Macao International Music Festival’s extraordinary outreach activities

The 29th Macao International Music Festival (MIMF) not only features captivating musical performances but also offers an outreach programme divided into six categories, including some activities taking place before the Festival’s official opening, such as the first session of the community activity “Music Cafe” on 5 September and a series of pre-opening talks. During the MIMF period, a series of master classes, workshops, backstage tours and children’s corners will be personally led by music professionals, allowing participants to, through an exchange of ideas, explore in depth the world of music. A series of lectures will take place before the Festival’s official opening. The famous baritone Brian Montgomery presents “Classical Singing Today”; founder of the Contemporary A Cappella Society of Hong Kong, Fung Kwok-Tung, will explain “The Evolution of Contemporary A Cappella Music”; Yuan-Pu Chiao, a famous host of classical music shows in Taiwan, will explore “Paris Opera and Opera Culture”; renowned Hong Kong arts and culture critic Chow Fan Fu will discuss “Magical Fantasy - Masterpieces: Faust - Opera in 5 Acts by Charles Gounod”. Participants who enrol in advance in three or more lectures are eligible to receive a ticket for Faust - Opera in 5 Acts by Charles Gounod, Mozart and Salieri – Opera in 1 Act by Rimsky-Korsakov or Over the Moon by Chanticleer. Offer available while stock lasts. The master class “Great Ladies of Songs” counts on the renowned American jazz singer, Janis Siegel, and the extraordinary Hong Kong singer Elisa Chan, who will personally introduce popular and jazz music performance techniques. Ólafur Arnalds, from Iceland, will direct a workshop of music composition, whereby the musician will call for submission of local original works and select three, exchanging ideas and sharing experiences of song writing with participants, which aims to enhance the standard and quality of local compositions. The renowned Taiwan a cappella ensemble O-Kai Singers presents the characteristics of a cappella music and discusses the main elements of “vocal percussion”. Four backstage tours to “Faust - Opera in 5 Acts by Charles Gounod” will also be organized, counting on set designers and technicians will lead the audience into the mysterious world behind the scenes, allowing the participants to come into close contact with the sets and props. Children’s corner includes the “Kids' Group Singing - A Capella workshop”, which will teach the young ones singing, listening and communication techniques, while the “Feel the Music” workshop, created by acclaimed Mahler Chamber Orchestra, is designed for hearing impaired children and seeks to help them use other senses to feel the rhythm of music. The MIMF further includes community activities, such as the series of talks “Music Cafe”, in cooperation with four local cafés, that will invite musicians of different backgrounds to share their music world; the screenings of “Music in Films” promote another encounter between music and cinema, allowing the audience to enjoy the sounds and stories that hide behind the screen; and also “Music All Around” which will take place in the hospitals in Macao, boosting the morale of patients, doctors and nurses. The 29th Macao International Music Festival includes many more outreach activities. Admission is free for most. Places are limited and are distributed on a first come first served basis. For more information, please refer to the Festival’s outreach programme booklet or access the website www.icm.gov.mo/fimm. Registration is available online at www.icm.gov.mo/eform/event, or by phone, during office hours, through the number 8399 6699, as well as by email to outreach@icm.gov.mo.