Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus pneumonia, the Macao International Music Festival will have a different format this year. Themed “For a Special Year”, the Festival will present various community concerts and activities for free. The first community concert “Chinese Music Camp”, will be held in the afternoon on 22 August, at the Iao Hon Market Park, featuring Chinese music performances by local music performing groups. Admission is free. A fantastic show not to be missed.

In order to bring music to every corner of the city and to meet the needs for cultural diversity of residents, the Festival of this year features four community concerts with different themes. The concert “Chinese Music Camp” will be held on 22 August at Iao Hon Market Park, featuring Chinese folk music performed by Ou Mun Cheong Hong Iam Ngok Vui, the Macao Taoist Orchestra Association, the Macao Youth Chinese Orchestra, the Macao China Percussion Association and the Au Kuan Cheong Chinese Opera Association, allowing music aficionados to experience the beauty of music in the community. The concert “Late-Summer Music Camp” will be held on 29 August in the area next to Flower City Park, presenting a variety of musical performances by the Macau Electronic Music Association, Macao Jazz Club, Macao Strings Association and the Macau Bands Artistic Development Association, offering an afternoon of relaxing music to the public. Both concerts will be held from 4pm to 7pm.

The sought-after “Street Piano Programme” will return from 1 September to 30 December this year, with pianos placed at various parks and leisure areas in Macao and Taipa, as well as the Macao Science Centre, for residents to play their favourite music freely. The pianos will be regularly sanitized with photocatalysts and residents are advised to wear masks and disinfect their hands with alcohol-based gel before playing.

The Culture Affairs Bureau will strictly follow the related anti-epidemic guidelines of the health authorities and implement appropriate measures for cultural activities. All participants must wear face masks, undergo body temperature checks and present a valid “Health Code”.

Details of the activities of the Macao International Music Festival are available at the thematic website www.icm.gov.mo/fimm, IC’s official WeChat Account “IC_Art_Macao” and the “Macao International Music Festival” page on Facebook. Programme details will be unveiled in September successively. IC continues to monitor closely the development of the outbreak.