yip Middle School’s International Primary School Supervisor Lou Hao Ieng told the Post that the event was an interesting one for students and could enable them to learn about Chinese music through the orchestra’s on-campus performance. She added through the music, students could learn about Chinese culture and feel proud of it, while it was also good for them to recognise their culture and how to love their nation. 

*The liuqin  is a three, four or five -stringed Chinese mandolin with a pear-shaped body, according to Wikipedia.

**Wikipedia notes that zhongruan, a plucked string instrument, has a straight neck with 24 frets on the fingerboard and 4 strings. It is a tenor-ranged instrument in the family of ruan .

Kao Yip Middle School’s International Primary School Supervisor Lou Hao Ieng poses in front of the concert banner after yesterday’s event. – Photos: Rui Pastorin

Macao Chinese Orchestra (OCHM) principal liuqin player Wei Qin (right) and zhongruan player Hoi Kai I pose with their instruments after the concert.

Students attend Macao Chinese Orchestra’s (OCHM) performance at Kao Yip Middle School in Nape.