Mission
CHORAL MUSIC FOR ALL
The primary objective of Hong Kong Inter-School Choral Festival (HKICF) is to offer equal opportunities for choral education, catering to students with varying resources and providing them with access to the world of choral art. In order to foster international choral exchanges, esteemed choral experts and guest choirs from overseas are invited to Hong Kong. Their presence enhances the festival by infusing it with an international atmosphere of cultural diversity, allowing students to experience the richness of an international choral festival right here in Hong Kong.
A NEW INTER-SCHOOL CHORAL CULTURE
Through its diverse range of events and programs, HKICF strives to create a vibrant choral culture that emphasises “Learning, Appreciation and Collaboration”. It serves as a valuable platform for school choirs to showcase their talents and provides them with invaluable performance opportunities. We hope to nurture students’ passion for and appreciation of choral music, improve their singing and performing abilities, and give recognition to their growth in music. We envision an enhanced inter-school choral culture that is based on mutual respect, encouragement, and growth.
In addition, HKICF also aims to enhance the professional development of Hong Kong music educators and promote collaborative exchange between music teachers and conductors. Finally, we hope to promote choral music as a means of social engagement and empowerment, seek opportunities to allow students to engage with the community through choral music and give back to society.
Achievements
Countries/Regions Involved (Cumulative)
Primary and Secondary Schools Joined (Cumulative)
Choirs Participated (Cumulative)
Students and Teachers Participated (Cumulative)
Music Educators Connected (Cumulative)
Participants Every Year
Competition cum Masterclass / Music Events (Cumulative)
Online Views (Cumulative)
Our Core Values
We firmly believe that choral singing not only enhances students’ musical abilities but also helps them develop good character. As a choir festival exclusively designed for students and teachers, we hope to instil the following through our programmes.
Fostering self-confidence
We understand that confidence is nurtured and built up by overcoming difficulties and realising one’s own worth. When students participate in a choir, they are always challenged to do better during rehearsals and performances. However, through persistent training and with the support and encouragement of teachers and fellow choristers, they make progress and develop their self-confidence. Recognising and appreciating each singer’s improvement is one of HKICF’s core values, and it encourages them to strive for excellence.
UNLEASHING MUSICAL TALENTS
By participating in a choir, students gain exposure to diverse musical genres, broaden their horizons, and explore the world through music. Additionally, they enhance their abilities in pitch, sight-reading, rhythm, music theory, and aural skills during choral training. HKICF places special emphasis on the personal growth of participants, encouraging continuous learning and progress on their musical journey.
Nuturing aesthetic appreciation
Music is a language, it is crucial not only to express oneself through it but also be able to listen and understand. Through various activities at HKICF, choir members deepen their music appreciation, learning to critically analyse music from multiple perspectives and embrace a wide range of musical styles. Furthermore, we produce and share music videos on our online platform to encourage the public’s appreciation and understanding of choral music.
Cultivating leadership skills
Leadership encompasses observation, judgement and critical thinking—skills that are honed through continuous practice. HKICF provides a platform for the next generation of choral leaders to develop their leadership skills by letting them learn and showcase their talents, empowering them to bring their knowledge and experience back to their own school choirs. Ultimately, our goal is to cultivate a new generation of adept choral leaders.
Fostering lasting friendships
Friendship finds its foundation in understanding, respect and shared experience. A thriving choir fosters collaboration among its members, allowing for profound friendships to develop through shared experience. HKICF arranges exchange activities for choirs from different schools, offering opportunities to learn from one another, observe each other’s techniques, and collaborate towards outstanding performances. Instead of fostering competitiveness, our goal is to cultivate partnerships that result in mutually beneficial outcomes.
Cultivating preseverance
Perseverance is the relentless drive to pursue goals and the capacity to stay committed to one’s goals over an extended period. Choirs emphasise unity, requiring each member to synchronise their efforts meticulously. Consequently, each student’s perseverance is vital. One of the most inspiring aspects of choral singing is witnessing students’ continual improvement through perseverance, culminating in outstanding performances that showcase what they have learned throughout the year.
Fostering team spirit
Team spirit thrives when individuals work together towards a common goal, leveraging collective efforts to accomplish shared tasks. Choirs consist of many individual voices, and it is only through the harmonious collaboration of these voices that the true charm of choral singing is unveiled. During rehearsals, participants learn that the key to teamwork is to willingly set aside personal opinions in order to compromise and achieve a common objective together—delivering an exceptional musical performance.
Enhancing communication skills
Communication is rooted in attentive listening and effective interactions. Within a choir, members not only learn to listen to the conductor’s instructions but also have opportunities to communicate and engage with other choir members from different grades and even schools. This fosters the development of their communication skills. Furthermore, HKICF provides opportunities for participants to interact with overseas guest choirs, allowing students to host foreign guests as mini Hong Kong ambassadors, thereby enhancing their communication abilities.
