Culture and Sport - Macao Yearbook

attracted an audience of over 100,000.
Macao Orchestra
Culture Culture and and Sport Sport
Through a series of eight programmes spanning the whole concert season, the Macao Orchestra
presented masterpieces from the past and present. During the year, the orchestra performed 75
concerts in front of 44,912 people.
As well as the central focus of the Classic Series, the Festive Series and the Chamber Music
Series, the orchestra strove to provide musical education for the next generation. It organised
educational activities including a University Concert, Campus Concerts and Journey into the World
of Music, through which the orchestra reached 13,000 students from 37 university, primary and
secondary schools. It also collaborated with choirs, music students and music lovers in the event
titled On the Wings of Musical Dreams. During Chinese New Year, the orchestra staged a Chinese
New Year Concert that was attended by 24 charity organisations, to send greetings to the elderly
and socially vulnerable.
Macao Chinese Orchestra
The Macao Chinese Orchestra is a professional Chinese Orchestra under the Cultural Affairs
Bureau. Its current Musical Director and Principal Conductor, Peng Jiapeng, is a State Grade One
conductor. There are currently 42 musicians in the orchestra. Bolstered by the addition of a number
of versatile young musicians, the orchestra’s performance standard has further improved, gaining
recognition and praise from the Chinese music sector.
In 2011, the orchestra gave 51 concerts and performances, attracting a total audience of 33,000
people. Their important performances included Dream of the Red Chamber at Macao Arts Festival
and Xinhai Revolution Commemorative Concert at the Macao International Music Festival. The
orchestra was also invited to perform at Macao Impression concert held at Nanjing Culture and
Art Center during Jiangsu Macau Week and the Dynamic Macau event.
Macao Youth Music Competition
The annual Macao Youth Music Competition, which is organised by the Cultural Affairs Bureau,
aims to promote the development of culture and art in Macao, and to provide valuable opportunities
in performing, learning and the exchange of experience. Through musical competitions, many
prizewinners have already entered into the music profession, while the number of music students
wishing to continue professionally is increasing steadily.
In addition to the first three prizes, the bureau also presents the Cultural Affairs Bureau Prize,
the Talent Prize and the Best Ensemble Performance Prize. Prominent prize winners are invited
to perform in the Awards Ceremony and Winners’ Gala Concert, in which a special award was
presented.
The 29th Macao Youth Music Competition was held from 18 June to 11 July, with competition
events including Piano Solo, Piano Duet, Harp Solo and Harp Duo. There were a total of 37
competitions in 24 categories, with 963 competitors and a total audience of 2,570.
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