The Macao Orchestra, under the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC, from the Portuguese acronym), a partner of the “General Art Educational Plan for High School Students” initiated by the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ, from the Portuguese acronym), organized five concerts in the “Explore the World in Western Music” series from 6 to 8 March at the Macao Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium. Under the baton of Assistant Conductor Francis Kan, the Orchestra presented a list of well-known masterpieces from different parts of the world to nearly 4,000 teachers and students from the city’s secondary schools, who gave an enthusiastic response to the performances.

The concerts, themed “Explore the World in Western Music”, presented a repertoire of large-scale orchestral compositions, including the Caprice on Flowery Spring River by Doming Lam, Prelude to Carmen by G. Bizet, Toy Symphony by W.A. Mozart and Symphony No. 5 by L. van Beethoven. During the concert, the Orchestra invited students to take the stage and perform together, bringing them closer to music. The concerts were accompanied by humorous explanations. The students also gained knowledge of theatre etiquette. A total of 36 schools participated in the concerts, which received positive comments.

The Macao Orchestra will continue to carry out more educational activities, injecting creative elements and a variety of activities in order to develop musical education and its promotion close by the community, seeking to cultivate local students’ interest in music by organizing a series of educational concerts. In addition, the Orchestra will conduct a concert tour featuring a woodwind quintet in various secondary schools in late April. For more information about the concerts and programme, please visit the Macao Orchestra webpage at www.icm.gov.mo/om.