How Music Children Foundation helps underprivileged children develop a love for music

In collaboration with Music Children Foundation

Established in 2013, Music Children Foundation (MCF) aims to provide free-of-charge music programmes to underprivileged children in Hong Kong. Its programmes, supported by donors, patrons, volunteers and professional musicians, are run by qualified teachers, aiming to transform the children’s lives by fostering positive personalities and virtues using music as a medium.

MCF is pleased that The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has funded the “Jockey Club Music Children Fruit Programme” for children aged 6 to 16. The programme provides instrument classes, ensemble and choir training, as well as a variety of music and art activities that encourage parents to engage so as to enhance the parent-child bonding. Aside from being an excellent education programme, MCF’s annual public performance is one of the key components of the curriculum.

In 2020 and 2021, the MCF Annual Concert under the “Jockey Club Music Children Fruit Programme” was put on hold due to the pandemic. In order to continue helping underprivileged children achieve their music dreams, the organisation pivoted to an online format.

When the Annual Concert 2020, originally scheduled to be held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in early August, was cancelled, MCF quickly bounced back and produced a 30-minute-long music video. The video, featuring five songs, was shot at landmark sites, the studio and even inside some of the students’ homes.

With the pandemic still ongoing this year, MCF decided to do the same for its Annual Concert 2021. Filming of the performance took place on July 15 and 16 at the YMCA Wu Kwai Sha Youth Village.

The performance features 12 songs presented by several hundred MCF students from Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin, Kwai Tsing and Yau Tsim Mong districts; and is conducted by the organisation’s ensemble, choir and professional tutors. With over 500 performers, the spectacle is truly sensational.

Parent outreach is also one of MCF’s key services. It encourages parents to take part in the music programme, to foster the parent-child relationship. This year, parents were invited to take part in the Annual Concert alongside their children, where they sang the song “A Million Dreams”, establishing a sense of togetherness.

Make sure to catch the first showing of MCF’s Annual Concert 2021, which will be aired on August 30 at 8:30pm.

*Remarks: The programmes featured in the photos/videos were conducted in strict compliance with the Government’s health regulation for the prevention of COVID-19.