Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's Hong Kong Drum Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Celebrating the 20^th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Drum Festival

launched by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Chinachem Group presents

“One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum”

Carnival & 5G Live Concert at the West Kowloon Cultural District

on October 14

Free Admission, Free Livestream

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Drum Festival launched by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, presented by the Chinachem Group, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra organizes the “One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum” programme, with the aim of spreading via online platforms and offline events positivity through the power of drumming, and re-establishing the reputation of Hong Kong as the “events capital” after the city’s return to normalcy.

The most sought-after event of the programme, “One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum” Carnival and 5G Livestream Concert, will take place at the Art Park of the West Kowloon Cultural District on October 14 (Saturday). This signature event will feature various exciting activities: a giant 3.47-meter-tall Peace Drum inviting everyone to play; performances by the winning teams of the Hong Kong Synergy 24 Drum Competition; a parade of drumming teams recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of China, including Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe, Shaanxi Province Yan'an City An'sai Waist Drum Troupe and Chaoyang District Chengnan Zhongjing Yingge Team. Visitors may also participate in and enjoy a wide range of activities such as drumming workshops, game booths, food and drink counters. It is an occasion for friends and families to spend a happy weekend.

Moreover, the not-to-be-missed grand finale live concert will showcase outstanding drum performances from around the world. Artistic Director Yan Huichang leads the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in collaboration with renowned virtousi from all over the world, including Dori (Korea), Yosuke Oda (Japan), Azaguno (Africa), Abbos Group (Uzbekistan), Anthony Fernandes (United States), Shanxi Jiangzhou Drum Troupe (China) and Gekko (Hong Kong). The concert will be livestreamed via 5G to reach a global audience, while on-site audience members will each receive a Bolan Gu (Chinese rattle drum) to play along with the performers on stage.

Organized by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and sponsored by Chinachem Group, the “One Beat, One World: Connecting Through the Drum” programme is a series of drumming activities that have taken place over six months involving public participation. Highlights include the “Connecting the Community Through Drumming” training and performances across 18 districts of Hong Kong, and for ethnic minorities as well as young persons in custody with the support of Home Affairs Department and district councils. Elite instructors from the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra taught participants drumming skills. A two-minute highlight video will be premiered at the WKCD event on October 14 2023. 

Other programme highlights include the online game "#DrumChallenge", video performances by world drumming teams, percussion workshops at Central Market and Nina Mall, and a music wellness workshop at Nina Hotel Tsuen Wan West. All of these activities demonstrate the commitment of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Chinachem Group in supporting society through music and promoting social inclusion.

About the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra has won the accolades as “a leader in Chinese ethnic music” and “a cultural ambassador of Hong Kong”. It is often invited to perform at famous venues and festivals all over the world. Its award-winning track record in the arts, governance and administration, arts education, and marketing and promotion, has placed it in a leading position among full-sized Chinese music ensembles in the international arena today.  The Orchestra is set up in four sections: bowed-strings, plucked-strings, wind and percussion. The bowed-string section has been using the Award-winning Eco-Huqin series developed by the Orchestra since 2009. The HKCO explores new frontiers in music through commissioning over 2,400 new works of various types and styles, whether as original compositions or arrangements. In 2021, the HKCO launched the ‘Net Concert Hall’, the first ever online Chinese Music Gallery in the world. Please visit www.hkco.org.