“After just 10 months of preparation, the Hong Kong Blind Orchestra—the fifth of its kind in the world—hit the right notes at its launch ceremony,” writes Hana Davis in Monday’s (7/10) South China Morning Post. “The group’s founder and director, Timothy To Wing-ching, hopes the ensemble will pave the way towards a better future for its members. He said he was inspired to set up the orchestra by his desire to help others by helping his friend Johnny Chang Siu-lung, who suddenly became blind over six years ago as he approached the age of 40.… Chang is now one of the trombone players in the orchestra, which also includes 24 primary and secondary school pupils from Ebenezer School and Home for the Visually Impaired in Pok Fu Lam.… Rehearsals started in October 2016. Its members have gone from not knowing music to performing at their launch on Monday.… The blind members of the orchestra memorized songs by listening to recordings and learning which sounds corresponded to which keys or strings during their many biweekly rehearsal sessions.… The orchestra has future performances lined up with the Korean Incheon Hyegwang Blind Orchestra, as well as local singing stars.”
Posted July 12, 2017
