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A strong delegation of close to 100 members from Hong Kong has enchanted the audiences at the 7th World Harmonica Festival (WHF) from October 30 to November 3 (Trossingen time) in the Black Forest town of Trossingen in southern Germany. With its long and vivid tradition as a centre of harmonica music and education, Trossingen is known as the "Mecca of the Harmonica". The Hong Kong Harmonica Association (HKHA) delegation competed with 500 other contestants from 30 countries including Austria, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and Slovenia in 10 categories and won six first prizes, three second prizes and four third prizes in the WHF organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Harmonica (FIH) once every four years.
The WHF hosted gala concerts by some of the finest harmonica virtuosos in the world, along with exciting competitions, workshops and exhibitions. The festival also included a special concert held at Trossingen's Martin Luther Church on November 2, during which the HKHA Harmonica Orchestra magnetised the audience. At the concert, the HKHA Harmonica Orchestra performed a mixture of Western classical music, Chinese folk tunes as well as original compositions by renowned Hong Kong composers. The performance drew enthusiastic response and a standing ovation from a full house of audience.
The Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin), Mr Ivan Lee, congratulated the delegates on their impressive performances. In his speech at the closing and award ceremony of the WHF on November 3, Mr Lee highlighted how the delegates had contributed to Hong Kong's vibrant arts and cultural scene, "Being an open society that embraces free flow of information and cultural exchanges, Hong Kong is a melting pot of both the East and the West, whose character has been perfectly reflected by our Harmonica Orchestra."
Mr Lee underlined the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's commitment to strengthening the cultural software and hardware in Hong Kong. "As part of its efforts to promote cultural exchanges and co-operation, our Arts Development Fund supports local artists and arts organisations to undertake outbound cultural exchange activities of various art forms, and is also supporting Hong Kong's participation at the WHF this year", Mr Lee noted. On the hardware side, Mr Lee highlighted that Hong Kong was proceeding full steam on a flagship project, the West Kowloon Cultural District, a 40-hectare prime waterfront site which was being developed into a world-class integrated arts and cultural district.
After this year's remarkable performance by the HKHA Harmonica Orchestra, there is no doubt that Hong Kong's harmonica players would again set the tone at the next WHF in 2017, and showcase the city's creative talents.
Ends/Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Issued at HKT 00:30
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